In the past, individuals could stroll down the street or visit a grocery store and be spotted by a photographer or director, leading to immediate fame. For instance, Charlize Theron experienced this phenomenon in 1994 during a dispute with a bank teller. Similarly, director Anurag Basu discovered Kangana Ranaut in a Mumbai coffee shop and offered her a role in the film Gangster (2006). Arjun Rampal was noticed by designer Rohit Bal in a nightclub, who encouraged him to pursue modelling. Meanwhile, Rosario Dawson was found at the age of 15 while sitting on her front steps by filmmaker Harmony Korine.

However, the landscape has evolved significantly. Talent scouts now undertake the laborious task of reviewing demo videos for entertainment companies, sports teams, and film studios. These scouts often serve multiple roles, acting as managers and representatives as well. This profession demands a blend of optimism and resilience, as well as the ability to remain patient while also thinking quickly. It requires a focus on individual talent while maintaining an awareness of broader industry trends. The emergence of new talent is reshaping the industry.

On the lookout

Nisarg Naik, at the age of 24, has already established himself as a pivotal figure for aspiring cricketers seeking to transform their careers. He travels extensively across the nation, attending matches wherever they are held, and claims to have observed over 150 games to date. This dedication distinguishes him from older scouts, who typically operate from a distance.

In addition to his scouting efforts, Naik manages a roster of more than 20 players, including notable names such as Uma Chetry, Kashvee Gautam, Shabnam Shakil, and Aparna Mondal. He has also played a significant role in recommending players for the Women’s Premier League. Last year, three of his discoveries participated in the Women’s World Cup, while 13 were featured in the WPL.

“Discovery, both for players and by scouts, relies heavily on references,” he states. “Your reputation hinges on your most recent selection.” Naik reminisces about discovering Chetry during a local match in Assam two years prior. “Her aggressive play and strong fielding caught my attention. At that time, we lacked Assamese representation on the women’s team,” he explains. “I signed her in 2023, and just ten days later, she received a call-up to the national team.” He also secured Gautam's signing before the WPL, noting, “She is now the highest-valued uncapped player, worth ₹2 crore.”

One of Naik's proudest achievements is Niki Prasad, the captain of the women’s U19 team. “Two years ago, when she was not even part of the India team, I tweeted that she would be captain by 2025,” Naik recalls. “That tweet garnered over 50,000 likes after her appointment as captain was announced.”

Naik was raised in Mumbai and initially began his career as a net bowler for the IPL while also being a potential candidate for the U19 team. However, he has come to understand that his true talent lies in analyzing the pitch rather than participating in the game itself. Although he cannot physically attend 15 matches in a single day, he possesses the insight to know where to focus his attention. Naik utilizes Instagram to cross-reference scorecards from the BCCI’s domestic match updates. When he identifies a promising player, he searches for them on Instagram to observe their performance.

“Last May, I came across an Instagram video of Akshita Maheshwari bowling and was quite impressed. Consequently, I reached out to her,” he explains. Later, during a match in Mumbai in November, he spoke with the batting coach for the Mumbai Indians and informed her about Maheshwari. The following day, the coach contacted him, requesting Akshita’s contact information. On that very day, Akshita received an invitation for trials. The Mumbai Indians were the sole team to place a bid on the 24-year-old bowler during the December auction.

Naik is already planning for the future. He recruits players with the highest potential for the agency, Artist Assist, where he is employed. Additionally, he maintains a vigilant focus on fielding. “When scouts request videos from players, they typically send clips of themselves hitting sixes or taking wickets. Fielding may not be glamorous, but it is where true determination is revealed.”

Searchlight on

Manpreet Bacchhar, 37, holds the titles of CEO at Vishal Bhardwaj Films and Creative Producer at Sikhya Films, as indicated on her business cards. However, she continues to work as a freelance talent agent for film and television, a role she has embraced since 2012. This career path may seem unexpected for someone with a background in microbiology. Bacchhar entered the industry through event management and discovered a job opening at her flatmate’s talent agency, Kwan (now known as Collective), which was conveniently located just 15 minutes from their residence in Andheri, Mumbai. She secured the position and went on to manage notable talents such as the late Irrfan Khan, Vijay Varma, Wamiqa Gabbi, Tillottama Shome, and Gulshan Devaiah.

Identifying the next screen star does not follow a strict formula, but two essential elements are involved. “A scout may discover an individual brimming with talent during an audition, as we did with Anshumaan Pushkar and Wamiqa Gabbi. Alternatively, one can recognize potential and cultivate it to develop star quality, as we achieved with Vijay Varma, who was recommended by director Guneet Monga. We advocated for him for two years, as I was confident in his exceptional abilities.”

After thirteen years in the industry, Bacchhar has realized that she excels in both aspects. “I have been a quick learner, found myself in the right environments, and I attribute my success to the individuals I have collaborated with,” she states. “However, this profession heavily relies on instinct. I possess a strong intuition, particularly for identifying talent from outside the industry.” These individuals often lack the necessary resources and connections to remain visible when opportunities arise. “Certainly, a person must possess talent and a strong work ethic. Nevertheless, luck is also a significant factor.”

It was luck that brought Bacchhar to Gabbi in 2019 during the casting process for a television adaptation of Midnight’s Children, which ultimately did not materialize. At that time, Gabbi had primarily worked in Punjabi cinema. “We were captivated by her performance during the audition,” Bacchhar recalls. By that point, Bacchhar had stepped away from talent management. “However, once an agent, always an agent,” she remarks. She resumed her role as co-manager for Gabbi, strategizing her career trajectory, assisting in film selections, and establishing her as a formidable talent while advocating for top opportunities.

Field vision

For Prajval VC, the transition from sports talent scout to performance analyst for the national football team in July 2024 was a straightforward choice. “Focusing on your players and your team is intrinsically linked to scouting,” remarks the 26-year-old from Bengaluru.

Since his appointment, the number of agents has significantly increased, leading clubs to rely more heavily on them. A crucial ability for every scout is to advocate for a promising player even before they achieve notable success. In 2023, when coaches and management were sceptical about footballer Muhammad Asif, Prajval dedicated additional hours and days to persuade them of his potential. His efforts were rewarded, as Asif is now a midfielder for the Indian national team.

Prajval emphasizes that the role also demands a daily dose of optimism—talent can be found in unexpected places, and surprises are always possible. Becoming disillusioned too soon may result in missing out on a valuable player. “Achieving a 100% success rate is impossible,” he states. “You might recruit someone who does not meet your initial expectations. That does not imply he is a poor player; it is simply part of the learning process.”

Hearing aid

Tarsame Mittal, 41, began his career as an artist coordinator and event manager in 2004, subsequently establishing TM Talent Management in 2012. He is acutely aware of the often unappreciated role of scouts, who are celebrated for a singular discovery rather than the numerous potential talents they evaluate. His initial significant discovery was Zubeen Garg, the leading artist in Assam. To date, he has signed and managed over 60 artists, including notable names such as Arijit Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Vishal & Shekhar, Rekha Bhardwaj, Badshah, and Amit Trivedi.

Mittal secured most of his artists prior to the rise of social media's influence. “We utilize social media to enhance our artists' visibility, rather than to scout for new talent,” he states. Despite the prevalent trend of seeking new voices on platforms like Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, he recognizes the existence of genuine talent beyond the digital realm. “A classical music singer practising outside of social media does not diminish their talent,” he asserts. “In India, a thousand songs are released daily, yet only 10 or 20 achieve hit status in an entire year. Our responsibility is to identify those gems.”

Fortunately, the process of talent scouting in Indian music is not overly competitive. “We are far from saturation,” Mittal clarifies. “With approximately 100,000 artists in India, only about 1,000 gain popularity, and no more than 200 are professionally managed. Furthermore, 500 of these artists rose to fame prior to the advent of social media,” he explains.

However, the music industry is evolving rapidly, according to Mittal. “The number of artist managers is set to increase significantly, as there is both talent and business potential.” Similar to the film industry, it is often trusted acquaintances—parents, spouses, family, and friends—who take on managerial roles. “Managing an artist is not rocket science. It requires an understanding of the client’s abilities and vision, aligning them with market opportunities, and repeating this process consistently,” he notes. Yet, excelling as a manager demands more. “One must possess expertise in law, finance, management, marketing, and sales. It is akin to running a business.”

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