Dinesh Soni on the Evolution of Filmmaking, Acting and the Power of Strong Stories

Dinesh Soni Reflects on the Evolution From Film Reels to Digital Filmmaking

From shooting on film reels to embracing today’s digital filmmaking, Dinesh Soni has witnessed the entertainment industry evolve dramatically over the years.

While production has become a major focus of his career with Maghaa Creations LLP, the actor says his passion for performing remains as strong as ever.

He also believes that the future belongs to compelling stories, regardless of who brings them to life.

Reflecting on how filmmaking has changed over the years, Dinesh Soni said, Yes, definitely. I have witnessed the industry evolve from shooting on film reels to today’s fully digital filmmaking.

In the earlier days, every foot of film was precious.

If an actor made a mistake and a retake was required, directors would often remind us that film stock was expensive, so there was constant pressure to deliver the perfect take quickly.

Today, digital technology has completely changed that experience.

We can shoot multiple takes without worrying about wasting film, allowing actors and directors greater creative freedom, Dinesh Soni added.

He feels technology has transformed every aspect of filmmaking.

Dinesh Soni on Lighting, Prosthetics and VFX in Cinema

Dinesh Soni said, Lighting has become far more advanced, cameras can capture performances with incredible detail, and prosthetic makeup helps actors physically transform into their characters.

Visual effects (VFX) have further expanded what’s possible on screen.

A great example is Dhurandhar, where casting, makeup, prosthetics, and VFX worked together brilliantly to make the actors resemble the real life personalities they were portraying, Dinesh Soni added.

He believes that, while the essence of acting remains the same overall, technology has significantly enhanced the way stories are brought to life.

Dinesh Soni added, It has made the entertainment industry more creative, efficient, and visually immersive.

Although his focus has shifted towards production and live entertainment, he says acting will always remain close to his heart.

He said, I think my last major acting project was the film Goggles of Rajesh Khanna.

After that, I did a few commercials, but gradually my focus shifted towards production and the live entertainment industry.

As I became more involved in building my production house and live entertainment business, I consciously invested more of my time and energy there.

That said, I’m always open to acting. If the right project comes along, I would love to be back on screen, Dinesh Soni added.

Why Acting Still Holds a Special Place in Dinesh Soni’s Heart

Dinesh Soni shared that he prefers to leave the choice of roles to the vision of directors and casting directors.

He said, Based on my previous work, my current personality, and my experience as a storyteller and live performer, I’m sure they’ll know where I fit best.

If I had to choose, I’d love to play a mysterious, layered character, someone who appears to be one person on the outside but has a completely different side beneath the surface.

Those psychologically complex roles really excite me as an actor.

And of course, I have always loved comedy. If a well written comedy comes my way, I wouldn’t think twice before saying yes, Dinesh Soni added.

From Mysterious Characters to Comedy: Dinesh Soni’s Acting Wishlist

Asked about his dream collaboration, Dinesh Soni said his immediate priority is developing strong stories before deciding on actors or filmmakers.

He said, I think it’s a little too early to talk about that. As a production house, we’re currently developing a few scripts.

Once they’re fully written, structured, and ready for production, we’ll decide which project is best suited for which actor and explore the right collaborations.

At this stage, our focus is on creating strong stories. Once the scripts are locked, we’ll move forward with casting and collaborations that best serve the vision of each project, Dinesh Soni ended.

Author: Ambed Jaiswal