Acting · Auditions · Ad Films
TV Commercial Auditions in India: How to Prepare for an Ad Film Audition
By Manasvi Pathak, actress, fashion model and UGC creator, Agra
Short answer
For TV commercial auditions and ad film castings, read the brief closely, learn the lines until you only glance at them, slate calmly with your name, keep your expression small and your eye line steady, wear plain clothes, and send a clean self tape on time. Follow up once, politely, and then move on.
Key takeaways
- Read the brief first: tone, language, framing and deadline matter as much as the lines.
- Slate calmly with your name and whatever the casting team asks for, then pause before you begin.
- Keep expression smaller than it feels and look at the lens the way you would look at a person.
- Plain clothes, a quiet room, front light and a steady phone make a self tape easy to watch.
- Be early, send on time, and follow up once.
TV commercial auditions are usually shorter and faster than people expect. You are not performing a full scene. You are showing a casting team, in a short clip, that you can take a simple idea and make it believable on camera.
What does a TV commercial audition look like in India?
Most casting calls for commercials and ad films run through a casting director or an agency. They send a brief, a few lines of script or a situation, and a deadline. Some auditions are held in person at a studio or an office. Many now ask you to record on your phone and send the clip.
Either way, the team is looking at the same few things. Does your presence suit the product, do you sound natural, and can you take a direction without going stiff. The ask itself is small: a line or two to the camera, a short reaction, or a simple action such as picking up a product and reacting to it. The skill is making a small thing feel real.
Read the brief before you read the script
The brief tells you more than the lines do. Look for the tone (warm, funny, premium, everyday), the setting and the language. Note whether it asks for Hindi, English or a mix, and whether the character is a customer, a parent, a professional or something else.
Then look for the instructions people skip. Framing, waist up or full length. Whether to look at the lens. What to wear. File size and deadline. Sending the wrong thing is the quickest way to be passed over, however good the performance.
If something is unclear, ask one short question by message or email. A sensible question reads as a sign that you are easy to work with. If the casting itself feels off, read how to spot a fake casting call in India before you send anything.
How do you slate in an audition?
A slate is the short introduction at the start of the clip. Look at the camera, say your name, and add whatever the casting team asked for, such as your city, your height or the agency you work with. Then pause for a beat before the first line.
Keep it calm and clear. Do not perform the slate and do not apologise in it. It should take a few seconds and sound like you, not like a character.
Expression and eye line for commercial auditions
Commercials are shot close, so small things read big. Keep your expression a little smaller than it feels. A real smile that reaches the eyes works better than one you hold for the whole take.
For eye line, follow the brief. If it says look at the lens, look at the lens as if there is a person you like standing behind it. If you are reading with a casting assistant, look just beside the camera, not down at the page. Learn the lines well enough that you only glance at them, and say them aloud many times so they sound like speech and not reading.
This matters most for Hindi lines. Say them the way you would say them to a friend. Formal, careful Hindi sounds like a recitation, and casting teams hear that straight away. The same habits of staying natural in front of a lens are covered in acting for the camera. A finished example of speaking to the lens is my talking head promo video for Woman Central.
What to wear to a commercial audition
Wear something plain and comfortable that sits close to the character in the brief. Choose a solid colour that does not match your skin tone or the wall behind you. Avoid busy prints, big logos and anything that makes noise, like bangles that clink near a microphone.
Keep hair and makeup natural and tidy. You do not need a costume. The team wants to picture you in the ad, so give them a clean base to work with.
Audition tips for beginners: self tapes, timing and follow up
For a self tape, use the phone orientation the brief asks for. Put the phone at eye height on a stand or a stack of books so it stays steady. Face a window or a lamp so the light falls on your face, and stand in front of a plain wall in a quiet room. Check the sound before the real take. Record a few takes and send the best one, not the longest.
Be on time. For an in person audition, arrive early with your contact details and a couple of recent photos. For a self tape, send it before the deadline, not at it, and name the file with your name and the role.
Follow up once. A short, polite message a few days later is enough. After that, move on to the next audition. If you want to see what commercial work looks like from the performer side, read about an actress for ad films in India or the wider range of on camera talent in India. The acting and casting guide links the rest of this series, and you can see more of my work on Instagram.
Frequently asked questions
What happens in a TV commercial audition?
You usually get a short brief and a few lines or a simple situation. You then perform it for a casting team in person or send a self tape. The team looks at presence, natural delivery and how well you take direction.
How do I slate in an audition?
Look at the camera, say your name calmly and add anything the casting team asked for, such as your city, height or agency. Keep it brief and friendly, pause for a beat, then start your lines.
What should I wear to a commercial audition?
Wear plain, comfortable clothes close to the character in the brief, in a solid colour that does not blend into the wall behind you. Avoid busy prints, large logos and jewellery that makes noise near the microphone.
How do I follow up after an audition?
Send one polite message a few days after the deadline or audition date if you have heard nothing. Thank them, mention the role, and leave it there. Repeated messages hurt more than they help.