Actor Zaid Khan has spoken about one of the toughest decisions of his acting career—playing Ajmal Kasab in Bharat Bhagya Vidhata. The actor admitted that he was reluctant to take up the role when it was first offered to him. However, after receiving valuable advice from his mentor and trusting the acting process, he decided to move forward with the challenging character.
Zaid Khan says he was hesitant to accept the role
Looking back at the beginning of the project, Zaid admitted that he seriously considered turning down the offer. He explained that portraying Ajmal Kasab, one of the most hated figures in the country, felt overwhelming, especially since he was still at the beginning of his career. Speaking about his initial reaction, Zaid said, “Honestly, I did not want to play the character initially because Kasab is one of the most hated figures in our country. The entire nation hates him, and I do too. Taking on such a negative role at the beginning of my career felt intimidating.” The actor added that he was unsure whether audiences would accept him after portraying such a controversial character.
Mentor Satya Sabharwal’s advice changed his perspective
Faced with uncertainty, Zaid decided to seek guidance from his mentor, Satya Sabharwal, with whom he had previously worked on a Zee5 project. According to the actor, that conversation completely changed his outlook. Instead of worrying about image or typecasting, he was encouraged to focus solely on delivering an honest performance. Recalling his mentor’s advice, Zaid shared, “My career had just started, and I wasn’t sure whether I had the courage to portray someone like him. At that time, I spoke to my mentor, Satya Sabharwal, with whom I had worked on a Zee5 project. He advised me that as an actor, my responsibility is to show up honestly and give my best performance. If the work is good, people will remember the work, not worry about typecasting or image-building. His words gave me confidence.” The advice ultimately convinced him to accept the role.
His mother wanted him to play positive characters
Apart from his own hesitation, Zaid revealed that his mother was also worried about the decision. She felt that audiences would rather see him in cheerful and positive roles than portray someone linked to such tragic events. Opening up about her concerns, Zaid said, “Even my mother was against the idea. She wanted me to play cheerful and positive characters that audiences would enjoy watching. But I decided to trust the process and approach the role with complete honesty.” Despite those reservations, the actor chose to follow his instincts and fully commit to the performance.
About ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’
‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ is directed by Manoj Tapadia and co-produced by Kangana Ranaut. The film also stars Kangana Ranaut, Girija Oak and Smita Tambe in important roles. Inspired by real-life events, the film tells the story of the doctors, nurses and hospital staff at Mumbai’s Cama Hospital during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
