The Journey from Ara to Wassepur

Aara jane ki taiyari maine kar li thi. Delhi ko hamesha chhodne ke pehle kuch chhote mote kama yad aane lage. Ticket bhi confirm nahi tha. Bahut saara saaman tha, jiske wajah se confirmed ticket zaruri tha. Tabhi ek dost ne bataya ki, India ke 50^th independence day ke shubh awasar par, Song and Drama Division ne ek bahut grand light and sound ka play organise kiya hai. Usme paisa bahut achha hai and they need lots of actors. Mujhe laga chalo ‘’paise’’ ke liye karte hain. Ghar jaunga to kam se kam kuch ache paise honge haath me. Audition diya, selection ho gaya aur mera ghar jane ka ticket cancelled ho gya. Siri fort me ‘’samar yatra’’ naam ka saat din ka play hua. Jisme 70-75 actors they. Yeh Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Govt of India ki taraf se hua tha. Mast paisa mila, phir pata chala ki isi play ko department Goa le jaani wali hai lekin sirf 40-45 actors ko aur baki wahan ke local actors honge. Kuch dino baad hum GOA ko nikal gaye.

Goa me 22-23 days hum rahe jisme 15 days rehearsal aur 7 din shows hua. Goa se 30-35 actors they. Wahan ke local actors me main thoda popular ho gaya tha, kyunki ki Goa ke jitne male actors the unko sambhalne aur samjhane ki responblity mujhe di gayi thi. Usi me ek ladki thi Seema, jis se meri aakhir ke 6-7 din hi baat ho payi. Hamare beech baat nahi hone ka karan tha ki wo mujhe maha ghamandi, akadu samajhati thi. Baat karne ka koi karan nahi tha..khair last ke kuch dino me hamari baat hui aur maine unhi 5-6 dino ki baat me faisla le liya ki mujhe Seema se pyar ho gaya hai aur main isise shadi karunga. Maine seedha shaadi ka propose kiya, wo samajh nahi pai…khair wo kya tha…kya nahi pata…kaise hua ye lambi kahani hai. Usne haan kar di . Maine usi waqt Babuji ko call kar ke kaha ki ek ladki mil gayi hai, aur main shadi kar raha hoon…Babuji aur mere baki gharwale ye baat samajh nahi paye…aur mujhe bhi us waqt samjhana nahi tha…khair main wapas Delhi aaya aur ek bar fir se mujhe apne theatre, life se pyar ho gaya, wo bhi mast tareeke se. Ab Delhi se Goa bahut door padta tha…to socha aur decide kiya MUMBAI shift kiya jaye. Mumbai se Goa paas mein tha. Apni love story isliye share kiya, kyunki Mumbai aane ki wajah Seema thi. Mujhe Mumbai kabhi nahi aana tha, film industry me kaam nahi karna tha mujhe. Theatre karo, Swasth raho, Mast raho ye meri shuru se tamanna thi .

Mumbai aaya. Bandra ke marina guest house naam ke guest house mein 3 months raha. Phir kuch time idhar udhar raha. Ghar se phir ek baar paise aana band ho gaya, kyunki gharwalon ko lagta tha ki main paise laundiyabazi me uda raha hoon. Main bhi kam ziddi thode hi tha. Maine kaha ok, jaisi aap logo ki marzi ,lekin main galat kaam nahi kar raha. Wo nahi samjhe aur samajhte bhi kyon? Phir maine Khar Gymkhana me waiter ka kaam kiya. 80 rs. Per day. Mere liye us waqt 80 Rs. se zyada zarurat ki cheez thi achha khana..mast khana. Khar Gymkhana ke party me high level ka function hota tha hum bhi high level ka khana khub khaye aur high level ka daru khub daba ke piye. Rent 400 Rs. monthly dena padta tha. Life tana-tan tha. Evening to midnight Khar Gymkhana, agar last train mil jaye to raat me ghar [tabhi main antop hill me 6 ladko ke sath rehta tha, jo mere door se acting ke sath jude nahi they]. Nahi to fir subah subah, phir 11-12 pm tak sona, phir Prithvi theatre, phir  5-5.30pm tak dhandhe par….phir finally Mira road me 1BHK kiraye par liya aur  kafi struggle ke baad jo pehla bada kam kiya maine wo yeh ki  Seema se Shaadi ki. Amma-Babuji  Aur Seema ke parents ke permission se…Shaadi mein sabhi shaamil the aur aaj hamara 9 years ka ek beta hai jiska naam Pipu hai. Tab actual struggle start hua. Paise to the nahi…jitne jewellery, gold, gifts mile the dhire dhire bikne lage, lekin khushi khushi. Ek time baad wo bhi khatam ho gaye. Ab kya kiya jaye? Seema shaukhiya artist thi. Beech – Beech me main chhote chhote kaam karta raha. 1-2 din ka kaam, woh bhi mahine ke 4-5 din milte the. Paise ki itni buri tarah zarurat pehli bar mehsoos hone lagi. Ab kya kiya jay? Fir bahut dimagi manthan ke baad  hamne faisla kiya ki courier ka kaam kiya jaye, wo bhi Andheri me. Courier bhi baatunga aur apna bhi kaam karunga…logo se, Production houses me milna bhi hota rahega. Phir job mila SAB TV wale galli ke ek courier office mein. Main kaam par jab pahile din gaya to bahut sare parcels ke saath badi wali cycle mili. Maine bola cycle ki zarurat nahi hai, main paidal hi baat dunga. Tab mujhe bataya gya ki tumhare zarurat ke liye nahi, balki zyada se zyada baatoge iske liye. Badi samasya khadi ho gayi. Andheri me hath me letters aur cycle par koi dekh lega toh? Ab kiya kya jaye?????? Koi option toh tha nahi, fir main ek dost se 100 Rs udhar mang k ek mazbut chain aur taala kharida. Aur usi raat ko chhupa chhupa ke parcels bata. Next day cycle uthaya aur Veera Desai Industrial State gaya aur waha ek safe place aur mota mazbut zhad dekh ke cycle ko chain mar diya, aur letters batne laga. Bahut dara hua tha, fir socha ki agar cycle gayab hui to sidha ghar bhagunga, office nahi jaunga. Par sham me aaya to sab sahi tha. ab kya tha..next day se mast kapde aur mast bag aur bag ke andar letter ka bag…kaam chalu…2-3 month kaam kiya. Haan courier ke kam kar ke main ye faida uthane laga ki kisi bhi production me casting se jo juda person hota tha usse almost time direct mil leta tha, jhootha courier letter bana ke…especially Balaji me meri entry ho jati thi. Ek baar enter karne ke baad courier gaya bhad me…casting person se mil leta tha as an actor…par kuch khas faida nahi hua. 1-2 chhote kaam mil jate the. Chuki main 100% letter nahi baat pata tha to mujhe job se nikal diya gya. Fir subah ka news paper dalna, part time phone booth par kam karte karte saal nikal gaya.

Phir mujhe ek serial [ Sampat and Sampat for ZEE TV..produced by Pulak da ] ke liye Mahabaleshwar se urgent call aaya. 2-3 month ka kaam tha. Paise aane lage. TV aa gaya ghar pe. Phir kaam nhi…meri wife ne kaha ab main kaam karungi tum apne career par dhayan do. Pulak da ke help se assistant costume ka kaam meri wife ne kiye kuch mahine. Hum khush the. Phir kaam bandh. Shadi ke 3 years aise hi nikal gaye. Ek din pata chala ki wife pregnent hai, hosh ud gaye hamare. Doctor ke pas bhage hum. Bacha nahi chahiye tha is garibi aur musibat mein. Doctor ne brain wash kiya…hume sochne ko bola…agar uske baad bh bacha nahi chahiye to aane ko bola. Hum log kafi soche…..phir faisla liye ki career ka bharosa nahi kab kya ho, to kyu na jo cheez right time pe ho rahi hai use hone dete hai aur maine bhi socha sahi hai. Meri shaadi ho gayi hai, ab bacha bhi hoga…sab right time, aage pe…uske baad to mere pas sirf aur sirf ek hi kam hoga mera career. So lets go ahead. Wife ghar par aur main kam dhundhne laga. Is faisale ki wazah se eh cheez bahut achha hua ki mera acting ka kam pane ke liye mera speed double ho gaya…kyunki gand fati thi meri, aur wo kahawat sahi lagne laga ki—-rocket ke pichhwade me jab tak aag nahi lagega na tab tak wo upper nahi jayega.

Chote chote kaam kiya…jo milta tha wo kaam kiya…lekin Respective work jab wife ka 7 month pregnancy hua tabhi mujhe ek bada serial ‘’ Tamanna House’’ mila for Zee tv. 15 days ka kaam tha with money. Hume thoda taqat mila..hamari khushi us din aur badi ho gayi  jab mujhe bataya gaya ki mera 30 days tak ka kaam hone ki ummed hai aur finaly 52 days maine kam kiye. Mere bank me mota paisa save tha. One lakh ke around maine bache ke delivery ke liye alag se nikal ke rakh diya tha. Jis din us serial ka last day tha usi din mere bête ne janam liya tha…main aaj bhi yahi sochta aur manta hun wo apna bandobast kar ke aaya tha.

Ab mere paas thode paise aa gaye the…hum khush the…mere paas 2 new serials ka offer bhi tha…par karni ko kaun taal sakt tha. Kuch mahine hamare bahut mazedar, yaadgar beete…Saare mere projects ek-ek kar ke kisi na kisi wazah se start hi nahi ho paye. Paise ki kami aur aage musibat na aaye ye soch ke hum naigaon shift kar gaye, kyunki hum bache ke sath compromise nahi kar sakte the. Kuch mahine aur bade mazedar gaye aur paise khatm hone lage. Wife ne phir se kaam karna start kiya, main bête ke sath ghar par rehne laga. 3 years Naigaon me hamne nikale lekin un 3 years me se 1 year hamare life ka sabse worst phase tha. Mere paas kaam nahi, ghar me reh-reh ke fustration, depression start hone laga. Main ab us tarah ka koi kam nahi kar sakta tha jo maine acting ke alawa kiya tha. Bacha bolne laga. Mujhe wo  mumma bolta tha kyoki sabse zyada waqt usne mere saath bitaya tha. Wife kaam kar rahi thi. Phir kuch kaam ke calls mere paas aate the to ab mujhe koi bhi kam nahi karna tha. Aur main nashe ki lat me ghusne laga. Phir kuch dino baad Pulak Da ka call aaya ki wo ek film ‘’Tarkash’’ direct  karne wale hai ,jisme mujhe ek bahut important roll karna hai. Film bani..par abhi tak release nahi hue hai. In 3 years mein maine 3 film ki, ek bhi release nahi. Mere life ka 3 years in films ki wazah se barbad hua plus mental condition aisa ho gya tha ki main apne aap ko star samajhne laga tha aur sirf aur sirf yahi karan tha meri barbadi ki taraf badte kadam ka. Main ek negative soch ka insaan ban gya tha, jiska mujhe tab pata chala jab sambhalne ki condition me nahi tha. Bahut bure din they woh.

Phir kuch time baad mere ek dost Chetan ka call aaya ki Satya bhaiya mera ek dost Chhatrapal, ek film ‘’DVANDVA’’ banana ja raha hai…mujhe lagta hai aap fit ho to apki pics Chhatrapal ko mail karu kya? Maine haan kar di. Agle din wapas Chetan ka call aata hai ki pics pasand hai lekin apko audition dene jana hoga wo bhi NAGPUR. Aur payment 10,000 rs hi honge mahine bhar ke shoot ka. Maine bola pagal hai kya ? Audition dene wo bhi Nagpur? lekin maine na nahi bola tha, kyoki mujhe kaam aur busy hone ki bhayanak zarurat thi. Main khali baith – baith ke pagal ho gya tha, par mujhe malum tha main nahi jane wala Nagpur. Maine wife ko bataya ki kya chutiyapa hua aaj. Wife ne bola tumhe jana chahiye…mera ek bahut bada kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? Type reaction hua. Khair hamare beech bahut behas ke bad ye decide hua ki main Nagpur jaunga. Maine Chetan ko call kiya aur bola travelling ka kharch denge wo log to hi jaunga. Chetan ne bola wo denge.

Main pahucha Nagpur…mila sabse. Bataya gaya aaram kijiye aaj kal test lenge…mujhe lag raha tha zindagi ka pehla kaam karne aaya hun kya????? Chhatrapal se baat hui, achha laga…fir rat ko hum sath mein beer piye. Agle subah phir mile. Chhatrapal ne scene n story samjhaya mujhe, lekin main confident nahi tha apne bare me…bahut time baad meri fir se us din fati thi. Bahut hi intense scene tha 5-6 page ka. Test ke time maine puchha koi proxy karega na co actor ka? toh Chhatrpal ji ne bataya ki apko co actor milega, main khush ho gya. Maza aa gaya. Mere samne ek patla mara sa ladke ko baitha diya gya. Action hua…main mood me tha plus tense bhi tha ki achha karna hai. kaisa hoga, kaisa nahi? jaise hi audition start hua maine apna ek line bola, mera co actor dead face se mujhe dekh raha hai aur baju se koi dusra ladka lines bol raha hai. main ruk gaya. Samajh nahi paya ye kya hai?????…pata chala jo samne baitha hai use uske lines nahi pata. hua chalo aise hi karte hai. 2nd take mein jab maine usko pakda..jo description me tha…to uske face par smile tha wo bhi kanjusi aur dare wala wala..mann kiya ki lagaun ek chutiye ko [ demand tha scene ka ]..kyoki use darna tha. Wahi stop ho gaya. Pir use Chhatrapal ne 2-4 bada sundar sa maa..behan.. ki galiya sunaya aur bhaga diya. Actually wo production ka banda tha. Phir jo ladka lines bol raha tha usko bola gaya co-actor ban-ne ko. Wo bhi dara hua tha, jo 5 mints pehle Chhatrapal ne data tha. Khair finaly 6-7 bar audition hua. Phir sab apne kaam me busy ho gaye. Main bhi bahar ja ke ciggarette peene laga aur main bhi dara hua tha ki pata nhi kaisa hua aur kya hoga?????? Us pure din kisi ne kuch bataya nahi. Next day full main logo ke sath raha…par abhi tak main janta nahi tha ki mera kya hua? shaam ho gaya. Mere mann me vichare khalbali machai hui thi. Raat ko Chhatrapal le gaye beer pilane aur waha bataye ki main select ho gaya. Aur ye baat Chetan ko Chhatrapal ne audition ke baad hi bata diya tha….

Wapas kuch dino baad main shooting ke liye gaya. Ek bahut bada sa shaadi ka hall tha jisme ek bahut hi chhota sa cloth changing room tha , usme mujhe thehraya gaya. Raat ko akele mujhe dar lagne laga. 2 din waise hi kate. Phir baki ke 2 actors jo Mumbai se the aa gaye aur thik lagne laga. Shooting start hue. Kum budget aur bhayanak asuvidhao ki wazah se kafi time set ka mahaul kharab rehta tha. Chhatrapal alag gusse me. Actors alag…sab gusse me rehte the. Lekin ek baat thi jo superb thi ki action bolte hi sab dil laga ke apna apna kaam karte the. 2-3 bar to aisa bhi hua ki maine Chhatrapal ko bola bhai mujhe maf kar do mujhe nahi karna, kal subah main bhag jaunga…jisme aapki koi galti nahi hai aur bhagne ki wajah aap nahi ho, mismanagement hai. Chhatrapal hamesha bolte the ki aadha se zyada kam ho gaya hai…please thoda sehte hai aur kuch din bus…ye film hamare…aapke carrer ka life ka turning point banega…mark my word…main bhi haan haan keh ke chup ho jata tha sirf aur sirf Chhatrapal ke liye. Mujhe pata tha achhi story hai…achha kaam ,shoot ho raha hai….lekin turning point banegi ye nahi maana. Haan ye hamesha hum sab ko lagta tha thodi aur facility hota to aur supeb film banti…chidate the…gussa karte the hum log…khair anth bhla to sab bhala. Shooting khatam hui…almost 1 month raha Nagpur me main. Hum wapas Mumbai. Phir Chhatrapal ka ek alag level ka apna struggle start ho gaya ‘’Dvandva‘’ ko finaly lock karne me.  AUR FINALLY ‘’DVANDVA’’ FILM MERE CAREER KI TURNING POINT FILM BAN GAI. Chhatrapal ki kahi hui baatein 200% sahi saabit ho gayi…Huaa yun ki Chhatrapal ke kafi  ji – tod mehnat ke baad hamare Gagan bhai ne ‘’Aarohi Film Society’’ dwara Dvandva ka preview kiya, Anurag sir bhi the, DVANDVA’’ FILM DEKH KE HI ANURAG KASHYAP SIR NE MUJHE ‘’GANGS OF WASSEYPUR’’ ME ‘’J.P.SINGH’’ ke LIYE CAST KIYA. I am very thankful to Anurag Sir, Chhatrapal, Gagan Aarohi Film Society and Anurag Kulkarni.