Bollywood

Gangubai Kathiawadi: ‘I Was Quite Surprised To Be Selected’, Shantanu Maheshwari Says On Bollywood Debut

By Nitesh Prataap

February 26, 2022

Alia Bhatt’s most awaited film Gangubai Kathiawadi has been released in theatres. In this film, the actress is being well liked. Popular TV actor Shantanu Maheshwari, who made his Bollywood debut with this film, has revealed that he was afraid of rejection after auditioning for the film. Because earlier too he was rejected after auditioning for many films. Now, during a conversation with news agency IANS, actor Shantanu Maheshwari said, “Based on the endless wait after the auditions for the film and his earlier experiences of getting rejected in other projects, he was really ready for another rejection.”

Shantanu said, “Rejection after audition has happened to me many times in the past, I think it happens to many actors as well. I thought I would get another rejection this time. I was fine with that too. Because I was just trying to think practically but not emotionally and after a long time I finally got a call from our casting director with a congratulatory note which I was quite surprised.” He further said, “I usually get positive or negative feedback after audition. But here I could not find anything… I was empty. So I was preparing my mind for another rejection, which if nothing good happens, will be a bonus for me.”

 

He further talks about the experience of working with Bollywood’s taskmaster Bhansali and said, “Yes, I was feeling a little intimidated initially. But he built that confidence in me. At the same time, he mentioned an incident and said, we were doing our acting workshop and the next day was my first shooting day. So someone from our team was telling me not to be nervous on the first day and our conversation was overheard by Sanjay sir, after which he came in and said, ‘why would he feel nervous. He knows his character. I know he will do his best and he will not be nervous at all’ and then he left.”

 

According to the report, the actor said, “After which I thought yes, I am going to rock something by this. You know he just put that faith, that faith in me.” Let us inform, Shantanu is playing a character of Afsaan in the film Gangubai, who shares a very special bond with Gangubai and the on-screen chemistry of both is being well-liked.