As Salman Khan's brother-in-law, the actor says nepotism is not all that easy
Mumbai: Actor Salman Khan is well known for launching new faces in the film industry. After all, the current ruling hottie in Bollywood, Katrina Kaif is from his camp.
However, this time Khan has looked homeward to make an actor out of his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma. His sister Arpita’s husband, Aayush, will be making his debut with their home production Love Yatri (initially titled Loveratri).
Amidst claims of nepotism, in an interview with MyNation, Aayush said that he didn't really set out to be an actor. “It’s actually a decision that I didn’t take myself. Everybody told me that you should be an actor. I didn’t know anything about acting then, I have never been on stage before. It was only when Sohail bhai and Salman bhai told me that ‘you should be an actor,’ I felt if the country’s biggest superstar is suggesting this, then why not? That was the beginning and then I started training and attended workshops to become an actor.”
However, unlike popular perception, Aayush claims that the ball did not roll into his court that easy despite being related to Salman Khan. The Love Yatri actor said, “I was always told by Salman bhai that, we will train you but you have to bag a film with your own capabilities. If you fail to impress me or anybody in the family, then I am not launching you.” He also added, “That’s the reason why I had to wait for four years and work hard as an assistant director while preparing to be an actor. Because once I am in front of the camera, the audience will not consider whose brother-in-law I am. I was not certain that I would be launched under the banner of SKF though.”
True to form, Sharma, roughed out on the sets of Bajrangi Bhaijaan immediately after returning from his honeymoon with Arpita which he says boosted his confidence on the sets. He said, “I used to assist bhai on advertisements on days when there were no film shoots. After Bajrangi, I have assisted on films like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Sultan and Tubelight.”
Through it all, his wife Arpita supported Aayush’s decision of becoming an actor and even told him to get a "thick skin". He does admit to questioning his decisions too especially when he became a dad. “When Ahil was coming into our lives, I used to wonder that now I am turning a father, I have responsibilities, is this the time to experiment with my career? But Arpita used to encourage me. She had tears in her eyes after watching my dance in Loveatri as I have been a non-dancer all my life.”
Love Yatri directed by debutant director Abhiraj Minawala is slated to hit theatres on October 5.
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