Samir Soni opens about struggles after Baghban’s success: 'I would cry my heart out while sitting at the beach...'

Samir Soni talks about not getting work even after Baghbaan

Samir Soni first gained significant attention in the entertainment industry with his role in the 2003 film Baghban, where he portrayed an ungrateful son to Amitabh Bachchan's character. The film, which became a massive hit, was widely appreciated, yet ironically, it did not lead to the kind of career breakthrough one might expect for an actor in a prominent role. In a candid conversation, Samir opened up about how, despite Baghban’s success, he found himself without any job offers for three months following the film’s release.

During this difficult period, Samir revealed that he would often take long walks on the beach in the evenings, overwhelmed by a deep sense of uncertainty and frustration. "I would cry my heart out, wondering what I was doing in the entertainment industry," he admitted.

The success of Baghban had not translated into career opportunities for Samir, and this disconnect between the film's popularity and his lack of work offers left him in a state of confusion.

In an interview with Ujjawal Trivedi on his YouTube channel, Samir recalled the events leading up to his role in Baghban. Prior to that, Samir had worked in Dance Like A Man, a film that won a National Film Award, but despite the accolades, it failed to bring him any notable recognition or offers for mainstream roles. He was still relatively unknown, struggling to find his place in the industry.

When the offer for Baghban came his way, Samir initially found himself questioning the role. He remembered his reaction to the narration by director Ravi Chopra, expressing confusion over why he was being offered a character that seemed to be a negative one.

"Honestly, in my head, I thought, ‘Sir, what is this role that you are giving me? Chaar nikamme ladke. Unme se koi bhi nikamma ladka. Aisa karta kaun hai? Aur main toh hero banne aaya hu. Aap log zabardasti mereko villain bana rahe ho. Kyu kar rhe ho mere sath aisa?’" (Four loser boys, one of those losers. Who does something like this? And I have come here to be a hero. You guys are turning me into a villain. Why are you doing this to me?)". He said.

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However, after reflecting on his career and the limited opportunities available to him, Samir decided to take a more pragmatic approach. “I thought, you do a small film like Dance Like A Man that gets a National Award, no one even watches it. You will not get a big film. Then what will you do?” he pondered. With this in mind, he called director Ravi Chopra and asked him for a role that would allow him to share the most screen time with Amitabh Bachchan’s character. This decision marked a pivotal moment in Samir’s career.

Even after the film’s commercial success, the expected flood of offers never materialised. Samir spoke about how, despite the positive reception of Baghban, he found himself in a state of limbo, with no work in sight for the next three months.

"Even after the film became a hit, I didn’t get a single work offer for three months," he shared. “I used to live close to the beach at that time. So every evening, I would go on the beach and cry. I would ask God, ‘What do you want? I have left everything. If you don’t want to make me a hero, don’t do it. Either you tell me I can’t act. Now that I have compromised that I can be a villain, I am not getting any work. Now what do I do?’”

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It wasn’t until shortly after this period of self-doubt that Samir received an offer for Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, a role that would go on to become a milestone in his career. The success of the show finally gave him the recognition and the steady work he had longed for, proving that his perseverance and willingness to take risks in his career were finally paying off.

Samir's journey reflects the unpredictable and often difficult nature of the film industry, where even success doesn't guarantee the opportunities one might expect.