Dinesh Soni who was produced the film Heera Sara which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, has explored different sides of the entertainment industry. Along with acting, he is now involved in production and live entertainment. He believes this experience has changed the way he approaches creative projects.

“I believe when a creative person also understands the business side, they become far more responsible. As an actor, you naturally focus on your craft, but as a producer or entrepreneur, you also think about budgets, resources, and the overall success of the project,” he says.

Being a producer has also made him more conscious of budgets and resources. “It teaches you to balance creativity with practicality. You become more mindful of unnecessary costs and start looking at every project from the producer’s perspective as well. This mindset helps deliver quality work while making the best use of available resources. In the end, it’s not just about being creative, it’s about being responsible,” Dinesh explains.

He also feels actors should think about life beyond acting. For him, having a Plan B is important. “Absolutely. I believe every actor, and in fact, every professional, should always have a Plan B. No one knows what the future holds, so it’s important to be prepared if your primary career takes an unexpected turn,” he says.

Dinesh points to several actors who have diversified into other businesses. He mentions Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Shilpa Shetty and Vivek Oberoi as examples. For him, acting will always remain important. “For me, acting and being an on-stage performer will always be my first love, but I strongly believe in creating opportunities beyond acting. Having a Plan B not only provides financial security but also gives you the freedom to grow, diversify, and reinvent yourself whenever you choose,” he adds.

Dinesh has also witnessed a major technological shift in filmmaking. He remembers the days when filmmakers had to be careful with every foot of film. “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,” he recalls.

Digital filmmaking has changed that process completely. “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,” he says.

He has also seen major developments in cameras, lighting, prosthetics and VFX. “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 says.

His last major acting project was Goggles of Rajesh Khanna. He later appeared in a few commercials before shifting his focus towards production. He is still open to making a comeback as an actor. “That said, I’m always open to acting. If the right project comes along, I would love to be back on screen. I prefer to leave the choice of roles to the vision of directors and casting directors. 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,” he says.

Meanwhile, his production house is developing new scripts. Dinesh says the focus is currently on getting the stories right. “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,” he says.

He adds, “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.”