Which is Better for Acting - NSD or FTII? Courses Offered, Famous Alumni, Career Opportunities

Don’t know which acting institute is better, NSD or FTII? Check out this article and compare admission process, courses offered, tuition fee and career scope of NSD and FTII to help you make decision.

Which is Better: NSD or FTII?

Which is better for acting NSD or FTII? Choosing the right acting school can be the biggest decision for anyone dreaming of a career in theatre or film industry. The National School of Drama and Film and Television Institute of India are two of the best acting institutes in India. To help make a decision, students can make a pro and con list of both institutes and compare them on different parameters, such as admission process, course, fees and career opportunities.

Check out this page to know which acting school is better between NSD and FTII. Also, find a list of NSD famous alumni and FTII famous alumni to know which of your favorite celebrities in film and theatre industry are from these institutes.

National School of Drama or NSD

The National School of Drama, Delhi, is one of India’s best institutes for theatre and acting. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959 and became an independent organization in 1975.

NSD offers one full time PG Diploma course in Dramatic Arts. The course duration is 3 years. The institute offers 27 seats for admission in this course. The course fee for PG Diploma in Dramatic Arts is INR 5,730.

The National School of Drama makes sure that students learn through practice. Therefore, their course structure not only contains theoretical study of acting, but also allows students to produce and perform plays in front of live audiences. This gives students a real theatre experience. The facilities at NSD campus are perfect for training. Many famous actors and directors in India are alumni of NSD.

Also Read: Difference Between Theatre, Television, and Film Actors: Skills, Courses

Film and Television Institute of India or FTII

The Film and Television Institute of India FTII, Pune is one of India’s top institutes for building a career in film and media. It is a private institute, established in 1960 on historic Prabhat Studio campus. The campus was earlier declared a heritage site by Pune Municipal Corporation, and is still used by students. The institute is accredited by AICTE or All India Council for Technical Education.

FTII offers a wide range of PG Diploma and Certificate courses in Film and Television Wing in multiple specializations. These consist of cinematography, sound design, script writing, acting, direction and editing. The institute offers 120 seats for admission to offered courses. The course fees at FTII range from ₹ 96.63 K to 1.45 L for PG Diploma courses and ₹ 48.31 K to 1.45 L for certificate courses.

The Film and Television Institute of India is a member of CILECT, a global network of leading film schools. Students at FTII get opportunity to train with modern equipment, explore creative storytelling and learn directly on sets and studios. Many famous filmmakers, actors and technicians in India have graduated from FTII.

Also Read:

• How To Become A Screenwriter
• Screenwriter VS Scriptwriter

How is NSD different from FTII?

Before deciding which institute is better for acting between NSD and FTII, students must know how these institutes are different from one another to measure their advantages and disadvantages.

Which is Better for Acting: NSD or FTII?

Both the National School of Drama and the Film & Television Institute of India have their own benefits. Choosing the best acting school in India from these two depends on the career prospects of the student. Both institutes are prestigious and help students build a career in acting.

Strengths of NSD & FTII

• NSD provides robust theatre education, along with practical stage training, movement, and voice.
• FTII offers a broader skill set to students. The courses offered by FTII educate students about acting with a combination of technical film and TV production.

Best for (Career Goals)

• NSD is best for a career in serious theatre work or stage-focused acting careers.
• FTII is best for a career in screenwriting, filmmaking, or the technical side of media production.

Know About: Acting in Film & TV colleges in India

Courses Offered by NSD

The National School of Drama offers admission to the following courses:

• Modern Indian Drama
• Voice & Speech
• Classical Indian Drama
• World Drama
• Theatre Music
• Yoga
• Mime and Movement

Also Read: NSD Entrance Test

Courses Offered by FTII

The Film & Television Institute of India offers admission to courses in two different wings, Television Wing & Film Wing.

Courses Offered in TV Wing:

• Direction
• Video Editing
• Electronic Cinematography
• Sound Recording & Television Engineering

Courses Offered in Film Wing:

• Direction & Screenplay Writing
• Cinematography
• Editing
• Sound Recording & Sound Design
• Art Direction & Production Design
• Screen Acting
• Screenwriting (Film, TV & Web Series)

Also Read: FTII JET Entrance Test

Notable Alumni of FTII

Some of the top celebrities who are notable alumni of the Film & Television Institute of India are mentioned here.

Notable Alumni of NSD

Check out the table to know which celebrity is an alumnus of the National School of Drama.

Also Read:

• Film Making Course: Admission 2025, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Career Scope
• Job Opportunities after Film Making Courses in India: Eligibility, Skills, Top Colleges

Job Options After NSD and FTII

After pursuing the desired course from the National School of Drama or the Film & Television Institute of India, students can make a career in the following job profiles.

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• Bollywood Choreographer Female
• Bollywood Choreographer Male
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