A JOB in the Information Technology (IT) sector was never going to be enough for actor, model, business entrepreneur and systems analyst Ashish Misra who recently landed in Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming an A-list actor.

The Durban University of Technology alumnus and now an American Musical and Dramatic Arts Academy (AMDA) student was awarded a full scholarship to attend the prestigious school for the arts in 2023. An offer that Misra said he could not turn down.

“My primary passion and dream was to become an actor. However, pursuing this dream at a young age would not have allowed me to financially support my family as I grew up in a home where there were constant financial constraints. I opted to go with my secondary passion – to study Information Technology (IT) at DUT. I always told myself that I would excel in my studies and, thereafter, obtain a good, stable job and support my family. But I believed that one day, I would pursue my one true dream of acting, and that day has arrived,” said Misra.

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Having waited a year to enrol in AMDA in October 2024, Misra confessed that at first, his aim was to obtain a working visa based on his IT qualification, however, that route was unsuccessful.

“I then researched acting academies in Hollywood and found the best one called AMDA. I applied and submitted online auditions followed by online interviews. I was then shortlisted to attend an in-person interview or audition in October last year. I auditioned to the AMDA panel with the hope of exceeding their expectations with my performance and being offered a chance to attend their academy,” he shared.

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After three weeks of waiting, Misra received an email with an offer of a full-scholarship ride to start his journey of being a Hollywood superstar. “I accepted with no hesitation and started to prepare for this incredible journey ahead. I opted for the October 2024 enrolment as this gave me sufficient time to organise my life prior to making the journey to Los Angeles,” said Misra.

With his star in Hollywood on the rise, Misra advised future actors to, “Stay resilient, keep learning and remain open to feedback. Follow your passion. Pursuing a dream takes dedication. Do not lose sight of why you started, and let your passion fuel your drive.”

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