Sham Mashalkar: My past experience as an assistant director helps me even today as an actor

Sham Mashalkar, who has worked in films and television over the years, looks back at his 16-year- long journey as an actor and is grateful for the work he has done. He says, "Before getting into acting, I worked as an assistant director for around three to four years and that experience is something that helps me even today as an actor. I feel every actor should work behind the camera before getting into acting."
Recounting the tough times he went through a few years ago, he says, "An actor's life is unpredictable and if an actor like Amitabh Bachchan can have a few difficult years then naturally every actor is likely to go through it.Few years ago, in 2016 to 2017, I didn't have work for almost a year or so. Instead of letting that affect me, I took it as an opportunity to work on my skills. I saw many movies and read a lot. I read the Bhagwat Gita which taught me more about life and how to stay positive. After my rough patch, I came out as a different person altogether. Difficult times helps us realise the importance of things that we have in life."
Meanwhile on the work front now, Sham will be seen in Sasural Genda Phool 2 as Ilesh. He finds similarities between him and the character that he plays. Sham says, "I feel there are similarities because my character doesn't like 9-5 jobs and it's the same with me in real life. That never interested me. Acting was something I always wanted to get into."