Actor Shahab Ali says playing the function of Sajid in The Family Man changed his life. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Shahab Ali revealed that his father died when he was 21 and had just gotten into Delhi University. “Abbu used to repair watches and sell kites, so even as a kid I’d help him after school. And then when I was in 9th grade, I opened my own kite shop,” Shahab mentioned. “But Abbu’s demise shook us.”
His father left behind a family of 4, and as the eldest sibling, all responsibilities fell on Shahab. He would attend college in the course of the day and work at his kite stall in the evenings.
In college, Shahab was introduced to theatre and located his accurate calling. He knew he wanted to act, he was happiest on stage. At the very same time, he realised he necessary to assistance his family, and so took up a job in journalism. “But when I was on the field, interviewing people, I realized it wasn’t my calling; I just wanted to act!” he mentioned.
Shahab then went to his mother and told her he wanted to pursue acting seriously, assuring her he would quit for a standard 9 to 5 job if absolutely nothing worked out in 3 years. After two attempts, he got a scholarship to the National School of Drama and, for the next 3 years, gave anything to acting.
Two roles brought him some a lot-necessary stability. “I bagged a role in India’s first musical Zangoora; I was ecstatic! And soon after, another musical, Mughal-e-Azam followed,” mentioned Shahab. He was in a position to obtain his mother the gold bangles she had sold to spend for her husband’s remedy.
“That day, we both cried. And then, I shut my kite stall. It was bittersweet; that stall had helped me in my days of distress, but at the same time it felt like the beginning of a new chapter.”
Shahab, although he wanted to be an actor, did not go to Mumbai till his responsibilities in Delhi had been fulfilled. When his sister got married and his brother completed his education, he moved to Mumbai and attended an audition for The Family Man.
“The audition went well, but I waited a month for a response,” mentioned Shahab. He was continually on edge in the course of that month, but it was all worth it when he received the script with his name on it. “I was thrilled,” says the actor.
The show went on to develop into a large results and gave Shahab the chance to work with Manoj Bajpayee, but he says that accurate validation for him came with the twinkle in his mother’s eye every single time somebody praised his overall performance.
Shahab Ali is presently living in a rehabilitation colony with his mother, and his next purpose is to obtain a residence.
“I still get rejected, but my mantra is simple, ‘I have nothing to lose, but so much to gain.’ And that’s gotten me here today,” he says.
Shahab Ali’s interview has been hailed as inspiring by fans on social media.
“Congratulations…very inspiring..you worked so hard and never gave up,” wrote one Facebook user.
“Your performance in Family Man was outstanding. Best wishes to you on your path towards fine acting!” an additional mentioned.