एक्टर विशाल जेठवा की मां ने सैनेटरी पैड बेचे: घरों में बर्तन धोए; मर्दानी–2 का खूंखार विलेन होमबाउंड का हीरो बना, फिल्म ऑस्कर पहुंची

My father also sold coconut water

I come from a lower middle class family. You can also call it a poor family. My father also sold coconut water. Horn-gram packets have also been made for the beer bar. I myself used to help him in making packets of horn-grams of beer bar. I was 13 years old when my father died.

This is from 2008. That was the worst period. At that time we lived in a chawl house in Malad. There was no fan or AC in the house. A lot of debt was incurred. To repay that loan, we had to sell our house, yet we were able to repay only 20 percent of the loan. We had shifted from Malad to a rented house on Mira Road.

Studied from Gujarati Medium School

I studied in Gujarati Medium School in Malad till 6th class. After that shifted to Meera Road. Did further studies from Abhinav Vidya Mandir, Bhayandar. After that, he took admission in B.Com in Thakur College, Kandivali, but could not complete his graduation.

After my father’s death, my mother had to struggle a lot. To feed the family, the mother swept houses and even sold sanitary pads. Mother supported me at every step.

Saw a lot of hard struggle, hunger and poverty

I left my graduation midway so that I could also do some work. I saw a tough struggle, saw a lot of hunger and poverty. I wanted to support my family by doing some work.

Started career as background dancer

In 2009 I became a background dancer. I was a background dancer in ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs’. In its grand finale, Salman Khan sir, Ajay Devgan sir and Asin ma’am came to promote their film ‘London Dreams’.

The opportunity to meet Salman was missed

I was also one of those dancers who had to perform behind him. We were given clear instructions backstage that after the dance was over, no one would go near Salman sir and disturb him. I stood there like a good boy. But as soon as the dance ended, everyone else went to Salman sir.

I felt very left-out at that time. Felt like the opportunity was missed. One day I saw an acting class and realized that dance was not for me. When I joined the class, acting became my hobby.

Joined acting class

When I had to join acting classes, our financial condition was not very good. In such a situation, mother used a lot of effort to talk. At some places fees were paid in installments, at some places less money was paid, at some places discounts were provided. In different ways they arranged everything and put me in acting classes. Actually, he was also fond of this field. Perhaps she was seeing in me some of her childhood dreams which could not be fulfilled.

At that time, his dedication was so much that he used to go to class drenched on his bicycle in the rain. Guruji would say, “Vishal, you are wet, yet you have come?” But I loved acting so much that nothing seemed difficult. People used to clap even in small roles in street plays. Used to laugh at my jokes. I started feeling that now the paths have started forming on their own.

Acting class seemed boring for the first time

Although for the first time the acting class seemed boring. Thought that we would get big dialogues like Shahrukh Khan’s. Guruji had said that you have come into the industry? Don’t take self-breaks, never give up. Be a good person before becoming an actor. Wear whatever clothes you get on the set without complaining. Do whatever the director says.

I was failing auditions every day

I started giving auditions for acting. Every day I used to come home after failing in the audition. Despite many efforts, no results were coming. Mother used to get very worried seeing me sad. Due to this concern, she used to say that if it is not happening then leave it. But then I remembered a poem from the acting class.

“A boat does not cross due to fear of waves, those who try do not lose.” Guru ji used to say that one has to read this every day. The lesson learned from him is that life is all about trying. Even if you do not get results, keep going. Stopping trying is the biggest failure.

‘Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap’ was telecasted on Sony TV since 2013. This show ran for 2 years.

Started on small screen with Maharana Pratap

My debut on the small screen was with Sony TV’s show ‘Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap’. In this I played the role of young Akbar. The story of getting work in this is very interesting. I actually went to audition for this show with my brother. I also went with him.

There I saw that most of the boys were thin. Then he asked me to give the audition, whereas actually the test was for my brother. I also gave the audition. He liked my audition and called me again.

I auditioned a couple more times, and every time they liked my work. At that time the casting for the role of Akbar was changed thrice. Two Akbars had changed, and I was the third. First I got shortlisted, but I was not selected in the final. I felt very bad.

Received Best Child Artist (Male) Award for the first time

Later when I saw on TV, some other boy was playing that role. But that boy also left the show after working for one or two episodes or one or two days due to some health issues. Then another boy came, he also left for some reason after working for a day or two. The number fell for the third time.

Replacement is common in serials. Two episodes of this Akbar, then take it out. Then my turn came. Everyone accepted, people enjoyed. That’s it, life happened. For this show, I received the Best Child Artist (Male) award at the Indian Telly Awards 2015.

I didn’t know much about Akbar

Although, while doing ‘Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap’, I did not know much about Akbar. Felt like he was a king, he would walk and talk like royalty. Thought if Pratap was a hero then Akbar would be his friend. It was a stupid idea at the time, but it worked. Learned everything while doing.

After ‘Maharana Pratap’, Vishal Jethwa worked in many shows like ‘Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman’, ‘Peshwa Bajirao’, ‘Chakradhari Ajay Krishna’.

had made up my mind to quit acting

Many times in life I have felt like giving up. There was a time when I was continuously doing serials and I started feeling that perhaps there was nothing new left in me. Same type of roles started coming. Questions started arising in my mind that what new should I show to people now? Whatever art there was, has it ended? Maybe that’s all people want to see, and maybe that’s what’s left in me now. Then I felt that I should leave, enough is enough.

cried bitterly in front of mom

At that time I talked to my mother. I was really crying. Completely broken from inside. The tears were not stopping. Mom explained to me and encouraged me. Even though I did not give up, I definitely had this thought in my mind that now I will give up.

Never left TV though. Work kept coming, but the actor inside kept asking what next? What better? Felt like I wasn’t getting the work I wanted. Would also do a one day role. Then I thought there was nothing left.

Vishal Jethwa played the role of a serial rapist-killer named Sunny in ‘Mardaani 2’.

‘Mardaani 2’ brought out self-doubt

Then ‘Mardaani 2′ came into my life. Yash Raj Films’ casting director Shanu Sharma ma’am has a big role in this. He brought me out of self-doubt. Today I don’t doubt myself. Sometimes opportunities don’t come at the right time, it takes some time, but doubting yourself is the wrong thing.

Once Shanu ma’am told me on phone that she liked my audition. Then I started thinking that the person who does not create such big stars in Bollywood but rather personalities, who has seen the best of the best acting, what would he like about my work? Why is she calling and talking to me?

Then I realized that if someone was able to see so much confidence in me, then that confidence was already inside me. And then I got selected in ‘Mardaani 2’. After that my life really changed.

Couldn’t get out of the character of ‘Mardaani 2’ for a year

Playing Sunny in Mardaani 2 was one of the most difficult experiences for me. I couldn’t get out of that character for almost a year. The shooting was over, but the thought kept running in my mind that what if a call for Patchwork comes? If I leave the character, how will I get back into it?”

When I wore my clothes, I felt uncomfortable. Then gradually, to bring myself back, I started meeting old friends, listening to music, spending time with family and told myself that now that the film is over, it is okay to let this character go.”

After ‘Mardaani 2’, Vishal Jethwa worked in films like ‘Salaam Venky’ with Kajol, ‘IB71’ with Vidyut Jamwal and ‘Tiger 3’ with Salman Khan.

Was very nervous in the shoot with Salman sir

My character in Salman Khan’s film ‘Tiger 3’ was very small. I was very nervous during the shooting of this film. When I reached the shoot of Tiger, I couldn’t even get dialogues out. There were continuous fumbles. Everyone was wondering what had happened to me today. Whereas on the same set I had completed the shooting of the film Mardaani 2, that too without a single fumble, because I had gone fully prepared.

Then I clearly told that I am shooting with Salman sir for the first time and I am very nervous. After saying this I relaxed a little. Sometimes I would hear on the set that ‘SK sir is coming’, sometimes I would see him meeting people, laughing, sometimes coming to the set on a bicycle. I was very happy to see Salman Khan not as an artist but as an audience.

Auditioned for ‘Homebound’ role despite injury

I got Homebound through an audition. At that time I had a serious leg injury. There were plaster and stitches on his leg. But I told the casting directors not to tell the producer or director, otherwise they would think that I would not be able to shoot. Because I did not want to leave this role under any circumstances. I had several rounds of auditions. The final round audition took place with Ishaan Khattar. So that we can know how our chemistry will look in the film.

Mom was crying after watching the movie

A friend actually touched my feet at a party. At first I thought he was joking, but he was absolutely serious. Then I realized how deeply our work can touch people. Mummy saw the film for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival. Got a 9 minute standing ovation there.

Mom was crying. I took him to the International Film Festival for the first time, that moment will always be remembered. I miss dad a lot. He didn’t even see all this.

I wish papa was alive today

I miss him more on my good days than my bad days. Because he never got good things. He wanted that there should be a sofa in the house, we should have a bike, I should sleep in an AC room. These were his smallest wishes. Today, when I look back, I feel that life has changed a lot.

There is AC in the house, there is a sofa, it is a decent house, I can travel in a good car. Then the thought comes to mind that I wish he were there. I would dress him in blazers, take him with me to events, take him to work, he would drive for me. Thinking about all this fills my heart. What is lost in life never comes back. Now life is all about accepting it.

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Read last week’s success story…

Rani Mukherjee’s height, complexion and voice were made fun of: People said – she is not worthy of becoming a heroine, received 8 Filmfare and National Awards

It is often believed in Bollywood that the path is easier for artists coming from film families, but Rani Mukherjee’s story completely breaks this notion. There were strong opposition from his father, ridicule in the industry, financial troubles and constant attacks on his self-confidence.Read the full news..