Actor and filmmaker Jugal Hansraj recently sat down for an exclusive chat with IHNS, where he reflected on his journey in cinema. He talked about the beginning of his career as a child artiste in Shekhar Kapur’s film Masoom and recalled his early projects. Hansraj also opened up about going through career lows while transitioning to adult roles, facing repeated rejections and surviving tough times in the Hindi film industry.
Jugal Hansraj reveals how he faced a lack of work after debuting as an adult in the 1994 film Aa Gale Lag Jaa. He said, “This has been a constant in my career because there would be commitments, but later the film would get shelved. This happened with big producers of that time.” The actor revealed how the same happened with some of the films that were supposed to be directed by him. Hansraj further said, “When I was young, it broke my heart. But I couldn’t get angry because no one was doing it intentionally. The situation was out of control. Then what can you do? You just move on.”
When asked how Jugal survived the tough times in the industry, the actor said, “I had a very strong support system. My family had my parents, my elder brother. Now there is only my elder brother, but he is still a constant source of support! I also had some friends who always encouraged me. So if you have a good support system and a bit of a level head, otherwise it can affect you. Too much success can affect you and too much can also affect you. So I guess it’s best to take both in a pinch. Salt is part of life.”
Watch the actor’s full conversation below:
