Mumbai, the city that never sleeps was once a daunting challenge for me. A city of "Bollywood Dreams" I have walked this city’s lanes facing rejection and disappointment, but never gave up on my celluloid dream.
Putting into the grind, auditioning daily in the bustling streets of Andheri, and ultimately receiving a generic response such as “We'll get back to you" was quite disheartening. However, looking back at my YouTube auditions, I'm reminded of the journey I have been through.
As the saying goes, finding a place to call it a home or a paying guest in Mumbai is no easy feat, especially for those who are breaking the mold with their unconventional profession---"A struggling actor" Fortunately, the 'Kurds' of Goan lineage from the British era do provide comfortable living arrangements for bachelors. Lifelong and meaningful friendships do blossom from here. Thanks to divine intervention, I secured a comfortable paying guest spot in the heart of Bandra (West). The house owner too was sympathetic and assisted me and my friend on several occasions.
Down the memory lane, I vividly remember watching "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" multiple times at 'Maratha Mandir' located in Mumbai Central. The thunderous applause from the audiences for the spectacular ending part of the 'Train Scene' electrified the air, sending waves of euphoria through the crowd.
Coupled with this, having meals at the road side dabas was in fact a delicacy at that time. Struggle was harsh but not impossible! Enjoying the company of like minded souls who also understood the traits pertaining to the entertainment industry was highly appreciated.
The nostalgia keeps on coming back to me, wherein my companions who sensed the gigs in this Industry eventually headed back to their hometowns.
"Seriously, can't you see? Jesus Christ is the only one who's sticking around you forever!"
It sparked insight once again over this spritual truth in my life! I kept navigating the ups and downs of my life exclusively by God's grace.
In another part of my life, a "million dollar question" though-"Why haven't you found someone special?"
Oh yes! The answer revolves around my core ambition pertaining to my childhood dream. However, I decided not to marry and to focus on my craft, prioritising my film career's uncertainties and eventually I didn't want to burden my partner with the same challenges.
Making headway, the fog got lifted up exclusively by God's grace. Clarity emerged with a new perspective, and I perceived the illuminated path ahead of me.
Pushing boundaries, the emergence of the digital world marked a turning point after enduring years of hardship and perseverance. However, the shift happened dramatically when "Tik-Tok" became my first platform and later on I branched out to "Instagram reels". Evidently, this has proved to be a creative outlet for me to showcase my acting talents, and it also brings me immense pleasure. Currently, traveling and shooting reels for Instragram are some of the passions that intersect my life. I seamlessly blend my love for exploring new offbeat destinations of north India, capturing moments on my camera and invigorating it with my acting abilities. Life's journey is a treasure, and I'm savouring every moment that matters.
Eventually, I'm overjoyed that all of my hard work has been paid off! Thanks to God! It's surreal to see that my dream is a reality on the social media platform.
(The author is a teacher as well as an actor)
