Dubai: It's rare to reap rich dividends from a global financial melt-down. But Dubai-based steel entrepreneur and Bollywood hopeful Taaha Shah is an exception.
As soon as his business took a nose-dive, he enrolled into Abu Dhabi's New York Film Academy to pursue his first love - acting. Two years later, Shah is now tipped to make his Bollywood entry in a romantic drama Luv Ka The End, produced by Yash Raj Films.
"After the financial markets went down in 2008, we got out out of the market. That's when I decided that I am going to do something that I always loved and that is acting … But I didn't complete my course at the Abu Dhabi Film Academey because they told me that the course is cancelled and I would have to go to LA to complete it. But my dad suggested I go to Mumbai since it's better for me," said Shah in an interview with tabloid!. Dozens of failed auditions later, he managed to get his foot into the Yash Raj camp.
"It was a struggle man. I didn't know the system, didn't know anybody in Bollywood - heck, I didn't even know how to read the fare in the autorickshaw … went for almost six auditions a day at one point," said Shah.
In Luv Ka The End, the 23-year-old debutante plays a cocky college student Luv Nanda on a dating spree.
"My role is different from the usual Bollywood heroes, he is not this perfect gentleman … I couldn't have asked for a better Bollywood debut," said Shah.
Luv Ka The End is slated for release on May 5.
