Tahir Raj Bhasin had one of the dreamiest start to the year that any actor could have ever aspired for, and I must admit, it is deservedly so. The actor entered 2022 with the appreciation of his stint as Sunil Gavaskar in ’83 behind him, and he carried it forward in January with some amazing portrayals in the shows Ranjish Hi Sahi and Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein. But he wasn’t done yet as he began February with Looop Lapeta opposite Taapsee Pannu. Getting to see Tahir don so many hats in such a short time was a pleasure for me as his audience and even the actor acknowledges the affect of this success.
But as he gets into a conversation with me about it, he reflects on his eight years in showbiz. From starting off as an anti-hero to working in an ensemble and now finally making it as a lead actor, Tahir goes down memory lane talking about them.
He shares,
“I am a very soft and romantic person at heart and I have always been in touch with that side of me. But it was a big risk to take up the anti-hero role in Mardaani, and when it came, I knew it was just a fraction of what I was capable of giving to a movie in terms of my craft of acting. But as it is said, samay se pehle aur kismat se zyada kisi ko kuch nahi milta. I feel like my time will come and the time that I am having right now, is a result of my patience and hard work.
Tahir adds,
“The effort was always to do diverse and disruptive parts. If I am picking to work with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, it would be in a Manto that goes to the Cannes Film Festival. If I am working in an ensemble like Chhichhore, it would be with an epic filmmaker like Nitesh Tiwari, and Derek is a character that will stay with the audience long after the film is over. It has always been like it that whenever I do any work, the character should stay with the audience.
As I mention the momentous start he had to 2022 and all the glory that came his way in the month of January, Tahir opens up to me about the biggest takeaway he had from this glorious month.
The actor insists,
“The greatest thing that has come out of January 2022 is that people’s response to me playing a romantic hero has been bigger than what it was for Mardaani. That is the effect of doing a variety of work and it is so gratifying as an artist. And that success hasn’t changed my approach yet as my endeavor is still to surprise the audience with the kind of stories I do.
Seeing Tahir climb the ladder of success is so gratifying for me as a person who has admired him since I first saw him in Mardaani. All this success was long overdue for him and finally that it is coming his way, I can’t help but feel ecstatic and proud to have backed a talent like him.