When Shiamak pushed me into acting...

A page from the personal diary of Sushant Singh Rajput I was always a scholarship student. My family is full of doctors and engineers, so being the only son I was expected to follow the same path. I did since my childhood try to prove myself. I was always involved into extra- curricular activities. I appeared for the engineering exam and was ranked All India 7 in the scholarship exam. I planned to take up engineering, then probably follow it up with a M.S in Massachusetts University and then end up an engineer. Everything was planned and I was determined to take it up. Then I joined Shiamak Davar’s dance class for a lark. I enjoyed being there and they required someone to go to Australia for a month. I got a chance to be a part of the troupe. I got to perform with Aishwarya Rai and it was a big thing for me then. Then onwards I got an opportunity to perform at different award functions like IIFA and Filmfare. It was then when Shiamak noticed me and pushed me towards acting. He told me he had noticed a spark in me and I should probably take up classes with Barry John. He told me I had lovely expressions. On Shiamak’s insistence I took up Barry John’s classes. I thought I should push my luck a little more and I came to Mumbai. It is tough pursuing engineering and it takes four years to complete an engineering course. Therefore, it was not an easy decision for me after I left everything and I came to Mumbai. Barry John also promoted me and I got an opportunity of performing on stage. I had the passion and if Shiamak had not pushed me towards this I would have probably landed up in some university studying Engineering. After Barry John, I assisted Nadira Babbar and then slowly moved ahead and joined Ashley Lobo’s troupe. I do not know how many actually know this but I have also assisted Mohit Suri during Raaz 2. After which I was offered Preet in Kis Desh Mein Mera Dil and the rest is history. After Pavitra Rishta, I am planning to pursue a course at New York Film Academy and then move on to assist directors like Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Bharadwaj. This is something I definitely want to achieve.