Man of many roles

Sharma,brought up in a family of railway employees and who studied in Ambala,represented Haryana at various inter-university and national competitions during his college and school days. He was even part of the cultural troupe that had gone to Russia representing India in the 1980s.

“When I told my father about shifting to Mumbai and trying my luck in acting,he told me to secure a job first.” Accordingly,he approached the then WR general manager who appointed him through sports quota. “Today,I remember my father’s words when I see many people struggling to get an opportunity in the film industry.”

Not just in plays,Sharma has played small roles in movies like Khalnayak and Jaan and even worked for renowned television companies including Balaji Telefilms and Adhikari Brothers. “I did small roles in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki,Kahi Kisi Roz,Surag and FIR.”

Sharma was even featured in a BBC documentary called Bombay Railways.

Though he was offered a transfer to other departments in the railways that would help him climb the ladder in the organisation,Sharma refused them as he will have to travel to different cities in the WR zone; something which may obstruct his passion for acting.

Following in his father’s footsteps,Sharma’s 15-year-old son Arun Dev also acted in some television serials. “But I have asked Arun to give acting the backseat for now as he is preparing for his SSC examinations,” says Sharma.

“Everything was possible for me because of the cooperation of my bosses. The general managers of WR have been extremely flexibile and have allowed cultural activities to flourish.”

“Sharma is a great asset and has won several awards for the Western Railway,” says WR chief spokesperson Shyam Sunder Gupta.