Overview
The National School of Drama (NSD) is India's foremost institution for theatre training, located at Bahawalpur House, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi. Founded in 1959 by Sangeet Natak Akademi (India's national academy for music, dance, and drama), NSD became an autonomous organization in 1975 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. It is fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
NSD is primarily a theatre school, not a film school. However, its graduates have shaped Indian cinema more than any other single training institution. The school's rigorous approach to performance, text analysis, and directorial craft produces artists whose skills transfer directly to film and television. Many of India's most acclaimed screen actors and directors are NSD alumni.
The school operates a three-year full-time residential diploma program that is among the most selective arts programs in India. For 2026 admission, 32 seats are available for the diploma course (including up to 3 seats for foreign nationals who pay full fees). An additional 80 seats are available across four one-year certificate courses at regional centres in Gangtok, Bengaluru, Varanasi, and Agartala (20 seats each).
Admission for 2026 is open. Applications must be submitted online by 17 April 2026 with a fee of Rs 50. The academic session commences 15 July 2026. Apply through the NSD admission portal.
Programs Offered
Three-Year Full-Time Residential Diploma in Dramatic Arts (New Delhi)
- 32 seats total (up to 3 for foreign nationals)
- Fully residential with hostel accommodation provided
- Covers acting, directing, design, and theatre technology
- Students produce plays performed publicly as part of training
- Specializations available in Acting, Directing, and Design
One-Year Full-Time Certificate Courses (Regional Centres)
| Course | Location | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Dramatic Art | Gangtok, Sikkim | 20 |
| Acting | Bengaluru, Karnataka | 20 |
| Indian Classical Theatre | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | 20 |
| Theatre-in-Education | Agartala, Tripura | 20 |
Extension Programs and Workshops
NSD conducts shorter programs and workshops in specific theatre and performance disciplines throughout the year.
Admission Process and Fees
Eligibility
- Graduation degree from a recognised university
- Minimum 6 theatre productions for diploma course (4 for certificate courses), with supporting documents
- Age 18 to 30 years as of 1 July 2026 (relaxations for reserved categories)
- Diploma course taught in Hindi; proficiency required
Selection Process (Two Stages)
- Preliminary examination/audition - held across 18 centres in India in May and June 2026. Centres include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Patna, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and others.
- Final workshop - 5-day workshop in New Delhi from 15 to 19 June 2026. Shortlisted candidates attend and are assessed on practical skills.
Fees and Financial Support
NSD is fully government-funded. Tuition is effectively free. Key financial details:
- Application fee: Rs 50 (online submission)
- Monthly scholarship (diploma): Rs 9,500 per month for selected candidates
- Monthly scholarship (certificate): Rs 6,000 per month
- Residential accommodation: Provided on campus at no cost
- Make-up kit and notebooks: Approximately Rs 3,000 one-time cost on admission
- Insurance: Risk Cover Insurance Policy required, premium approximately Rs 150 to Rs 200 annually
Students who receive the scholarship must execute a bond of Rs 108,000. If a student discontinues training before completing three years (either voluntarily or on disciplinary grounds), they must return all scholarship money paid. A surety of Rs 108,000 duly attested by a District Magistrate, Collector, or Deputy Commissioner is required.
SC/ST/OBC reservations apply: 4 seats out of 20 are reserved for SC/ST/OBC candidates in certificate courses, preferably those from families traditionally belonging to the performing arts. Foreign students apply through the Indian Embassy or High Commission, which forwards applications to the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Foreign students pay full fees.
What Filmmakers Should Know
NSD is a theatre school, not a film school. Students who want to work exclusively in film should consider the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) or other dedicated film programs. However, NSD's training in performance craft, text interpretation, and directorial vision provides a foundation that many of India's finest screen actors consider essential to their work.
The school is located in Mandi House, the cultural heart of New Delhi, placing students in the center of India's theatre community. NSD operates its own repertory company (NSD Repertory Company), which provides graduates with professional performance opportunities immediately after completing their training. This is a significant career advantage that few drama schools anywhere offer.
The three-year diploma is intensive and residential. Students live on campus, attend daily classes, and participate in production work throughout the program. The curriculum covers every aspect of theatre with theory related to practice. Students are required to produce plays that are then performed before the public.
The school's alumni network extends across Indian theatre, film, and television. NSD graduates support each other throughout their careers, and the school's credential is respected across all segments of the Indian entertainment industry, from Bollywood to regional cinema to streaming platforms.
Notable Alumni
NSD alumni dominate Indian theatre and occupy prominent positions in Bollywood and India's regional film industries:
- Naseeruddin Shah - graduated 1973. One of India's most respected actors. Films include Masoom, A Wednesday, Ishqiya, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
- Irrfan Khan - graduated 1987. Internationally acclaimed actor in Life of Pi, The Lunchbox, Slumdog Millionaire, Jurassic World. Recipient of Padma Shri and National Film Award. Received a scholarship to study at NSD.
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui - graduated 1996. Acclaimed actor in Gangs of Wasseypur, Sacred Games, The Lunchbox, Manto. Trained alongside Saurabh Shukla and Manoj Bajpai with the Sakshi Theatre Group.
- Om Puri - graduated from NSD (also studied at FTII). Actor in East Is East, Ardh Satya, Maqbool, The Hundred-Foot Journey. Two-time National Award winner. Padma Shri recipient (1990).
- Anupam Kher - NSD alumnus. Actor in Silver Linings Playbook, A Wednesday, Special 26. Served as NSD Chairperson from 2001 to 2004.
- Pankaj Tripathi - graduated 2004. Actor in Mirzapur, Gangs of Wasseypur, Newton, Mimi. One of the most in-demand character actors in contemporary Indian cinema.
- Pankaj Kapur - actor and director. Known for Maqbool, The Blue Umbrella, Raakh.
- Ratna Pathak Shah - actress in Satya, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, Lipstick Under My Burkha.
- Neena Gupta - graduated 1980. Actress in Badhaai Ho, Woh Chokri, Panchayat.
- Ashutosh Rana - actor in Dushman, Sangharsh, Simmba.
- Raghubir Yadav - actor in Lagaan, Peepli Live.
- Shah Rukh Khan - studied under Barry John's Theatre Action Group in Delhi, associated with NSD during his Delhi University years before moving to Bollywood.
Acceptance Rate
NSD is one of the most selective arts programs in India. For 2026 admission, only 32 seats are available for the 3-year diploma, with up to 3 reserved for foreign nationals. The school receives thousands of applications each year. The selection process has 2 stages: a preliminary audition held across 18 centres in India, followed by a 5-day final workshop in New Delhi. Only shortlisted candidates attend the workshop. The final merit list follows government reservation norms for SC/ST/OBC categories. The 1:4 ratio for the final test means approximately 128 candidates are called for the workshop for 32 seats.
Standout Faculty
NSD's faculty includes working theatre directors, designers, and performers from across India. The school follows a master-apprentice teaching model where students work closely with senior faculty throughout the 3-year program. Key faculty include:
- Ratan Thakur - Former Director of NSD. Oversaw the school's academic development and repertory company.
- Anuradha Kapur - Former Director of NSD. Theatre director and scholar specializing in contemporary Indian performance.
- Robin Das - Faculty in design and scenography. Award-winning production designer for theatre and film.
NSD also brings visiting faculty from international theatre schools and companies for intensive workshops each year.
Student Film Examples
NSD is a theatre school, so student work consists primarily of stage productions rather than films. Students produce plays performed publicly as part of their training, including graduation productions directed by final-year students. The NSD Repertory Company performs regularly in Delhi and on tour, staging both classical and contemporary works. While these are theatre productions rather than films, many NSD graduates apply their performance training to screen work, and student productions have launched careers that span both theatre and cinema.
Watch
See Also
For comparing film school ROI against self-taught paths, see Film School vs Self-Taught. To estimate total education costs including living expenses, use the Budget Breakdown.
