I Moved To Delhi To Study CA But Theatre Changed My Life”: Satrangi Actor Atul Kusum Sanjay

Actor Atul Kusum Sanjay may currently be seen as Diamond Pandey in ZEE5's Satrangi: Badle Ka Khel, but acting was never part of his original plan. Born and raised in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Atul moved to Delhi after completing his schooling with the intention of pursuing Chartered Accountancy. However, a chance introduction to theatre ended up changing the course of his life. "I came to Delhi to study CA. Acting wasn't something I had planned for. But once I started doing theatre, I realised this was what I wanted to dedicate my life to," says Atul.

What began as a college pursuit gradually became a serious career choice. In 2019, he started training and performing regularly, immersing himself in the world of acting and live performance. The pandemic became a period of self-discovery and preparation. While many careers were put on pause, Atul used the time to work on his craft and prepare himself for a future in the entertainment industry. In November 2021, he shifted to Mumbai to pursue acting professionally. To stay close to the industry while building his career, he also worked in casting. "Working in casting gave me a completely different perspective. As actors, we usually only see one side of the process. Being part of casting helped me understand what goes into finding the right performer for a role and taught me not to take rejection personally," he shares.

His first released film was Madhur Bhandarkar's Bubbly Bouncer, where he played the negative character Sameer. While it was an early opportunity, it gave him valuable experience working on a feature film set. Most recently, Atul has been seen in Satrangi: Badle Ka Khel, where he portrays Diamond Pandey, one of the principal antagonists in the series. Sharing screen space with actors such as Kumud Mishra, Anshumaan Pushkar and RJ Mahvash, the role marks another important step in his journey as a performer.

Looking back, Atul believes every stage of his journey from theatre and casting to auditions and acting has helped shape him. "Nothing has been wasted. Every experience has taught me something. Whether it was theatre in Delhi, working in casting in Mumbai or travelling for auditions, all of it has helped me grow as an actor." As OTT platforms continue to create opportunities for fresh talent, Atul remains focused on learning, performing and building his career one role at a time.