From SSB rejections to screen stardom: Jaideep reflects on his journey

One of the most awaited sessions at the Bazm-E-Virasat festival held in Prayagraj recently turned into a deeply engaging and inspiring evening as acclaimed actor Jaideep Ahlawat sat down for a candid one-on-one conversation with celebrated casting director Mukesh Chhabra. Marked by honesty, humour and quiet wisdom, the session offered the audience an intimate look into Jaideep’s journey from years of struggle to becoming one of the most respected performers of contemporary Indian cinema. Jaideep, who charmed audience with powerful performances in films and OTT series Raazi, Maharaj, Paatal Lok, Raazi, Jaan-e-Jaan, Gangs of Wasseypur, among others recalled how he had first come to Prayagraj as an aspirant to join the Indian Army.OTT, cinema & the changing mediumChhabra’s conversation with Jaideep also touched upon the changing landscape of Indian cinema with OTT platforms and social media. Referring to the overwhelming response to Paatal Lok, Jaideep said, “I never thought that people will connect so deeply with my character Hathi Ram Chaudhary in Paatal Lok. Yeh sirf meri performance nahi thi, poori team ka kaam tha.” Speaking about Three of Us, he added, “Khaamoshi bhi kabhi-kabhi bahut zyada bolti hai. Uss film ne mujhe yeh phir yaad dilaya.”Talking about the debate around OTT versus cinema, Jaideep said that for actors there was no difference between mediums but for writers the medium is a boon as it provides them a larger canvas for storytelling. “I also do not agree with very strong and aggressive promotion of any film or series. Kaam agar achha hota hai, toh usko recognition milta hi hai,” he said. When asked about the popularity of social media and how useful it could be for actors like him, Jaideep was candid enough and said, “Social media hota hog zaroori but people mostly use it for personal gain. I prefer to stay away from it as I find it distracting.” Returning to Prayagraj: A journey of memoriesReturning to Prayagraj clearly held special meaning for the Raazi actor. Speaking in his trademark grounded manner, Jaideep said, “Yahan aana hamesha achha lagta hai. Iss shehar ki ek apni rooh hai. Aaj subah Sangam gaya tha, aur phir chaat khaye bina kaise ja sakta tha?” His easy warmth instantly connected with the audience, drawing smiles and applause. Recalling his first visit to the city, Jaideep said he came to Prayagraj with the dream of joining the Army and appeared twice for the Services Selection Board (SSB) examinations. “But dono baar I failed. It was an emotionally challenging phase for me but life clearly had other plans for me,” he said. Jaideep later went on to join the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) which he said madehim more confident about his future and accept his initial failures. On struggle, patience and self-beliefTalking about his early years and the long phase of struggle, Jaideep spoke with striking calm and clarity. “Main jab kaam dhoondh raha tha, tab bhi main dukhi nahi tha. I felt it is very essential to remain happy even while looking for work,” he said, adding, “Times are hard, but one should not stop working and improving on their ownselves during those hard times. Padhte raho, seekhte raho, apne aap ko behtar banate raho. Rest all falls into place eventually.”Actors and directors who inspireWhen asked about actors he admires and wishes to work with, Jaideep replied with visible respect, “Naseer saab, Paresh Rawal, Manoj Bajpayee yeh log toh school jaise hain. Seeing them one understands what acting really is.” He also named Ranbir Kapoor, Tabu and Alia Bhatt as actors he admired, saying, “It’s a whole different experience working with these people.”Naming his favourite directors Jaideep said, “Tigmanshu Dhulia, Imtiaz Ali, Raju Hirani yeh sab alag-alag duniya ke filmmakers hain. Working with them means understanding yourself in a new light.” Talking about Meghna Gulzar, Jaideep spoke with deep affection: “Raazi mere liye ek classroom jaise thi. Working with Meghna I fels as if I was a student of acting once again.” Wisdom beyond the screenDuring the audience interaction, Jaideep strongly stressed the importance of reading. “Agar aap padhte nahi ho, toh aap khud ko limit kar rahe ho,” he said. “Reading is not only for actors, it is important for every human being. Reading expands your thoughts and your views. It nourishes your soul.”The art and process of actingJaideep emphasized that acting is a journey of patience rather than instant success. He said, “The struggle we actors face is the same as anyone else feels in any other profession. For us actors the major problem is the gap in between projects. It’s a long race! If you keep wondering about the results only, you will tire yourself out. Process se pyaar karna seekhna padta hai,” he remarked, a line that resonated strongly with aspiring actors present in the hall. Speaking about his craft, Jaideep underlined that cinema can never be an individual achievement. “Film kabhi bhi akele nahi banti. It is a collective effort of a lot of people, writer, camera, light, spot boy… everybody has an equal contribution in the making of a film. It is not possible to do it all alone,” he said firmly.-Ankita Bharti