I did not get recognition even after debuting with YRF: Taha Shah said- Bhansali sir believed in me, ‘Heeramandi’ proved to be the turning point of my career

Actor Taha Shah Badusha started his acting career with Yash Raj Films’ subsidiary Y-Films’ first film ‘Love Ka The End’. After this, he got his second big chance in Dharma Production’s film ‘Gippy’. After doing films of two big productions of Indian cinema, Taha Shah did not come into limelight. If seen, the actor got true recognition in the role of Nawab Tajdar Baloch in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s series ‘Heeramandi’. Recently, during a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, the actor told how he got a chance to work in ‘Heeramandi’. The process of selecting the character of ‘Heeramandi’ has been very difficult, tell something about it? No one was giving me work here. I went to USA for the audition of Aladdin. I stayed there and started making my base there. During the same time, after Covid, when my visa got terminated, I came back. Then I came to know that everyone here had forgotten me. At that time, my friend Tushar and I thought what to do? Tushar used to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali earlier, he knew that Sanjay sir is making ‘Heeramandi’. News had also come that the casting of ‘Heeramandi’ has started. Then how did you start trying? For 15 months Tushar kept calling me for my audition. The casting director of this series Shruti Mahajan did not give me a chance to audition for six years. I used to reach her office. Fed up with me, she auditioned me for a three-day role. At first I thought that after working so hard, I am getting a three-day role? When I was studying in USA, many actors were given examples and told that you only need one scene. You can get noticed in that one scene and your career can also be made. Did you audition for a three-day role? Yes, but I said that that one scene should be mine. I auditioned, got selected and the contract was also signed. Suddenly I got a call from Sanjay sir’s office that he wants to meet. I was wondering why he wants to meet me for a three-day role? When I met him, he said that you have done a good job, but no one knows you. He gave me the role of Balraj. I was shocked that how my role was increased. After two weeks, when I was going to sign a new contract, I got a call that Sanjay Sir has changed his mind. It often happens in my life that I am removed from projects. I thought that I was removed from this project too. But what happened when you went to meet Sanjay Leela Bhansali? I went and held Sanjay Sir’s feet. I said that if I have made any mistake, please forgive me, but let me do the role. Sanjay Sir said that I saw your look test, I am giving you the lead role of Tajdar. I was not able to understand what Sanjay Sir was saying? He said that come tomorrow for the look test, then I realized that he was not joking. That day I auditioned twice. I had good contacts with everyone, but Sanjay Sir said not to call anyone except Shruti. After how many days did you call Shruti? I thought that I would get a call in two-four days saying yes or no. When I did not get a call for two weeks, I called Shruti Madam and asked her. She told me that I had not received any call from Sanjay Sir regarding this. I called again after a month and got the same answer. After that I stopped calling. While waiting, I got three other projects. One of them was an international project, and I was getting very good money for it. What was going on in your mind about that project? The problem I was facing was whether to accept the projects that were coming or wait for ‘Heeramandi’. I was also afraid that if I did any project, I would be removed from the series. I was in a big dilemma. When I asked my mother, her suggestion was to do what my heart wanted. I listened to my heart and cancelled all the projects. I suddenly came to zero. After three days, suddenly I got a call from Sanjay Sir’s office that you are my Tajdar, come to the set tomorrow. What was the feeling when I got a call from Bhansali? Even when I got a call from Sanjay Sir’s team, I was shocked. It has often happened with me that even after signing the contract, I was not taken in the project. I had not even signed the contract for ‘Heeramandi’ yet. The shooting of the series was going on for three months. When I went to the set, Sanjay Sir asked if I had done any project in the meantime. I had shot a little bit in the meantime. When I told Sanjay Sir, he said that now you cannot be Tajdar. What happened next? I became very sad. I came to know that someone else was being cast for the role of Tajdar. I said that give me the role of Balraj. Sanjay Sir said that it does not matter, you play the role of Tajdar. Many people wanted me not to do that role, but Sanjay Sir was completely confident that I could play that character. I was anything at that time. Sanjay Sir believed in me. Tajdar is such a role that everyone wanted to play. There is talk of making ‘Heeramandi 2’, many people are demanding that you play the role of Alamzeb’s child. What would you like to say? The audience is always right. It is they who make stars. If the audience conveys this message to Sanjay Sir, then I am ready. I am always ready to work with Sanjay Sir, even if the role is small. What kind of roles would you like to do in the upcoming projects? Right now I want to play such roles in which I get a chance to perform. It should be such an emotional role that I can touch the hearts of others. After doing two-three such films, I would like to do dance and action films. Some people are comparing you with Shahrukh Khan’s romance and his eyes, while some people are comparing you with Fawad Khan and Vicky Kaushal, how do you see this comparison? They are very big stars. Shahrukh Khan Sir is the ideal of all of us. I am not even equal to his nail. If people are saying this, then it is a great blessing for me. As far as Vicky and Fawad are concerned, Vicky was my senior in the acting institute. I love him a lot. He is very hardworking. I always keep saying that I want to do a film with him. I have been a fan of Fawad bhai since the time he used to sing.

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