 Finally, on 15 January 1937, with the help of his close friend Nayampalli, a veteran character actor, he landed his first role in a movie.The movie was "Zambo", and it was being produced and directed by Mohan Bhavnani, who was the Chief Producer of the Films Division of the Government of India.David was actively associated with IPTA, a theatre organization, and went on to be part of many Khwaja Ahmad Abbas's films, including Palme d'Or nominee "Pardesi" (1957), and "Shehar Aur Sapna" (1963), which won the 1964 National Film Award for Best Feature Film, "Munaa" and "Char Dil Char Raahein".