Teachers' Day: Bollywood celebs pay tribute to their mentors

This Teachers' Day, Bollywood celebs like Raveena Tandon, Amrita Rao, Jay Bhanushali, Romit Raj, Swara Bhaskar and Karan Grover talk about their mentors such as Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Sooraj Barjatya and Ekta Kapoor.

While some helped them get a head start in the industry, other inspired them to start acting. On the occasion of Teacher’s Day, we talk to film and television stars about who their mentors are.

Raveena Tandon
While she did not get a chance to work with her father, filmmaker Ravi Tandon, actor Raveena Tandon says that he inspired her to act. “I have worked with all the top ­directors, except my dad (Ravi Tandon). He made amazing films like Zindagi, which is like today’s Baghban. I am inspired by him and have learned a lot. He is my guru,” she says.

This Teacher's Day stars talk about their mentors.

Jay Bhanushali
Actor Jay Bhanushali, who started his career with television shows, says that producer Ekta Kapoor is his mentor. “Ekta Kapoor got me introduced to this industry. She is really my mentor. I have learnt a lot from her, especially that your ­commitment is the most important thing in this ­industry,” he says.

Romit Raj

TV actor Romit Raj worked with actor Ronit Roy in Adalat (2010-2015) and says that he learned a lot from him. "Ronit Dada (Ronit Roy) is my mentor. We worked together in our show Adalat, and he has taught me so much about acting. He treates me like a brother. I consider myself lucky to have learned so much from him," he says.



Meet the mentors

Amrita Rao

Actor Amrita Rao found a ­mentor in filmmaker Farah Khan. "She is the woman who calls the shots in a man’s world. Also, once you are in her team, she showers you with so much praise and confidence that she actually makes you believe that you are the best in the world. And so, you ­automatically give your best shot! That’s the one quality I learnt from her!" says Amrita.

Swara Bhaskar
Swara has a number of ­people who she admires in the industry. “I have been ­fortunate to work with good people. I must acknowledge Aanand L Rai as my unknowing godfather. I have learned a lot from his films. I must mention Himanshu Sharma for writing me roles that gave me an ­identity in Bollywood. Also, while shooting my last film, Salman Khan has been a huge source of ­inspiration,” she says

Karan V Grover
While his mantra has always been to teach himself, actor Karan V Grover (right) admires actor Aamir Khan. “I like his attempt of making wholesome ­entertainment with new ­characters, stories and an approach of creating a more organised form of filmmaking,” he says.

Aamir Ali
Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya is actor Aamir Ali’s mentor. “Director Sooraj Barjatya is my mentor. I worked in his show, Woh Rehne Waali Mehloon Ki, which was a big turning point of my career. Sooraj ji’s ­professionalism, simplicity and humble attitude is what I learned and retained. He is a very positive person,” he says.