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From cameo to bit role to lead in four months
Updated On: 11 May, 2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka Sharma
Taha recounts how he was satisfied with a minor part in Heeramandi until Bhansali chose him to play the lead; says the series changed his career overnight
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?’”
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