From cameo to bit role to lead in four months

Taha Shah Badussha

Nothing in 14 years, and then in a week, I got everything," says Taha Shah Badussha, baffled at how his life has taken a turn since Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar dropped online on May 1. The actor plays the male lead Tajdar Baloch in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama starring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh and Sharmin Segal. But the journey to becoming a Bhansali hero was dramatic.

The actor remembers chasing casting director Shruti Mahajan for an audition. "After chasing her for 15 months, I got an audition for a three-day role," he recalls. That it was a small role didn't matter to him. "As long as I got even one day to show my work to Mr Bhansali, that was [enough]. I signed the contract." Then came the twist in the story. Bhansali called him for a meeting a few weeks later and told him that he would play the more significant character of Balraj. He happily agreed, unknowing that there was more drama in store. Two weeks on, he was told the filmmaker had changed his mind. "I was very sad. I told Mr Bhansali ‘Sir, forgive me if I have done something wrong, but please don't take this away from me.' He sweetly sat me down and said, ‘There is [a spark] in your eyes. I want you to be the lead, Tajdar.' When I was speechless, he said, ‘Tujhe nahin chahiye?'"

Just like that, Badussha - who debuted with Luv Ka The End (2011) and then featured in forgettable films - found himself living the dream. However, a three-month wait followed during which he was offered three projects that had "a lot of money". "The voice in my heart asked me to have faith. So, I turned down all three projects. Three days later, I got a call from Mr Bhansali, saying, ‘Come to the set,'" he smiles.

It was worth the wait as the actor struck a solid partnership with the creator. While several actors have spoken about how Bhansali tends to be a taskmaster, Badussha says the director simply strives for perfection. "I didn't feel he was a taskmaster. He was cracking jokes and making fun of me. You are only a nervous actor when you are unprepared. If you put in the hours, you go on set prepared, and not as somebody who expects Bhansali to do everything for you. He'd push me, but he isn't strict. He wants things to turn out exactly how they are in his mind, and if people aren't giving their all, he gets frustrated. When someone wants that kind of perfection from himself, people around him have to be at that level."