This city of dreams has nurtured millions of dreamers in its womb. One such Mumbaikar - intense, passionate and confident - barged into the formal theatre of Satyadev Dubey and walked out being called 'talented'.

"I always wanted to be an actor, right from my school days and I knew I will be one." recollects Ganesh Yadav.

Today, while keeping himself busy with acting in Hindi commercial movies as a fine actor, Ganesh Yadav has made a name in Hindi and Marathi theatre, both as director and actor.

"But the journey was not a cake walk, I really had to struggle to get my bite. The only fortunate thing that happened was that I met the right people at the right time.

"Director Sudhir Mishra saw my performance in the nationally acclaimed play Nagamandal by Vijaya Mehta and cast me in his film 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi' for which I got a lot of praise."

From then on it was touch and go.

The doors of Verma Corporation greeted Ganesh Yadav and he gave amazing performances in "Shool", "Company", "Road" etc.

Simultaneously his theatre buddy, Mahesh Manjrekar cast him in his hit film "Vastav". The duo, worked together once again in "Kurukshetra".

Raj Kumar Santoshi's "Legend Of Bhagat Singh" was the next venture.

Ganesh Yadav then showed his versatility by working for parallel cinema - "Limited Manuski" (Marathi) for which he was awarded as best supporting actor, Ashwin Chowdry's "Dhoop", Amol Palekar's "Bangarwadi" etc.

He continued in theatre, his first love, with full vigour and passion during intervals from doing films. Pratibimb (Mahesh Elcunchwar), Avinash (Shanta Ghokhale) and several others.

He directed Shafat Khan's "Mumbai Ke Kauve" and "Shobha Yatra", creating a difference in the Marathi and Hindi theatre scenario.

After having trod a long way for more than a decade, the actor says, "Give me more.

"I want to work with more directors and bigger projects."

Isn't the actor already doing that?

"I still haven't got a chance to prove myself completely. I am eagerly waiting for such opportunities, let's see," smiles Ganesh Yadav with dimples deepening, eyes narrowing and ambition twinkling on the face.

This year has been a lucky one for Yadav. His films "Jagao" and "Love in Nepal" have already been released and the forthcoming are "Bardaasht", "Chot", "Nigheban", "Sehar", "Bombay, City of Dreams", "Ahilya Devi" and a Tamil film, "Sadurangam".