“I want to be a film hero.”

Not in a dramatic Bollywood moment, nor in front of a mirror practicing a monologue. I said it, and everyone laughed at the flamboyance of a 7-year-old—just a kid, wide-eyed and certain. Of course, dreams evolve.

Cricket took over for a while—the gentleman’s game. For a good stretch, I thought it could be my future. But then life pushed me in a different direction after an injury, ended my professional cricket aspirations. As Willie Jolley said, “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” So, I gave it my all in the world of fitness, even winning the title of Mr. Jaipur. But some things have a way of finding you again, no matter how far you drift.

Born on the outskirts of Jaipur, I grew up in a world far removed from film sets and scripts. There were no industry connections, no mentors whispering guidance in my ear. But there was a fire. And so, with barely any money in my pocket and nothing but raw passion, I stepped into Mumbai—the city that builds and breaks dreams every single day.

The first few years? Tough. I took on small roles, even landed leads in films that went unnoticed. Money ran out faster than hope. Returning home was never an option. So, I did what I had to—I trained people in gyms at dawn, rehearsed at odd hours, moved from one acting class to another, knocking on doors that barely opened. Then, one day, a small role in “Satyagraha” arrived—a blink-and-miss moment, but to me, it was proof. A step forward.

Mumbai tests you. But it also rewards discipline. Training high-profile clients gave me survival, but storytelling gave me purpose. Slowly, more roles trickled in—”Chakravyuh”, then the television weekly show “Buddha: The King of kings,” where I played the antagonist, Devdutt. It changed me, made me confront shades of myself I hadn’t before.

Then came “Lipstick Under My Burkha”, I auditioned, got rejected. But second chances exist, and when Prakash Jha became my mentor, I grabbed it. I shed 12 kgs, reworked my approach, and found my space in a film that would later make waves. That led to “Jai Gangajal”, another lesson, another layer added to my craft.

But acting was never enough. I wanted to tell stories my way and learn the craft. So, I took the biggest leap—writing and directing my own film. A musical, no less. Fifteen songs, seamlessly woven into the narrative. A crazy, impossible idea. And yet, six years later, against all odds, “Krispy Rishtey” released on Jio Cinema (now Jio Hotstar) in October 2024—a great learning experience.

From a dreamer to an actor, from a gym trainer to a filmmaker—the journey has been unpredictable, exhausting, and exhilarating. And it doesn’t stop here. There’s another story waiting, one that reaches beyond borders. I don’t know how it will unfold yet.

But then again, I never did.

And that’s the beauty of it.