A page from Hussain's diary

Today, when I look at the Indian Idol contestants, I can absolutely relate to them. I have been through the phase which they are currently going through. I love the fire in them. They are all confident and out there to achieve their goals.

I was not sure I could act till I actually started acting. I had not made acting my goal because I did not know if I was good enough to be an actor. Acting was never my dream but when it became my dream, I worked hard to fulfill it.

It all started when I was in college. I used to actively participate in college programs and festivals. Qaeed (elder brother) was already making ad films. He encouraged me to model for advertisements. He cajoled me into it by saying that I will be able to earn a good amount of pocket money for myself. At that time, I did not have sufficient money to get nice portfolio pictures clicked, and so I got an average one made. I distributed those pictures to various ad agencies and I eventually got selected for a Reynolds pen ad. After this ad, I got opportunities for more ads.

The producer of the serial Aashirwad noticed me in one of my ads and offered me a role in the serial. Since then, there has been no looking back. One show followed the other and that is how I got into acting. Things went right for me because I was in the right place at the right time. And fortunately, I came across good people who supported me. I did not have to struggle to get a break, but I have to struggle now to sustain my position in the industry. I have worked very hard and I completely believe that hard work always pays.

Life is not easy. It gets tougher and tougher with time. Your struggle never ends. Today, even after spending so many years in the industry, I feel that I have to prove myself every day. And the most difficult part is to live up to your own expectations. I am never content with my work. I always look for flaws in my work and try to improve myself. The day you are content, you are finished. I never look at what I am good at. I try to identify what I am bad at because I don't need to bother about the good things; I need to improve in the areas in which I am weak. I dislike 95% of work that I do. I have this desire to do better and better each day. Tina (wife) helps me in this by being my biggest critic. She hardly says good things about my work; and that helps.

I live life as it comes and make the most out of everything that comes my way. My struggle is still on and I know that I still have a long way to go.