Sonil Shanker

Sonil Shanker is a dynamic theatre practitioner, actor, director, and acting coach whose work has been redefining performance art since 2012. Having collaborated with international artists from Germany, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Italy, India, Romania, and Australia, Sonil brings a distinctly global sensibility to his craft.
A proud graduate of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Class of 2009 (Major in Acting), Sonil is celebrated for his bold, experimental, and unconventional approach to theatre. His deep understanding of how movement creates visual tension allows him to craft performances that are both visually striking and textually profound. His productions are known for blending humour, intellect, and emotional depth — leaving audiences both entertained and inspired.
As an acting coach, Sonil has mentored some of Pakistan’s most acclaimed performers, including Mahira Khan (Raees), Sheheryar Munawar (QHKN), Bilal Ashraf (Superstar), Amrit Kaur (QOMD-Urdu Dialect), and Maha Tahirani (Top Model), among many others.
Next Scene (Short Film) — funded and supported by Olomopolo and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Directed by Sonil Shanker, it was screened in the Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry, Cannes (2021). I Am Shumaila (Short Film) — officially selected for the Gandhara Film Festival (2021) and currently on the international film festival circuit.
Now based in Melbourne, Australia, Sonil continues to push artistic boundaries and contribute actively to the vibrant Australian theatre and film scene. He is also working extensively on collaborative South Asian projects.
His upcoming productions in 2026 projects explore themes of domestic violence ‘Kameeni’ scheduled in April in Sydney and “The Candle/ Morre’s Candle” (WT) Project based on asylum seekers (Creative Australia and Creative Victoria govt grants) from Pakistan in Australia in late this year.