Dehradun, Aug. 16 -- unpretentious, observant and fully present. For many viewers who easily recognise his face but not always his name, Anil Geosrge has become the dependable backbone of contemporary Indian screen storytelling - the character actor who brings weight to a scene without ever demanding the limelight.

Anil's path to Mumbai was anything but direct. A childhood acquaintanceship with Tom Alter - who later called him to the city and introduced him to Bollywood - was a turning point. The two had met when Anil was about eight or nine, during Tom's teaching stint at St Thomas' School in Jagadhri, Haryana. Their bond, forged on stages and sets over decades, helped nudge Anil from regional theatre to national attention.

His breakth...