Taha Shah Badussha who made his Hindi film debut with Luv Ka the End (2011) alongside Shraddha Kapoor rose to fame with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s streaming series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar where he played the main lead Tajdar Baloch.
In an exclusive interview with Film Companion, Badussha shared the casting process for his role in Heeramandi. He also revealed that he was earlier shortlisted to play the role of Balraj, Tajdar’s friend in the series and he had happily accepted the role as he was desperately seeking to be a part of the magnum opus project by Bhansali.
Talking about how he was finalised to play Tajdar Baloch, he said, “I literally went upto him (Sanjay Leela Bhansali), held his legs and I’m like sir look, this is biggest opportunity of my life give me anything but please don’t throw me out sir please, If I did any mistake forgive me but please tell me what I did wrong and I swear I will correct myself and he said beta beta baith jao (dear, sit down) so I went and I sat down, he looks at me and he is like I saw your look test aur kuch toh hai teri aankhon mein (there is something in your eyes) and I want you for the lead of my show Tajdar Baloch.”
The actor who faced rejection several times in his 15 year long career span said, “I have been thrown out of 8 films, big films. I don’t want to name them but I have and many a times it has happened that I have signed the contract and they have left for shoot with somebody else and they haven’t told me and I’m waiting. So it is really heartbreaking.”