A Backstage alternative built for India.
Backstage made its name in the US. ShortCine is where actors and models get found across India, and you don't pay a subscription just to apply.
Backstage is a solid platform if you're chasing roles in New York or LA. For auditions in Mumbai, Hyderabad, or Chennai, you end up scrolling a feed that was never really meant for you.
Then there's the paywall. On most global platforms you subscribe first and apply second. ShortCine works the other way around: your profile is free, and casting teams come looking for you.
We built ShortCine around how casting actually happens here, including regional languages, WhatsApp-driven calls, and the modeling and ad work that sits right alongside film.
One profile that
speaks for itself
Your ShortCine profile is your universal comp-card. One professional identity that replaces the scattered files, the outdated resumes, the endless WhatsApp forwards.
Priya Menon
Showreel
2:34 — Updated March 2026
Click a feature to see its preview
Made for India
Regional languages, local casting calls, and the kind of work that actually gets cast here.
Free for talent
Build a profile and apply to roles without a subscription standing in the way.
Found by AI
Casting directors search by look, language, and skill, so the right roles find you.
“I'd paid for two global sites and never heard back. My first month on ShortCine, a casting director in Hyderabad messaged me directly.”
Aarav T.
Actor, Hyderabad
Frequently asked questions
Is ShortCine a good Backstage alternative?+
Yes, if you're casting or auditioning in India. Backstage is built around the US film, TV, and theater market, while ShortCine focuses on Indian film, OTT, advertising, and modeling work, with AI casting search and verified profiles.
Do I have to pay to apply, like on Backstage?+
No. Your ShortCine profile is free and there's no subscription standing between you and applying to roles. Casting teams find you directly.
Does ShortCine work for models too, not just actors?+
Yes. ShortCine covers modeling and ad work alongside film and OTT acting, so one profile works across all of it.