A Bharatanatyam dancer and performer, Deepak believes it is always better to be grounded and be human.  And, with his dedication and consistency, he achieved what was desired in his life.

Deepak Mazumdar is a Bharatanatyam performer. He is the founder and director of the Shiladhish Art and Research Institute, Bangalore. He is an alumnus of the University of Mumbai, where he completed his post-graduation in Bharatanatyam.

Deepak shares that after completing his education, he was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Mumbai at Nalanda Nrityakala Mahavidyalaya. He feels fortunate about his journey from student to lecturer at the same institute. He thanks his guru, who groomed him and helped him learn to present male aesthetics in his dance.

Recalling his childhood, Deepak says he was born in Mumbai. He was his parents' only child. He studied at a vernacular-medium school. Right from his childhood, he was interested in dance. So, his parents enrolled him in dance classes. He started learning Kathak, although he felt shy around all the girls in the class, but he continued with the encouragement of his dance teacher.

As his dance teacher kept changing, his father advised him to train under the guidance of a good teacher who could guide him constantly in his journey. He started learning dance from his guru, Shri Gopi Krishna. After some time, he left the dance classes and opted for B.Com. Soon, he decided to pursue dance as a career at a dance school. He was criticized for taking up dance as it was seen as a feminine trait, but his family supported his decision despite what society would say.

Deepak says that he enjoyed his simple life during his education days and focused on performance.

Speaking about his achievements, Deepak takes pride in having received the Maharashtra Gaurav Samman. He  has also been conferred with many national awards, including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award. He has choreographed for and worked with celebrities like Nita Ambani and Hema Malini.

Deepak believes that classical dancers are still undervalued and underpaid. He advises the young artists not to expect much in this field and to earn their income through teaching.

Speaking about his challenges, Deepak says that he did not have to face many challenges as such. He was lucky enough to pursue what he loved. He was provided with all the facilities at his disposal. Being ordinary human beings, we must keep learning and practicing throughout our lives and grow each day, says Deepak.

Sharing about his mistakes, Deepak says that he has not made any mistakes in his life, although he feels that his only mistake is being too generous and helping others without thinking about himself.

To all the youngsters who want to pursue classical art forms, Deepak advises them to enroll themselves in proper training classes, focus on one thing, and not deviate from their path. He feels classical dance is not just for entertainment but for lifting oneself from one world to another; it is a way to express our emotions.

Deepak advises everyone to have faith in the universe, and the universe will grant you the best that you deserve. He asks all of us to connect with nature and enjoy life. He believes that no one is complete in themselves and that the only thing we should learn is love.