This story is from October 31, 2007

It's a tough period for me: Pushkar

PALLAVI KHARADE / TNN / Oct 31, 2007, 00:00 IST

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It is never easy to undergo an image change, and it’s been no different for Pushkar Jog, ready to make a mark in Bollywood.

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On fame’s threshold: Pushkar Jog (TOI Photo)Pushkar worked in two Hindi movies Hum Dono and Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai. Besides, he also won the best child artiste award for his role in the Marathi film Raju.
Pushkar Jog’s celluloid journey has been a long one — from a successful child actor to a hero who awaits his moment of glory in Bollywood.
Hailing from Pune, this dental surgeon took a seven-year sabbatical to complete his studies and now looks forward to a full-time career in films. Says he, “Acting has always been my first love but, since my father wanted me to complete my education, I took a degree in dental surgery. Now, I am into acting fulltime.”
Pushkar began his career in the glam world at the age of five. A professional dancer, he’s even performed with orchestras. “As a five-year-old kid, I was inspired by Govinda and Mithunda’s dance styles. But now, Hrithik is my idol,” he says. Pushkar worked in two Hindi movies Hum Dono and Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai. Besides, he also won the best child artiste award for his role in the Marathi film Raju.

It’s believed that successful child artistes don’t necessarily become successful actors when they grow up. But, Pushkar is an exception. Having already delivered the Marathi hit Dhum Dhadaka directed by Mahesh Kothare, where he played the first Marathi superhero and even did his own stunts, Pushkar now looks forward to success in Bollywood.
“Since, I came from a regional film industry I had to struggle a lot to get a decent break in Bollywood. There is a vast difference in the work culture of both film industries. I realised Bollywood is more professional than the Marathi film industry and the money, too, is good.”

Pushkar got his first break in Osama, a Hindi film directed by Faisal Saif where he played Osama Bin Laden. During the shooting of the first schedule of the film, Pushkar went through a lot of trauma as he received threatening calls from unidentified people. “It was really a tough period for me. It was my first film and getting death threats was an experience I won’t forget all my life,” he recalls.
After Osama, Pushkar now has quite a few films in his kitty. Suniel Shetty has already signed him for his forthcoming multistarrer EMI-Liya Hai Tho Chukana Padega. In the film, Pushkar is one of the lead actors and has rubbed shoulders with top stars like Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and Ashish Choudhary.
“I play a college student who is a spoilt brat. There are four stories in the movie and my story revolves around the father-son relationship. They did my complete makeover. In fact, we shot a song with Sanjay Dutt. Working with Sanjay Dutt in the same frame was like a dream come true for me,” he says excitedly.
Amongst his forthcoming ventures, there’s Teenagers and actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar's untitled film. Dance is close to his heart, too, and Pushkar has major plans to take the art form forward. “Considering dance has given me so much, I want to acknowledge its contribution in my life by opening an international dance academy in Pune in a couple of years.”
Well, that’s quite a lot Pushkar wants to achieve. The child has grown up, indeed!

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