'Casting couch does exist'

From the dry terrain of UAE to B-town's kaleidoscopic bylanes, Taaha Shah seems to have bridged the gulf. A topper in school and a smart businessman, Taaha never had tinsel town dreams. In fact, the zesty youngster, who made his debut with Yash Raj Films' Luv Ka The End (2011), still considers himself a debutant. He has made his big splash with Dharma Productions' Gippi.

Changing tracks
We all have heard that light travels faster than sound. The businessman-turned-actor was noticed with his very first film, Luv Ka The End but he is making the right sounds in the industry this year. From Karan Johar to Satish Kaushik, from Rensil D'Silva to Nikhil Advani, the top notch directors are impressed with him. Taaha Shah didn't take the proverbial jump into acting. He just let it happen. He says, "I did business for three years but somewhere my heart kept nudging me to join an acting school in UAE. But it was when I faced a financial crisis that I gave up the trade and joined the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi."
He thinks hard on why he took time before signing his second film after his debut Luv Ka The End. You can see several lines criss-crossing on his forehead as he says, "It might sound clichd but an outsider in the industry without any contacts or a Godfather takes time to bag the right films. Just like millions of aspiring actors who come to Mumbai with a dream of making it big, even I trekked alone. I didn't have anyone to guide me, not even PR machinery. We outsiders tend to become our own guides and learn to measure every step."
He is rumoured to have had a fallout with Yash Raj Films. His second film Gippi which was not their production. "The reason I'm not doing a film with YRF is because they didn't have a suitable role for me. Adi Sir (Aditya Chopra) reassured me that when Y Films would have something for me, he'd give me a call." He assures everything is okay between them.

Gaga over Gippi
Taaha credits YRF for getting him the role in Gippi. "It's strange. I was waiting to meet Adi sir at YRF when Uday Chopra and Karan Johar walked in. On seeing Karan for the first time, I got excited. I ran down the stairs to meet him. I managed to grab his attention and said that I'd like to show him my work. Soon I met him and even showed him my martial arts stills. He asked me to get my PR team ready. Soon, I was doing Gippi."
He's had the time of his life working with Dharma Productions. He adds, "Most of the characters in Gippi are true to life. Dharma has a different approach, a different mindset. The atmosphere is chilled out and informal. And if people are happy where they work, then creativity takes a front seat."

Karate kid
Taaha has a passion for dancing. "I love to perform to contemporary punk jazz." And do not be fooled by his chocolate-boy looks. The martial arts expert says, "I've done a few stunts in a commercial. I wouldn't mind featuring in a Hindi version of Karate Kid. It'll be perfect to showcase my martial arts skills." And just like that
he puts on a serious face.
He's critical of the lack of innovation in the film industry. "No one wants to think out of the box, no one wants to attempt something different. There's a 'chalta hai' attitude. We young guys need to attack that; we need to change the perception."

Deep dark secrets
He then spills the beans on his casting couch experience. "The casting couch exists. Once, in a shady room, a director said, 'In order to get something, you need to give something'." But Taaha has overcome such situations with diplomacy and wisdom. He's even exchanged pleasantries with the same filmmakers at social events.
I remember what Aditya Chopra once told me, 'This industry runs on commerce - no money, no game'!"


Future stock
Though he hasn't signed a film after Dharma's Gippi, he believes he's been lucky. "I didn't go unnoticed in Luv Ka The End. But my PR was not in place. So I must have lost many opportunities. Now I have got my PR right. Gippi has put me out there, that's definite." We're sure he'll be the pick of the bunch!

https://www.filmfare.com/interviews/casting-couch-does-exist-taaha-shah-3663.html

^^ so this is reason Kjo has divorced Sid... naya naya saal hain naya naya maal hain 😆