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Siddant MC Sher
"My father has always been fond of Cinema, so he'd take me to watch movies every Friday & my love affair with Cinema began. My dad would play Salman songs on tape & I'd dance! I even had Shahrukh's COOL' necklace!
I was always inclined towards art-the first poem I wrote was for a girl in 9th grade. She turned me down, but I continued writing, not knowing where it'd lead. Still, my primary career option was to become a CA, like my father!
So I studied, never once thinking about acting. That seed was planted when in college, I got into the drama team. I realised I loved it! But I had to leave it to focus on my CA exams. Between college & my classesI barely slept!
But I knew I had to finish my education I was doing it for the heck of it, but once I started, I needed to reach that finish line. So I cleared my exams, just 15 marks away from the rank! If you ask me, what my biggest achievement isit's not acting. I knew I'd achieve that, but it's passing my exams, because that's something I never wanted to do. Later, before my finals, I asked my dad for time to focus on acting.
I'd go with my friends to auditions. In my first audition, they told me to learn how to look at the camera first & then come back.' But through it all, my dad was my true MC Sher. He said, be patient & don't undersell yourself ever, to always chase my dreams & he'll give me food & a roof so that I could do what I wanted. He gave me the freedom to decide & dream.
So after 4 years of struggle, with more auditions & more rejections, Inside Edge happened. Because the makers had a vision which my talent fit into! After which I met Zoya Akhtar at the success party & danced with her on Gallan Goodiyan. As fate would have it, she asked me to audition for Gully Boy, for the role that changed my life.
After the release, I received a letter from Mr. Amitabh Bachchan himself & when I handed that over to my father, the biggest Bachchan fan, it was the best moment of my life. His face said it all. Plus I can never get tired of already being remembered for SherI can now truly roar, ' '!
I was always inclined towards art-the first poem I wrote was for a girl in 9th grade. She turned me down, but I continued writing, not knowing where it'd lead. Still, my primary career option was to become a CA, like my father!
So I studied, never once thinking about acting. That seed was planted when in college, I got into the drama team. I realised I loved it! But I had to leave it to focus on my CA exams. Between college & my classesI barely slept!
But I knew I had to finish my education I was doing it for the heck of it, but once I started, I needed to reach that finish line. So I cleared my exams, just 15 marks away from the rank! If you ask me, what my biggest achievement isit's not acting. I knew I'd achieve that, but it's passing my exams, because that's something I never wanted to do. Later, before my finals, I asked my dad for time to focus on acting.
I'd go with my friends to auditions. In my first audition, they told me to learn how to look at the camera first & then come back.' But through it all, my dad was my true MC Sher. He said, be patient & don't undersell yourself ever, to always chase my dreams & he'll give me food & a roof so that I could do what I wanted. He gave me the freedom to decide & dream.
So after 4 years of struggle, with more auditions & more rejections, Inside Edge happened. Because the makers had a vision which my talent fit into! After which I met Zoya Akhtar at the success party & danced with her on Gallan Goodiyan. As fate would have it, she asked me to audition for Gully Boy, for the role that changed my life.
After the release, I received a letter from Mr. Amitabh Bachchan himself & when I handed that over to my father, the biggest Bachchan fan, it was the best moment of my life. His face said it all. Plus I can never get tired of already being remembered for SherI can now truly roar, ' '!
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Sanya Malhotra
"I was that kid who danced at every wedding. I didn't need any kind of incentivejust music! My parents would take me to all the family weddings, because they knew I'd dance my heart out. I loved it so much! I even danced in competitions & when I got to college I was a part of the Choreography Society. We'd spend 8 hours dancing every day! I was so passionatebut my real dream was to act.
I never revealed this to anyone back home. I thought I'd be laughed at or ridiculed. After all, it's a big dream. But I thought maybe, I could get to acting through dancing! So I applied for Dance India Dance & got to the top 100. But I got rejected because my backstory wasn't strong. That's when I thought maybe I wasn't meant to perform at all.
That show may have rejected me, but it's what got me to Bombay. I owed it to myself to at least try. So I told my dad about acting. To my surprise, he was supportive! So I began auditioning. But it was hardI lived with 6 roommates & there were days when they'd all go out to work & I'd be sitting at home. It was demotivating & I often felt like leaving.
But I reminded myself of my dream to perform. Slowly, I learnt the ropes of the business, got in touch with casting directors & acted in ads. There were still months when I didn't get a call back, & I worried about my dwindling bank balance. But I kept going & ended up doing 10 ads in a year! I built my self-esteem & promised to never doubt myself.
Eventually, I got my first auditionDangal! I remember, I was against 30 other girls, but I just knew I'd be selected. Someone was taking a BTS video & I remember telling her, I'm pakka in this film!' I was that confident! And I got the role!
I'll never forget that feeling that everything had finally been worth it. I'd loved performing ever since I was a kid & now here I wason the big screen. Ever since, I've relished every single role I've done. While I don't doubt myself anymore, I know I'm still learning. Nobody's perfect, but that doesn't mean you can't try! This is just the beginning, there's much more to do. But I've got my dancing shoes & boxing gloves onI'm ready!
I never revealed this to anyone back home. I thought I'd be laughed at or ridiculed. After all, it's a big dream. But I thought maybe, I could get to acting through dancing! So I applied for Dance India Dance & got to the top 100. But I got rejected because my backstory wasn't strong. That's when I thought maybe I wasn't meant to perform at all.
That show may have rejected me, but it's what got me to Bombay. I owed it to myself to at least try. So I told my dad about acting. To my surprise, he was supportive! So I began auditioning. But it was hardI lived with 6 roommates & there were days when they'd all go out to work & I'd be sitting at home. It was demotivating & I often felt like leaving.
But I reminded myself of my dream to perform. Slowly, I learnt the ropes of the business, got in touch with casting directors & acted in ads. There were still months when I didn't get a call back, & I worried about my dwindling bank balance. But I kept going & ended up doing 10 ads in a year! I built my self-esteem & promised to never doubt myself.
Eventually, I got my first auditionDangal! I remember, I was against 30 other girls, but I just knew I'd be selected. Someone was taking a BTS video & I remember telling her, I'm pakka in this film!' I was that confident! And I got the role!
I'll never forget that feeling that everything had finally been worth it. I'd loved performing ever since I was a kid & now here I wason the big screen. Ever since, I've relished every single role I've done. While I don't doubt myself anymore, I know I'm still learning. Nobody's perfect, but that doesn't mean you can't try! This is just the beginning, there's much more to do. But I've got my dancing shoes & boxing gloves onI'm ready!
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Kajal Agarwal
"I'm close to everyone in my family, but I've always been ferociously protective of my younger sister. Growing up, we were really close since we barely had an age gap. We had common friends, shared clothes & fought over them!
We had petty fightsthe AC remote would take the brunt of it because we'd have different temperature preferences. It was the same with our perspectives as wellI was the emotional & sentimental one while she was practical & logical. She's been the yin to my yang.
There were so many times where I've been her bodyguard & she's been my partner in crime. If a boy would tease her, I'd stand up for her, if I had to sneak out to meet friends after curfew, she'd cover for me.
I can't think of a single time, even if we weren't talking post a mini war, where I couldn't go to her. She's one person who I trust with my life.
Even when I started my career in films, she was my sound boardI'd bounce ideas, aspirations, insecurities, heartbreaks & she'd patiently listen, giving me earnest feedback. Sometimes she'd just listen. Because all I needed was a I know, it sucks.' She'd just get it.
When she met her husband, KaranI gave him the older sister warning, telling him that if he brought her home after curfew or ever upset her, he'd have to answer to me. But he quickly warmed his way in our hearts & family, stealing my best friend & soulmate away...but, I couldn't be happier!
When my sister was about to get married, I remember we were all at our place for one last night, I locked the door & told my sister It's your last night as an Aggarwal! Let's live it to the fullest!' And that night we shared our oldest memories.. bawled like babies, but also assured each other that no matter what, our relationship will never change.
It hasn't...she's happily married now with a baby & we're still partners in crime. We laugh over absolutely inane nothings, enjoy our chai sessions, talk about books & movies. We're poles apart, but the things that matter our values, our love for family & each other remain the same. It didn't matter when I was 17 & I'm sure it wouldn't when I'm 70, I know who my 3 a.m call was & always will be!
We had petty fightsthe AC remote would take the brunt of it because we'd have different temperature preferences. It was the same with our perspectives as wellI was the emotional & sentimental one while she was practical & logical. She's been the yin to my yang.
There were so many times where I've been her bodyguard & she's been my partner in crime. If a boy would tease her, I'd stand up for her, if I had to sneak out to meet friends after curfew, she'd cover for me.
I can't think of a single time, even if we weren't talking post a mini war, where I couldn't go to her. She's one person who I trust with my life.
Even when I started my career in films, she was my sound boardI'd bounce ideas, aspirations, insecurities, heartbreaks & she'd patiently listen, giving me earnest feedback. Sometimes she'd just listen. Because all I needed was a I know, it sucks.' She'd just get it.
When she met her husband, KaranI gave him the older sister warning, telling him that if he brought her home after curfew or ever upset her, he'd have to answer to me. But he quickly warmed his way in our hearts & family, stealing my best friend & soulmate away...but, I couldn't be happier!
When my sister was about to get married, I remember we were all at our place for one last night, I locked the door & told my sister It's your last night as an Aggarwal! Let's live it to the fullest!' And that night we shared our oldest memories.. bawled like babies, but also assured each other that no matter what, our relationship will never change.
It hasn't...she's happily married now with a baby & we're still partners in crime. We laugh over absolutely inane nothings, enjoy our chai sessions, talk about books & movies. We're poles apart, but the things that matter our values, our love for family & each other remain the same. It didn't matter when I was 17 & I'm sure it wouldn't when I'm 70, I know who my 3 a.m call was & always will be!
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Rajkumar Rao and Patralekhaa
"I saw him for the first time in LSD. I thought the weird guy he played was actually what he was like. My perception of him was tarnished! He told me later, that he first saw me in an ad & thought, I'm going to marry her.' It was so ironic! Once we began working together it was magic. The kind of passion he had was powerful & I couldn't respect him any more than I did then!
We spoke about our work, love for cinema, passions... I saw him through his struggles, never giving up. How could we not fall for each other? We didn't officially go on dates, but we'd go for drives, movies, or just sit at home. We accompanied each other for auditions, just for support. All we needed was that understanding.
We spoke about our work, love for cinema, passions... I saw him through his struggles, never giving up. How could we not fall for each other? We didn't officially go on dates, but we'd go for drives, movies, or just sit at home. We accompanied each other for auditions, just for support. All we needed was that understanding.
He'd often go out of his way for me. Once he was late to see me, so he ran all the way from the airport to Juhu! Not only that, but when we weren't earning much, he gifted me my favorite bag it was so expensive!
Years later, someone stole it in London! I called him sobbingfor me, it was about the memories. He'd bought it for me when he didn't have much. Later, at our hotel, the exact same bag was waiting for me. These little things make me realise how lucky I am to have him.
And the best part is, he always says he's the lucky one. Isn't that what a relationship needs? To remind each other how grateful we are? He told me once that after I met his mom, she said, I have a feeling she's the last one I'm meeting.' She was right we've been together for 8 years.
We're equalswhen an article said, Rajkumar with his girlfriend, Patralekhaa', he retweetedPatralekhaa with her boyfriend Rajkumar.' I can tell you this, when you find the onethrough the fights, hurdles & chaos, you should never forget to let them know you love them. It doesn't have to be with expensive gifts & datesit can simply be with the way you hold them while they need it & when they don't. For us, we don't know what the future holds, but this, being together, is enough
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Rahul Kumar on his wife acid attack victim Lalitha (Vivek Oberoi gifted them a house)
"I was working at a bank, when I got a call. The girl on the phone asked for my momI told her that it was the wrong number, but I asked her if I could help her reach the right person. She immediately said Sorry, bhaiya' & cut. So I called her to ask who it was... after that, I didn't stop thinking about her. 15 days later, I called her again to get to know her. We started talking daily. In a month's time, she told me, I don't think you should call again.' I didn't know why! So the next day, when I called for an explanation, she said her face was burnt. My immediate reply was, So what?' She said that I'd be scared if I saw her, but I wasn't that kind of a man.
"I was working at a bank, when I got a call. The girl on the phone asked for my momI told her that it was the wrong number, but I asked her if I could help her reach the right person. She immediately said Sorry, bhaiya' & cut. So I called her to ask who it was... after that, I didn't stop thinking about her. 15 days later, I called her again to get to know her. We started talking daily. In a month's time, she told me, I don't think you should call again.' I didn't know why! So the next day, when I called for an explanation, she said her face was burnt. My immediate reply was, So what?' She said that I'd be scared if I saw her, but I wasn't that kind of a man.
I went to her house & saw her for the first time. I won't act like a hero & say it didn't affect me. It did. I was afraid first, but then I saw her smile... I realised that there was no one else I could marry.
She later explained what happened to her. 5 years ago, she got into an argument with her cousin. He said I'll throw acid on your face!' She brushed it off as a joke, but one day, when she was walking outhe came out of nowhere, pulled her hair & threw acid on her. She stood there, burning & was immediately rushed to the hospital. Treatments lead her to Mumbai where she started working at Acid Survivors Saahas Foundation & finally to me.
People warned me with how will you manage?', How will you show off your new bride?' I just wanted them to let love be, so I simply smiled, because none of it matteredit was her & me.
So, you can't always foresee where & how you'll find the one'. They don't have to look stunning in someone else's eyes. They just have to keep your heart beating & you know. You just know that this is the greatest gift you could ask forour son & her are the greatest gifts I could've ever dreamt of. This girl, who is inspiring, honest & kind is also the most beautiful girl I've met...because I've seen her heart & that's all that matters. She's made for me.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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