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Shantanu Maheshwari: Before Gangubai Kathiawadi I would get rejected, or replaced at the last minute

Actor Shantanu Maheshwari says he is glad none of the films worked out for him before Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi.

Published on: Apr 18, 2022, 16:44:11 IST
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Life after the release of Gangubai Kathiawadi has been sweet for Shantanu Maheshwari. More offers have started pouring in but the actor is in no hurry.

Actor Shantanu Maheshwari played the role of Alia Bhatt’s character’s lover in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Actor Shantanu Maheshwari played the role of Alia Bhatt’s character’s lover in Gangubai Kathiawadi.

“Initially, the industry people knew me little, as the guy who would be mostly cast. They had not seen my work or me in any film, they didn’t know whether will be able to hold the screen, this and that. Obviously, once they saw it, they started reaching out, wanting me to be a part of different projects,” says the 31-year-old, who played the role of Alia Bhatt’s lover in the film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Before Gangubai... happened for him, the actor reveals he had been trying to get into films, but things just wouldn’t materialise despite his attempts. Maheshwari shares, “Obviously, every actor wants to after a point get into films and be a part of good storytelling. Even I was struggling and was given offers. But somehow they would not convert… at the last minute I would get rejected, or at the last minute get replaced after getting selected. Films were a hard thing to get into.”

But he is not complaining any longer. “I am glad those projects didn’t happen because then Gangubai… wouldn’t have happened, I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to work with Sanjay sir. I am happy those films didn’t happen,” says the actor.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rishabh Suri

Rishabh Suri is an Assistant Editor, film critic, and professional overthinker of plot points. He writes for HT City, keeping pace with an industry where news cycles expire long before the popcorn gets cold. He completed his graduation in English Honours from Kirori Mal College, followed by a Master’s degree in English Literature-effectively training his brain to over-analyse classic texts before applying those exact same skills to 3-hour Bollywood blockbusters. He got into the profession when he had barely graduated from college and has been at HT ever since. At HT, Rishabh reviews films with a simple rule: skip the dense academic jargon and get straight to the point. Beyond reviews, as Assistant Editor, he helps navigate the broader circus of showbiz, tracking everything from OTT shifts to sudden box office panics. In a beat driven by loud PR machinery and carefully scripted answers, Rishabh prefers cutting through the noise to focus on how stories get made and why trends shift. When he isn’t writing against a deadline, he is usually sitting in a dark theater, compulsively memorising dialogues. For Rishabh, analysing movies isn't just a day job- it’s a habit he couldn't turn off even if he tried.

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Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
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