Chandigarh boy to share screen with Ranbir Kapoor in Animal

Recalling his journey into Bollywood, Sharma, in an interview with The Indian Express, recounted, “In 2007, I was studying at SGGS College, Sector 26, Chandigarh. I joined NCC and played basketball at the national level, hoping to secure a fee waiver through the sports or NCC quota, but it didn’t materialise. Following advice from a cousin, I joined the college’s theatre and acting team, learning about the similar benefits it offered.”

“During that time, I met Gulshan Gutani, an Indian Theatre teacher from Hisar, who prepared me and the team for the College Youth festival’s Play (theatre). After securing the second position at the Youth festival, Gutani Sir encouraged me to pursue acting further, inspiring me to continue working in theatre both in the city and elsewhere,” Sharma added.

However, his journey in theatre faced challenges, including lack of family support due to minimal financial returns from theatrical activities. “My family encouraged me to enrol in Chitkara University for a Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism. Upon completing my degree and briefly exploring job opportunities in media companies, I realised acting and theatre were my true passions since 2007. Thus, I left those jobs and fully dedicated myself to theatre and street plays,” explained Sharma.

In 2014, Sharma moved to Mumbai to seek opportunities but returned to Chandigarh in 2015 due to financial constraints. In 2016, while performing at Tagore Theatre, a freelance director noticed Sharma’s talent and offered him a role in the web film “Shreelancer.”

Sharing further about his journey, Sharma mentioned his involvement in a Hollywood film, “The Wedding Guest,” alongside Dev Patel and Radhika Apte, released in 2018. Alongside, he and his friends ran a production house in Chandigarh, providing casting for various film projects.

Regarding his role in “Animal,” Sharma said he received a call from a friend in the film industry, seeking help with casting for an upcoming Bollywood film. Subsequently, after sharing profiles of aspiring actors, he was unexpectedly asked to send his own profile and photos for the film.

Eventually, his profile was selected by the film’s director, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who invited shortlisted candidates to Mumbai for a meeting. Despite initial concerns about his physique, Sharma’s audition clip left a lasting impression, leading to his selection for the role.

Sharma expressed his joy on the eve of the film’s premiere in Mumbai, remarking, “Working with such talented Bollywood superstars has been a dream come true for me and my family. I’ve learned immensely from Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, senior actors, and the entire crew.”

Excited about the film’s release, Sharma shared that his family, including his father, Lalita Prasad Sharma, mother Usha Sharma, and sisters Rekha, Kiran, Seema, and Kanchan, will attend the first-day-first-show. He also welcomed friends from his Sector 7, Chandigarh, neighbourhood to join them.

“To all the young aspirants, my advice is simple: keep pursuing what you love and never give up,” Sharma concluded.