Sham Kaushal Marks 46 Years in Films, Recalls Early Struggles
Veteran action director Sham Kaushal marked 46 years in the Hindi film industry, recalling how friends and hotel owners supported him when he arrived in Mumbai with almost nothing.
Mumbai: Veteran action director Sham Kaushal turned emotional as he marked 46 years in the Hindi film industry on August 8, recalling the struggles he faced after arriving in Mumbai from Punjab and the people who stood by him in his toughest days.
In a video shared on social media, the father of actor Vicky Kaushal said that on August 8, 1980, he officially became a member of the Movie Stunt Artists’ Association, the day he considered the start of his journey in the film industry.
“I thank God every day, every moment. But today is a special day. Forty-six years ago, on this day, August 8, 1980, I got the opportunity to become a member of the Movie Stunts Union. That was the day I became a part of this beautiful film industry,” he said.
Acting or filmmaking was never his original plan. “I didn’t come from my village in Punjab to join the film industry. I came in search of a job. I did get a job, but I couldn’t continue because I had a huge inferiority complex. Then, because of some friends, and as God had planned, I became a part of this film industry,” he shared.
He remembered friends who helped him when he could not afford the union membership fee. “At that time, I had to pay Rs 1,000 to become a member of the film industry, and I didn’t have that kind of money. I am deeply grateful to those friends who lent me Rs 100 or Rs 200 each so that I could pay the membership fee,” he said. He also thanked hotel owners who fed him free of cost and friends who helped him pay the rent for his room when he had almost nothing.
Sham expressed gratitude to the stunt fraternity for teaching him the craft and giving him opportunities to earn a livelihood and support his family. In May 1990, he became an action director and thanked producers and directors who trusted him and allowed him to learn.
Concluding his message, he said: “The film industry is wonderful. Mumbai is wonderful. The people are wonderful. The world is beautiful. May God keep everyone happy and healthy. Love you. God bless you.”
Over the years, Sham Kaushal has established himself as one of Hindi cinema’s most respected action directors. He has choreographed sequences for films including Black Friday, Krrish, Kaminey, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Padmaavat, Sanju, Gangs of Wasseypur, Dangal, PK, Tiger Zinda Hai, Simmba, URI: The Surgical Strike, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, Dunki and Animal, among many others.
His anniversary message underscored a career built from precarious beginnings in Mumbai to a long association with major commercial and critically noted films.
