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Ansh Manuja ’s journey into acting began much before the cameras started rolling. Born and brought up in Kanpur’s Barra 2 locality, the 27-year-old actor says performing was never a passing fascination but a childhood dream that was nurtured by his family. Currently seen in the television show Bareilly Ke Bacchan , Manuja was recently in Lucknow to promote the show, where he spoke about leaving home at just 13 to pursue acting, the harsh realities of the entertainment industry, his successful stint as a content creator, and why films remain his ultimate destination. “My grandmother used to say that I would become an actor,” he recalls with a smile. “My father also wanted to become an actor in his youth but couldn’t pursue it because of family responsibilities. Somewhere, that dream came to me.”
At an age when most children are reluctant to spend a night away from home, Manuja did a two-month acting workshop in Mumbai. “When I was 13 years old, my father dropped me in Mumbai for a two-month workshop. He stayed with me for just two days and then left me alone in a PG. Looking back, I think they were very daring parents. Within a week, I had learnt to handle everything myself,” he says.



After completing school and earning a BBA degree in Kanpur, Manuja travelled frequently to Delhi to train at the Barry John Acting Studio . “I stayed at Barry John’s institute for six months and later worked with the teachers there on a web series. That’s where my formal training happened.”
Like many young artists of his generation, his journey took an unexpected turn with the rise of social media. “I had around four million followers on TikTok. At that time people didn’t even understand that content creation could become a profession. When I returned to Kanpur, around 100 to 150 people came to meet me. During 2018-20, I was earning around `2-3 lakh every month. At that time, it was a huge amount.”
Despite the popularity and income, acting continued to pull him back. “I realised that whatever I do, my inner satisfaction comes from acting. My father made me understand one thing, ‘Don’t choose two boats. Pick one boat that you want to sail for life.’ That stayed with me. I had to move away from the identity of being just a content creator because I knew acting was where I truly belonged.”
Instead of waiting endlessly for acting opportunities, Manuja decided to understand filmmaking from behind the camera. He worked as a second assistant director with filmmaker Alok Dwivedi on nearly 30 to 40 advertisements. “Working as an assistant director taught me a lot about the technical side of the craft.” He later appeared in a cameo in Mahadev & Sons before landing Bareilly Ke Bacchan. “The reason I agreed was that this doesn’t feel like a typical TV show as there is no unnecessary drama. We shoot differently, with more master shots instead of only close-ups. That’s what excited me,” he says.
Having trained professionally, Manuja doesn’t shy away from discussing the challenges of the entertainment industry. “The reality of films is very different right now. After the pandemic, things have changed. There are people doing good work, but it takes a lot of effort to even reach them. People don’t entertain you until they know you. Even if you knock on doors, many won’t entertain you because they don’t know who you are.” He reveals that he has already completed work on two films, including one where he plays the lead. “One is an independent film and another directed by Taranjeet Singh Namdhari . It’s currently in post-production.”
While his ambition lies in cinema, he doesn’t dismiss television. “Television gives you stability. No matter how much people talk about OTT , television still pays consistently. The hard work is much more because you’re shooting almost every day, but it gives you financial security.”
The actor admits that shifting to Mumbai wasn’t easy. “It was very difficult. My journey has been full of ups and downs. I earned well during TikTok, but once I shifted my focus to acting, everything started again from scratch. I am not someone who depends on my father. I want to build everything on my own.”
Alongside acting, Manuja also nurtures entrepreneurial dreams with his childhood friends. “I have five friends from school. That’s our group’s dream. I want to earn money through acting and eventually build a business with them.”
He has also begun making inroads into the OTT space. “I cracked two auditions for a leading production house and have already done two micro dramas for them for the web.”
Despite spending years away from home, Kanpur continues to occupy a special place in his heart. “I miss Ekta Park where we used to go after bunking school. I miss Bithoor, Nana Rao Park , boating at Motijheel and simply roaming around with friends. Recently I watched a video of a child sitting at home on a rainy school holiday, eating a hot sandwich while watching Oswald. It made me cry because I miss those days.”
For Manuja, Bareilly Ke Bacchan may be another milestone, but his destination remains unchanged. “I believe I want to do acting. That is my definite belief. For the time being, I won’t refuse work. I’ll do everything, but I really want to end up doing films.”