When Sanjay Mishra bunked school to work at construction site, was caught by his dad who was with PM Rajiv Gandhi

In a captivating interview with Neelesh Misra, Sanjay recounted this fascinating chapter of his life, saying, “I used to leave home for school, but instead, I would head to Talkatora Garden. It was there that I met a man who had previously worked as a house help at our home and had since become a contractor. I said to him, ‘I’ll come to you every day between 9 am and 4:30 pm, and during that time, you can employ me for any kind of work. Keep in mind, I was essentially asking for a job from my own servant. I asked him to give me a job in return of five rupees.”

Describing the moment his father discovered him at the construction site, Sanjay said in Hindi, “I spent my days shaping iron rods. I would change out of my school uniform and wrap a towel around my waist before starting work. During this time, my father held a high position at the Press Information Bureau, often interacting with prominent journalists and even traveling with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. One day, while I was supposed to be at school but was instead working at a construction site, a hand touched my shoulder. I turned around, and it was my father. He said to me, ‘Kya bhai, baap Pradhan Mantri ke sath aaya hai aur beta sariya mode raha hai. Aacha grow kar rahe ho (Your father has come with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and you are shaping iron rods. You’re really growing’). On that day, my father was accompanying Rajiv Gandhi as they inspected the venues for the Asian Games preparation in 1982, and I happened to be working at one of those venues.”

Sanjay then revealed in the interview that after this incident, he took Rs 50 from his mother’s purse and left his house, only to return after her passing. Academia was never Sanjay’s cup of tea but charades were. Stumbling through the unimaginative Indian education system, Sanjay eventually found his way to the National School of Drama, where he met like-minded individuals who understood and appreciated his craft. It was here that he truly blossomed as an artist.

Since his Hindi film debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India, Sanjay has portrayed a wide range of characters. Attempting to categorise his filmography is a daunting task as it a symbol of his free spirit and his deep resistance to be boxed in certain characters or fixed perspectives.

In the same interview, Sanjay declared, “Sikhana mat mujhe. Mujhe jo sikhna hai life main mein khud sikhuga (Don’t teach me. I will learn everything myself).” Since his debut, Sanjay has primarily taken on supporting roles, but he has mostly been unforgettable in them. Will it be an exaggeration to compare him to Mehmood? You decide.