Mr. Sachin Shetty

Happy Weekend Chembur Family.

Mr. Sachin Shetty: An actor who pushed through accessibility barriers with optimism, passion, and resilience. He has built a life defined by determination rather than limitation.

Mr. Sachin Shetty's story in his own words:

“I am from Sindhi Society, born and brought up in Chembur, and I have lived here for most of my life.

My schooling began at Adapt SSI (formerly the Spastics Society of India) in Bandra. I studied there for two years, after which the principal suggested my parents shift me to a normal school. I then got admitted to Vivekanand Education Society, Sindhi Society (VES) and completed the rest of my education there.

School life was rough. Accessibility barriers were high. Elevators were not common. Someone had to accompany me to my classroom, to the washroom, everywhere. That creates dependency and puts you at another person’s mercy. Ap dusron ke rehmo karam par reh jaate ho. If the caretaker was unavailable, life simply came to a halt.

Once, in sixth standard, the caretaker left mid-semester and for days we could not find a replacement. Things became so difficult that I almost decided to quit education altogether. I made peace with the idea that education may stop, but knowledge should never stop. So I began reading newspapers and stories regularly with that belief, “Knowledge kaise bhi band nahi hona chahiye, education bhale hi band ho jaaye.”

Fortunately, after about three months, we found a caretaker, and I continued my education and completed my SSC. Since VES also had junior college, I continued there in commerce. But once again, a few months into junior college, my caretaker left because it became difficult for him to manage. I still completed my first year somehow.

At the beginning of HSC, the principal suggested I continue studying from home and come only for exams, and since the exam centre was the same, I completed my HSC easily. Then I pursued my Bachelor’s in Commerce from Swami Vivekanand College and completed my graduation. Dheere dheere sab ho gaya.

After graduation, I wanted to join the civil services, so I appeared for UPSC, but luck did not favour me. I took it as a lesson and appeared for the entrance exam of State Bank of Hyderabad (now merged with State Bank of India). I cleared it in one go and got placed. It has been close to 17 years now and there has been no looking back.

In the initial years, I also tried for a stable government job in BMC and RBI, but things did not work out. Even though three percent seats are reserved under the disability quota, it is still not enough considering the many diverse disability categories like visually impaired individuals, autistic individuals, people with orthopedic conditions, and deaf and mute individuals, so naturally the chances of someone like me with an orthopedic condition making the cut are low. But I have no complaints.

In fact I'm am deeply grateful for everything, especially my mom. She played the most important role in my upbringing. It was not easy, but she did far more than what a normal mother does. Whatever I have achieved in my life is because of her relentless dedication.

Till Covid, my mom used to handle my office pickup and drop. Post Covid, I requested work from home because I did not want to risk my health or hers. Since then, I have been working from home.

Parents give us safety and nurture us, but friends introduce us to life, confidence and fun. My friends made movies, trips and outings possible. Like they say, it takes a village to raise a child, but I say it takes friends from that village to make him an adult.

In eleventh standard, I watched a movie in a theatre for the first time with my friends. All thanks to them, I do not have any sad stories to tell. College mein bunk bhi mara hai, masti bhi ki hai. Sab kuch normal he raha hai.

There is no “usne mere saath aisa kar diya” or “mere saath vaisa hua.” NA BHAI. There is no tragic sob story in my life.

Yes, I do need to plan differently before outings. I've to check how accessible a place is, whether it has a working elevator, how steep the slope is, whether there are stairs and how many steps it has, etc. One thing I must say, Mumbai is far more accessible compared with other cities, and people here are extremely supportive. No strange stares, no discomfort. Only warmth and acceptance.

I also underwent formal acting training at Anupam Kher’s Institute Actor Prepares. Acting is my passion and the stage is where I truly belong. I have worked in ad films too. I may not have made it big yet because I understand that some roles come with very specific requirements which I may or may not fit into, and that is fine. That does not stop me from attending workshops every Sunday or working on my own projects.

Now I am almost 40, and I think it is time for me to get settled. Haan, late toh ho gaya hai, par der aaye durust aaye. I have been on a few dates lately, so let’s hope for the best.”

Thank you for for your time.

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