Taaha Shah: Riding High On The Nation's Crush Wave After 'Heeramandi' Breakthrough

Taaha Shah Badussha is the newly appointed national crush. The 36-year-old actor's turn as Tajdar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Heeramandi" has made him the current heartthrob. Playing the Oxford-returned noble who falls in love with a courtesan's daughter and gets involved in the freedom movement, Taaha's performance as well as his deep baritone voice struck a chord with viewers.

"It is very humbling; the nation and the audience have been very kind. I will take this as a win for the last few years I have put in. The love and recognition that I have desired over the years and have been finally able to get, thanks to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Heeramadi, feels great.

It's been a long wait in the wings for Taaha Shah, the actor who debuted in Luv Ka the End in 2011, followed by appearances in the comedy-drama Gippi in 2013, which were followed by a couple of other appearances. It wasn't until "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, that the actor finally got his breakthrough and won recognition amongst the ensemble cast, which also included Manisha Kairala, Sonakshi Sinha, and Aditi Rao Hydari. The actor is grateful that the OTT platforms have democratised the medium, allowing actors and talent across the board.

"I think the OTT platforms have given us leverage and an opportunity, especially for people who maybe could have gotten lost. There's so much content being made daily, and for a certain few to kind of erupt, it is truly a blessing. This is something that really can't be foretold since the nature of the business is very unpredictable, and at the end of the day, it is the audience that decides whom they want to see."

However, his co-star Sharmin Segal, who played his love interest Alamzeb in the show, has been at the receiving end, given the constant trolling and apathy coming from a certain section of the audience. Taaha is quick to defend her, calling the situation unfair and unfortunate.

"They have picked on her, and whoever I've spoken to, I've always made it a point to say that we are nobody to talk about the audience, but I can talk about the people who are close to me, such as my mom and my dad, and they have come up to me with a logical explanation as to how her performance was, and she played her part with utmost sincerity. I shot with Sharmin for almost 110 days and have seen her put her best foot forward. She has given logical input, and because she had been an assistant director with Mr. Bhansali, she always had great ideas and understood the process. I would plead that people give her a break since she is still very young in the industry."

Though Taaha's track as Tajdar was over in season 1 of "Heeramandi," the actor laughs, saying he is hopeful he gets a chance to be part of the newly announced Heeramandi, season 2. "Anything is possible in cinema, and the script is not fully ready yet. I hope Bhansali sir has enjoyed working with me, and if the audience and Netflix want to get Tajdar back, then who knows?" he says with a laugh.

Though he adds that the name Taj has been lucky for him since not only his family but friends too have started addressing him by his screen name,.

"I am more than happy to be synonymous with Tajdar; it is a great name and character and very close to my heart. So I hope the name continues and can become a redefining name like the Raj and Rahul's of cinema."

But he is candid when he confesses that he is not taking his newfound success with Heeramandi for granted. Neither does he feel the rites of passage have ever become easier, as he recalls his 13 years of struggle.

"I have learned through my phase of struggle, and I will not say it gets easy either. There were moments when I felt down, and I kept myself as busy as possible. I did a lot of classes, tried to knock on many doors, seeking that one opening, putting in the legwork as well as network. There have been moments when I have felt dejected by the rejection and cried. There were times when I was part of big projects that never took off, part of big production houses and casts, and then dropped. Whenever I thought this and it didn't happen, it did make me weary. Thankfully, we had a wonderful support system. I have not forgotten any of that, and I think now my time has come. No, I can't think like that either. One cannot afford to get complacent either, thinking, Oh, now things will go my way. Even with Heermadi, I was first taken for a small part, and it was then that I was selected to play Tajdar. So one has to keep pushing and persevering, and now that some recognition has come, I just hope more good work comes my way, says Taaha thoughtfully.

He does confess that he loves to play characters who make the audience cry. "I love dying on screen, and the last two projects of mine that have done well, I have died in all of them," he says with. a laugh. But on a serious note. He adds, "I want to play characters that challenge me as well as my intellect, and I cannot look forward to what the future holds."