His acting credits include roles in films such as Jawan and the second season of Made in Heaven. “I was part of Nayanthara’s team in Jawan, working as one of her field officers. These projects have really helped me showcase my talent on a larger platform,” he says.
Reflecting on how he got here, Manahar explains, “After moving to Mumbai three-and-a-half years ago, I was lucky to be mentored by directors like Shakun Batra and Abhishek Sharma. They’ve really guided me in this competitive industry.”
He’s also been selected as a BAFTA newcomer — a four-year-long talent initiative as a director-performer — and a Futures Creative Fellow with Gold House, which has opened many doors for him. “These fellowships have connected me with filmmakers from around the world,” he notes.
The Chandigarh connection to his success remains a highlight. “During my course, I used to come back home for breaks and continued working on these films. Kya Dekh Raha Hai won me a Student Emmy for Best Short Documentary. I also worked on other films like Race, which won Best Indie Film at the New York Film Awards and Best Short Film at the Georgia Film Festival,” he shares.
Another significant project was Stardust, his thesis film that he wrote, directed and crowdfunded. “We raised around $10,000, and the film led me to become a finalist for Best International Director at the Oregon Short Film Festival. It also played at several other South Asian Film Festivals in the US, such as Tasveer and Chicago South Asian Film Festival,” Manahar recounts with joy.
His most recent achievement is a short film titled Hush Hush. “It won a Student Emmy Award and was also a winner at the Atlanta Web and Film International Film Festival.”
Before moving to the United States, Manahar’s foundation was built in Chandigarh, where he was actively involved in theatre during his school days. “I participated in a lot of plays, like 12 Angry Men, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16 with Zubin Mehta’s Wings Theatre Academy,” he reminisces. His passion for performing arts only deepened during his undergraduate years in Manipal, where he embraced every opportunity to act and create. “We created an event for students to come on stage and overcome their fright,” he adds.
Manahar’s journey to theatre began in high school, but it took a transformative turn when he initially enrolled in an engineering course. “After about a month, I realised this wasn’t something that would keep me motivated,” he states. With support from his family, he switched to mass communication, a decision that allowed him to pursue his true passion for acting.
Today, as he continues to explore new opportunities, he knows the power of following one’s passion and the strength it gives. “I’m excited about what’s next, both in acting and direction. I feel like I’m just getting started,” he concludes.
