Mumbai: What began as a personal pursuit of acting has grown into a 16-year journey of theatre, training, performance and opportunity. Founded by Anshu Bhatacharji, also known as Sahasrangshu Bhatacharji, Cadence Theatre Mumbai has spent the last 16 years building a platform for aspiring performers and theatre enthusiasts.
Anshu Bhatacharji is an actor, theatre director, acting mentor, acting coach, entrepreneur and founder of Cadence Theatre Mumbai. His work spans theatre, television, advertising, Corporate Theatre Works, music videos and independent cinema.
From Assam to Mumbai
Born into a Bengali family in Assam, Anshu spent his childhood there and completed his graduation before moving to Pune for professional work and eventually relocating to Mumbai.
He later completed his MBA in Human Resources from ITM Business School, Mumbai.
Before dedicating himself completely to theatre, Anshu spent nearly 17 years working in the corporate sector with organizations including IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, The Telegraph, Prasad Film Laboratories, Telebrands, Shoppers Stop, Reliance Infocomm, Barclays Finance, Oriflame, Modicare, Trigon Placement and Leoscor Communication.
His professional experience exposed him to sales, management, planning, business development, HR and people management—skills that would later become valuable in running theatre productions and working with large teams of performers.
The setback that changed the journey
One of the most difficult chapters of Anshu’s life came in 2005.
While working with ICICI Bank, he purchased a Chevrolet Tavera on July 15, 2005, with the intention of starting a vehicle-based business. His larger plan was to eventually become financially independent enough to devote more time to acting and theatre.
Then came the Mumbai floods.
On July 26, 2005, exceptionally heavy rainfall caused widespread disruption across Mumbai. The newly established business suffered major losses, and Anshu subsequently lost his employment.
For almost a year, he remained without a regular job while trying to build connections in Mumbai’s theatre community and find opportunities in the performing arts.
Eventually, he returned to employment, but theatre remained an important part of his life.
The birth of Cadence
In 2009, Anshu began bringing together actors and aspiring performers with the intention of creating a theatre group.
That effort eventually led to the establishment of Cadence Theatre Mumbai in 2010.
The idea behind Cadence was simple but practical—to create a platform where aspiring performers could learn acting not only through workshops but also through actual rehearsals and stage performances.
Over the years, Cadence expanded into acting workshops, theatre productions, student productions and performance-oriented training programs.
Today, the organization has worked with 1,000+ aspiring performers, giving many newcomers an opportunity to experience theatre, develop their skills and step onto the stage.
16 years of theatre, performance and learning
Over the last 16 years, Anshu has directed more than 150 stage productions, according to figures associated with Cadence Theatre Mumbai, and has performed in approximately 90 to 100 stage productions.
His theatre work has included drama, comedy, thriller, social theatre and experimental productions.
One of his notable projects was the Marathi commercial play Antarveer, which he conceptualized, rehearsed and staged within approximately ten days.
Such projects reflect an approach built around practical execution, intensive rehearsals and teamwork.
For Anshu, theatre is not limited to what happens on stage. It also involves the discipline behind a production—planning, coordination, communication and the ability to bring different people together to create one performance.
Choosing theatre over security
In 2018, another major turning point came in Anshu’s life with the passing of his father.
At the same time, he was facing a professional decision.
After spending around six months on unpaid leave, he eventually resigned from his secure government banking career and chose to pursue theatre full-time.
It was a significant risk, particularly after years of corporate employment.
But the decision allowed him to devote himself completely to Cadence Theatre Mumbai, acting, theatre production and acting education.
From theatre to independent cinema
Anshu later expanded his creative work into independent filmmaking through Cadence Cine Motion.
One of its projects was the independent feature film Murder of My Wife #Life, a psychological thriller that was shot in a single day.
Anshu acted in the film and was also involved in developing the project. Several performers associated with Cadence Theatre Mumbai were given opportunities to make the transition from theatre to screen.
The film became another example of Anshu’s effort to create practical opportunities for performers, particularly those who were relatively new to cinema.
Keeping the performing arts alive during COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic brought live theatre to an abrupt halt.
With stages closed and physical performances disrupted, Anshu and Cadence Theatre Mumbai shifted several activities to online platforms. Virtual acting programs and online theatre projects became part of the organization’s work during the period.
The efforts were subsequently recognized with the WOW Masha Award in 2021 for contributing towards keeping theatre and acting activities active during the pandemic.
Recognition
Anshu’s contribution to the performing arts has also received recognition in subsequent years.
In 2024, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Award for his contribution to the performing arts.
In 2025, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Soulmate Award, recognizing his work and contribution to the entertainment and performing arts community.
An earlier recognition came during a one-act play competition, when Anshu participated in Janta Pagal Ho Gayi Hai. Although his role was relatively small, his portrayal of a mentally unstable character and his energetic involvement attracted the attention of the judges. He was subsequently awarded a Merit Certificate as a special recognition for his performance and involvement.
Building performers, not just productions
Perhaps the most significant part of Anshu’s journey has been his work as a mentor.
Having developed his own acting skills largely through theatre practice, workshops, reading, observation, experimentation and repeated performances rather than through a conventional professional acting institute, he has adopted a similarly practical approach towards teaching.
His training emphasizes rehearsal, stage experience, discipline, observation and continuous learning.
The objective is not simply to teach someone how to act in a classroom, but to put performers through the process of actually preparing for and performing a production.
Over the years, this approach has brought 1,000+ aspiring performers into the Cadence ecosystem.
16 years of Cadence—and still moving forward
Sixteen years after Cadence Theatre Mumbai began its journey, its story remains closely connected with Anshu Bhatacharji’s own evolution.
From Assam to Mumbai, from corporate employment to theatre, from the financial setback of 2005 to the decision to leave a secure banking career, and from stage productions to independent cinema and acting education, his journey has taken several unexpected turns.
What has remained constant is the focus on performance and opportunity.
For Anshu, theatre is not only about producing plays. It is about creating a space where people who aspire to perform can get the chance to learn, rehearse, make mistakes, gain confidence and eventually face an audience.
Sixteen years of Cadence is, in many ways, sixteen years of people coming together around that simple idea—and taking their first steps onto the stage.
