Last Update: May 21, 2023, 2:59 PM IST
Jugal Hansraj talks about his Bollywood career
The actor shares candid insights into the setbacks, emotions and resilience that shaped his journey
Jugal Hansraj, the very popular actor of the 90s, does not need any introduction today. He is best known for his notable roles in Bollywood movies including Papa Kehte Kehte, Mohabbatein and many more. But unfortunately he could not become as successful as he wanted to be. In a conversation with ETimes, the actor opened up about the challenges faced by him. He also revealed that he had experienced moments of despair and shed tears over stalled projects and was also referred to as “jinxed” in the industry.
As quoted by ETimes, Jugal said, “I won’t deny that it hasn’t been tough. Dealing with the failure of my films was incredibly difficult. I not only faced criticism from media critics, but They also made personal attacks on me. I have been called various names and labeled as a wretch. Also, people made fun of me for many films that have not even started production. When I work on other films He used to make comments like, ‘Oh, it’s about time Jugal attended the Muhurat of his films.’ Initially, I cried when my projects were postponed when I was 18 or 19. However, with time, I grew free from such disappointments.
He recalls receiving calls for a film he had signed and was supposed to start soon, not happening now. “I became numb to it. Still, it remains challenging when you work hard and face harsh comments about your work. Sometimes people take it personally, which is unnecessary . It’s just a movie, and it can be liked or not without resorting to personal attacks. The industry is tough, and people can be harsh and cruel, but one must accept this reality when entering this field, said the actor.
He described all of them as challenging and even said that friends change depending on the success or failure of your films. “Some people come back only when things are going well. Some people are like that, though not all. Growing up, I was greatly influenced by a variety of films. Like most of India, I loved watching Amitabh Bachchan movies and Rishi Kapoor movies. I was also fond of the works of Farooq Shaikh, Amol Palekar and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. He was my favorite and his films shaped my preferences. However, I am simply a lover of movies and enjoy watching movies of all genres. Nowadays, I have expanded my interests to include web series and shows from around the world, thanks to the access we have. It’s a great opportunity to explore diverse content, and I thoroughly enjoy it.”
On the work front, Jugal was last seen in Shiv Shastri’s Balboa starring Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. He was also a part of the Netflix series Mismatched. He will be next seen in the anthology, NRI Wives. Directed by Gunjan Kuthiala, the film also stars Bhagyashree, Raima Sen, Sameer Soni, Kiku Sharda, Aditi Govitrikar, Hiten Tejwani, Gaurav Gera and many more.