What If...

 "There are very few men of genius in advertising agencies. But we need all we can find. Almost without exception they are disagreeable. Don't destroy them. They lay golden eggs"- David Ogilvy

I would have continued my work in the advertising agency, if I had not been an actor.

Before I got into acting, I was working in an ad agency called ONM in Bangalore, where I was a part of the Client Servicing department. I was handling IBM and SAP as my clients.

What I like most about Client Servicing is the phase where we meet clients and prepare and showcase a presentation for them. The interaction that happens there is really interesting.

After leaving ONM, I joined as a Project Manager in Satyam Info and while I was working in Satyam, I was doing theatre as a part time because the job was getting bored.  In my mind I knew I had to do something creative and my heart was in acting.

It's been five years since I have entered into this industry and I have no regrets till date.

As far as the reaction of my family is concerned, my mother was really supportive from the beginning and my wife as well. If it was not for my wife, I wouldn't have been here. She has always encouraged me to do what I like and it was our mutual to shift to Mumbai.

But my father felt very bad and was upset for a long time and even today. He started watching my show just recently and I hope he is happy for me today.

My friends used to say that I really had some guts because I left a guaranteed job for something that has no assurance. But today they are happy for me and they say that I did the right thing doing something creative rather than being stagnant.

Well, leaving an ad agency like ONM really take some guts, nevertheless Samir has proved himself as an actor.

Author: Saranya Valsarajan