SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016 (PAGE 4) BOLLYWOOD-BUZZ PERSONALITY 'Arjun' making Bollywood debut Swantantra's journey from Jammu to Silver Screen Son of the soil Swantantra Bharat hailing from movies, which I Trikuta Nagar has brought laurels to the State of remember are Johny Gaddar, Welcome, Jammu and Kashmir by doing character roles on Singh is King, No Silver Screen. Problem, De Dhana Daily Excelsior Correspondent Ajay Raina caught Dhan, Yuvraj, Boss, Khiladi 786, Rowdy up with the Bollywood star in a coffee shop at Rathore, Rambo Trikuta Nagar who revealed the course of his Rajkumar, Welcome journey from Jammu to Silver Screen in Mumbai. Back, Singh is Bling, Jocker, etc. Apart A very calm and cool personality, Bharat was born on April 11, from Hindi films, I 1976 to a couple Late Shivanand and Sudarshana. He did his school- did a Punjabi film ing from RRL Model Academy and SRML Higher Secondary School "Paaji in Problem", and later moved to New Delhi in 1994 to pursue Fashion Designing which was produced course. by my friend "Akshay From where did you start Fashion Designing career ? Kumar". A year ago I I started the career in Fashion Designing from Italian Export was approached for House in the year 1997, where I worked for five years. As I had jaun- TV serial with main dice I came back to my home in Jammu. lead roles on "Life Ok" After recovering from the disease, what did you do as channel. "Kaisa Ye there was no scope for Fashion Designing in Jammu at that ishq Hai" TV serial time? gave me the character As I recovered from the disease, I joined "Samooh Theatre" in of Choudhary Baldev Singh, which became popular and this Haryan- Jammu and did stage plays, which were highly appreciated by the wi character was appreciated by public at large especially Haryana audience. At that time I had no plans to move to Mumbai. residents. Apart from films and serials, I got the opportunity in pro- Making lovely expressions, budding artists preparing for a shoot for the upcoming movie alongwith Arjun We have heard that you went to Pune and then to Mum- moting brands through advertisement. Currently IPL add is on air as Krishna. bai in 2004. Was it a casual visit or your inner conscience well. South movies are also approaching me and my fans will see me Rajesh Dhar jita, Sheetal and Rajesh, besides Jammu's famous asked you to try luck in Bollywood?. in different 'Avtars'. Musician, Jeevan Sharma, the spectators including the Yes I visited Mumbai in 2004 to try my luck in Bollywood. When About Bollywood actors you have worked with? Son of soil, Arjun Krishna and daughter of soil, parents of the artists have also enjoyed the glimpses of I was in a bus from Pune to Mumbai to try my luck in the star stud- I worked with Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Salman Khan, Anil Aprajita Mahajan are making a Bollywood debut on the the shots taken at tourist spots and prominent schools ded world of Bollywood I decided to give myself six months to this Kapoor, John Ibrahim, Paresh Rawal, Sunil Sheety, Sanjay Dutt, big screen with euphoric children oriented Movie 'Nan- of Jammu. line. I still remember my first day when I reached Chembur in Mum- Akshay Khanna, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Kangana Ranaut, he Farishtey', being produced by Actor/Producer, "Watching a bit of shooting of Movie 'Nanhe Far- bai with no directions where to go and where to stay as Mumbai was Sushmita Sen, Amy Jackson, Shruti Hassan, etc. To top it all, I was Arjun and directed by Aprajita in assistance with ishtey', one gets a feeling that this big initiative, the first new city for me. I had no acquaintance in Mumbai so I stayed in a specially blessed to get the opportunity to work with the legendary Actress Sheetal Arjun Krishna. of its kind in Jammu, taken by the Producers, will Gurdwara at Chembur. As Mumbai was new to me and I had no Feroz Khan. Nanhe Farishtey, the euphoria of which has gripped achieve a big success," said one of the spectators. approach for work, I asked someone in Chembur to guide me to a Tell us something about your family and their support the City of Temples, even before the completion of its production house to work in films. The stranger guided me to go to in your struggle to Bollywood. "It was delight to watch the glimpses of the lead shooting way back in January 2016, will be released Worli, but when I reached Worli, I came to know that industry used I belong to a simple middle class family with no one from Bolly- actors of the Movie during several classroom shots, pic- very soon. to be here long before were shifted to Andheri side and later I took a wood background. My father Late Shivanand was in a white collar nic shots and shots in playfield, besides their splendid There is no-doubt that the magic of the Movie has bus and reached Andheri. job as a Scientific Officer in Jammu University. My mother is a house- act while staging 'Ram Leela' during the shooting in a succeeded in casting spell in Jammu just after the Was the arrival in Andheri fruitful as you were unaware wife and my sister is a PhD Degree Holder. They all were initially festive atmosphere," expressed another spectator. shooting of its first song. about the industry? shocked to my decision of a career in Bollywood but they supported The children oriented Movie offers funny moments, The Movie pulled big crowds during its shooting With God's blessings it was the 7th day in Mumbai, when I start- and trusted my decision. Today whatever I have achieved is with the attractive music and aesthetic aroma of the sons of the and people have high expectations for its big success. ed working and got a role in 'Dhaba Junction' on Sab TV in 2004 with love of my family and their trust in me and my family is proud of my soil. The Movie is the initiative of Hare Rama Hare Late Jaspal Bhatee and Upasana Singh. achievements in Bollywood. I got married in 2009 in Mumbai and I "It is a fun to work with budding artists. These lit- Krishna Productions, headed by its chairman Rajesh No family will allow their child to live in shanty condi- have a six year old son Aarnav Bharat. My parental and maternal fam- tle ones sometimes make you feel ecstatic and some- Gupta, who alongwith the Producer and the Director, tions as you lived in your early days in Mumbai. Was your ilies still dwell in Jammu. times leave no stone unturned to make you cry. The job has decided to shoot it in Jammu to provide opportu- family aware about it? As everyone in Jammu is promoting the Dogri culture is painful, but when done well, it is most enjoyable. The nity to the budding artists of Jammu to showcase their My father during that time was in Mumbai and he wanted to meet through various means, what are your comments over it? shooting had a different charm because of the involve- artistic skill and display their talent. me. I was reluctant as I was living in shabby condition during my People in Jammu are doing a wonderful job for the promotion of ment and the attachment of the budding stars. We "It is the special love for Jammu that has lured us struggle days. Papa came to me and begged me to come home back the Dogri culture. I too like to promote Dogri as I am a Dogra and to shoot the Movie here. However, shooting the Movie wanted to give social and moral message through this as he could not see me in such horrid living. But as I had decided to love to hear Dogri folk. I play Dogri songs "Bhalla Siphaiya Dogariya" in Temple City served us with a twin purpose of pro- give six months to this line, so I refused and continued my struggle. Movie ," expressed Aprajita. when I am driving. viding a launching pad to the budding actors of the As Mumbai is very expensive and it is said that the indus- It is pertinent to mention here that the duo of Arjun Something about future plans. Jammu for displaying their acting skill at the higher try doesn't pay hefty amount to new ones. How did you con- and Aprajita have been the students of cine star, Anu- Lots of plans are in the pipeline. It's a journey which started a levels and work within our budget limits," said Chair- tinue with your struggle? pam Kher's School of Art 'Actor Prepares'. decade ago and I still believe in a theme "A man without ambition is man of Hare Rama Hare Krishna Productions, Rajesh Yes I had to struggle a lot for my day-to-day needs in Mumbai but The success of this children oriented Movie, which like a bird without wings". My ambitions are yet to be accomplished. Gupta. I never had to face deep struggle for work as I was honest and capa- offers excitement, charisma and fun, will open doors I am blessed with many challenging character roles in Hindi films, Apart from the budding actors, who have enjoyed for the budding artists of the State to vie for excellence ble. My capabilities got me work wherever I went. Mumbai gave me with good actors but the role that I wish to see myself is yet to come.