Q+A with Taha Shah Badussha | If looks could kill
After his much-talked-about appearance at Cannes, Taha Shah Badussha is at an interesting crossroads with several upcoming projects
Q. What inspired you to become an actor?
Q. What inspired you to become an actor?
I think it's about escaping oneself, and having the ability to experience different lives and different times, jumping from era to era, nationality to nationality, lingo to lingo. Overall, it's the creativity in the quest of finding who I am.
Q. Your Cannes appearance was widely appreciated for its elegance. What was the thought behind the look?
The idea was to keep it elegant and authentic. We didn't want to do something loud just for the sake of being noticed. The focus was on celebrating Indian fabric and character through khadi, and Madhav Agasti's vision of presenting the fabric in a contemporary, global context really resonated with me. The look carried a sense of tradition while still feeling modern, and I think that balance is what made it special.
Q. Without revealing too much, what side of you will audiences discover in your upcoming projects?
Besides the sides that I tend to hide, the sides that I am sometimes scared of, I think we've got to wait and see.
Q. A lot of young fans now look up to your physique and styling. What’s your advice on fitness for them?
Well, I sometimes feel I need advice myself. But if I have to humbly send across any advice, I would say focus on getting a trainer and the right trainer. Get involved in any sport or activity that you genuinely want to pursue. The next thing I would say is: meditate.
Q. Was Heeramandi your breakthrough moment—or do you think your real career is only beginning now?
I think there's nothing taking away from the fact that Heeramandi was my breakthrough moment. It was all thanks to Mr Bhansali and Netflix for putting me on global screens. It was all a blessing. But my real career started a long time ago. A real career isn't only about when you're successful; it starts when you're not successful as well.
Q. You became a national crush almost overnight after Heeramandi. Did that sudden attention change the way filmmakers started approaching you?
Being a national crush makes one desirable, I guess. But directors have to cater to your acting, and by doing that, I think the filmmakers' way of seeing me has changed. I'm extremely grateful to have been able to portray Tajdar Baloch.
