Acting can be developed at any age: Delhi High Court stays 30-year age cap for NSD admissions

The Delhi High Court recently stayed the admission criteria for the National School of Drama (NSD) that barred applicants above the age of 30 from applying for its flagship Dramatic Arts course.

Justice Jasmeet Singh reasoned that acting is an art that can be developed and refined at any stage of life, and fixing the upper age limit is arbitrary, unreasonable and against Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution of India.

"I am of the view that fixing of the upper age limit for a diploma has no reasonable nexus with the objective it seeks to achieve. Acting is an art that can be developed and refined at any stage of life, it is not bound by any criteria," the Court observed.

Justice Singh passed the order after two freelance theatre practitioners, Mayank and Vishal Gohar, challenged the upper age limit imposed by the NSD for admission to its three-year diploma in Dramatic Arts.

The petitioners, aged 34 and 42, argue that they were unfairly excluded from applying due to NSD’s admission notification dated March 17. The notification prescribes an age limit of 18 to 30 years as of July 1, 2026. While both candidates meet all other eligibility criteria, they are barred solely on account of age.

The plea contended that the restriction was arbitrary and violates fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution.

It was argued that theatre and dramatic arts are talent-driven disciplines where ability is not inherently age-dependent, making the upper age cap unreasonable and disproportionate.

The petitioners also highlighted NSD’s rigorous selection process as evidence that merit, not age, determines suitability. It further flagged that similar performing arts programmes in India and abroad do not impose such restrictive age limits.

Advocates Vivek Gurnani and Kanishk Maurya appeared for the petitioners.

Advocates Himanshu Pathak, Mohit Gupta and Rakshita Goyal represented National School of Drama.

[Read Order]