Siddhant Chaturvedi may be a household name today, but his journey was paved with a series of brutal rejections.
Drawing a parallel to his character in his upcoming film “Do Deewane Seher Mein”, who faces rejection in an arranged marriage set up owing to a lisp, Siddhant shared a stinging memory from his early career days.
The “Gully Boy” star disclosed in a latest interview that was told by producers his curly hair made him unfit to be a hero. “I have faced many rejections when I was struggling to get into acting,” he recollected.
“But I remember one that stayed with me for a long time. I had left CA just 1-2 years prior to that. I auditioned for a big film, and I got shortlisted. There were several workshops, and I blended into the character. I was marvelling that it had only been a year since I had won “Fresh Face”, and here I was in a film as the lead. It felt so easy. The director and the casting director liked me. But after 3-4 months of workshops, the producer watched the screen test and rejected me. I asked the casting director, and he said it was because of my curly hair. ‘Curly baal wale hero nahi bante’ (curly-haired guys don't become heroes).”
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Siddhant recalled how he was told to straighten his hair and give another audition. But he was rejected again after being told, ‘Zyada straight ho gaye hain baal’ (Your hair has become too straight).”
The actor conceded wondering, “What is this criterion to reject someone?”
Siddhant admitted feeling hurt and sad after the rejection. “After I was rejected, I went home and shaved my head. I was so sad. That stayed with me for a long time,” he says. The actor adds that the decision to shave his head was a difficult one because his mother was very fond of his curly mane.
Siddhant admits it took considerable time to regain his confidence after that ordeal, but today, he fully embraces his curly hair. While the rejection once made him hide his identity, he now wears his curls as a badge of honour.
Pointing to the poster of “Do Deewane Seher Mein”, he said, “Look at it now, it’s on the poster in the centre. And I am happy with that.”
“Do Deewane Seher Mein” is a romantic drama featuring Mrunal Thakur in the female lead. Directed by Ravi Udyawar and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film will hit theatres on February 20.
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