Sidharth Malhotra’s dazzling debut with SOTY has been one of the bests in the round. However, of late the actor’s strong performance in the film Shershaah portraying the role of Vikram Batra. However, while we now celebrate the star as one of the biggest, not many know that he faced rejection before SOTY.

Talking to Sidharth Kannan, he said, “I came to Bombay when I was 20-21 years old. At that time, I was supposed to do a particular film with a different production house, different director.”

The SOTY actor continued, “Unhone bulaya, casting kari, audition hua. Maine picture ki taiyaari kari, takreeban 6-8 mahine wait karta raha, picture kabhi shuru nahi hui (I was cast after being called in for an audition. I prepped for the film and waited for 6-8 months, but the project never took off). That director went on to make a film with another bigger actor, obviously so.”

The actor added, “You start over again. You are trying to wonder how to learn and understand the business. Uss time pe yeh decision lena ya kisise sunna ki assistant direction koi cheez hoti hai, aadmi set pe aa sakta hai, seekh sakta hai (At that time, to become an assistant director and learn by being on a film set).”

he concluded, “I think a game-changer for me. I am very grateful to get an opportunity to be on set as an AD because that was the film school training that I never had.” as quoted by Koi Moi.