Gave up acting after losing her father: Worked in a hotel to earn her living, made a strong comeback with the film ‘All the Best’

‘The hero of every story is not Shahrukh Khan… Sometimes like you, like me, a common man is also the hero of his own story. These are not just dialogues from Sanjay Mishra’s film, these are some priceless words narrating the story of his life. Sanjay Mishra is telling his story in today’s Struggle Story.

Although Sanjay does not need any introduction, but everyone knows him as ‘Shukla’ of ‘Office-Office’, some as ‘Babu Bhai’ of ‘Dhamal’ and some as ‘Rajesh’ of ‘Aankho Dekhi’. As ‘Bauji’.

When Dainik Bhaskar team reached to talk to Sanjay Mishra for Struggle Story, it was afternoon. In his language, he was sitting creating a complete atmosphere. At the very beginning of the conversation he said, look, don’t talk too emotionally, I know you.

I said that you inspire people, let’s start your story from your childhood. When Sanjay ji saw that now the environment was favorable for him, he started telling the story of his struggle.

Had no interest in studies since childhood

My childhood was as ordinary as any other child’s. When it was time for father to come home in the evening, we all used to sit down to study. To be honest, I did not have much interest in studies right from the beginning. Actually I don’t like anyone to teach me anything. I want to learn everything in life from my own experience.

I was born in Darbhanga, Bihar. My father was a government employee in the Press Information Bureau. My grandfather was an Indian civil servant. My father was transferred to Banaras. I started my primary education from Kendriya Vidyalaya BHU there. Well, it was a different thing that I did not have much interest in studies. There was a change in life when father was transferred to Delhi.

I told my father that I will not study.

Once I did not go to school for several days. The teacher told father that if Sanjay brings his medical, he will be allowed to sit. I told my father that I would not study nor go to school. I went home, stole 50 rupees from my mother’s purse and ran away.

One of Sanjay’s famous dialogues is ‘Papa Bum Phata Kya’

I was roaming in the market when I saw some people sitting and gambling. I stood and watched for some time. After some time I had understood the game a little. When I returned home after gambling, I had Rs 500. My father came and said to me, Sanjay, if you have so much brain, then pass 10th also.

One day father was sitting very sad. Manohar Shyam Joshi, a friend from his office, asked Papa, Shambhu, why are you sitting sad? Papa said, I am worried about Sanjay. Everything is great, but he doesn’t want to study. Manohar Shyam Joshi saw my horoscope and asked Papa where are you trapping him. He will remain as a worthless peon in this very Shastri Bhavan.

‘Have faith that one day you will be known by this name. Later my father understood that I would not be able to study.

The acting bug was in me since childhood

The bug for acting was in me since childhood. No one was able to catch it. When I went to Delhi with my family, many people told me about the National School of Drama. I heard there is no study there. Teaches acting to children for 3 years. At first I thought that if I teach for 3 years, I will get bored.

After thinking a lot, I gave the entrance exam there. I was on top in the entrance test. When studies started, I was at the back. I got to learn a lot there. My senior was Irrfan Khan. There was Tigmanshu Dhulia and many people from the industry in my class.

When I went to shoot Chanakya, it took me 28 takes to deliver one scene.

Got first break in Chanakya

I got my first break in the industry in Chanakya TV show. When I went to shoot Chanakya, it took me 28 takes to deliver one scene. The director asked me to practice. Before meeting Chanakya, I had also worked in a commercial with Amitabh Bachchan. Worked in Ketan Mehta’s ‘Mirch Masala’.

My first film was ‘Oh Darling Yeh Hai India’. Once I left acting, I also did anchoring in Sahara Samay. When I worked in ‘Satya’ and ‘Dil’, after that some people started knowing me in the industry. I got the role of ‘Shukla’, a paan-loving employee in the television show ‘Office-Office’. People liked this character a lot. Before coming into films, I worked in TV shows for many years.

I started getting recognition for my work in ‘Bunty’ and ‘Babli’ and ‘Apna Sapna Money Money’. After this I left the television show in 2005.

In 2006, I worked in back-to-back hit films including ‘Golmaal’, ‘Fun Unlimited’ and ‘Dhamaal’. After this, worked in ‘All the Best’, ‘Fun Begins’, ‘Phans Gaye Re Obama’. ‘Phans Gaye Re Obama’ was a serious comedy based on the recession.

After this, I also worked in ‘Dhama Chowkdi’, ‘Aankhon Dekhi’, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, ‘Dilwale’, ‘Golmaal Again’, ‘Mangal Ho’ and ‘Newton’.

Also worked in Mauka Mauka commercial during ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Rohit Shetty came looking for him

Once I fell ill during shooting. 15 liters of pus was removed from my stomach. My condition was very bad. My father died just 15 days after I left the hospital. I was devastated after my father’s death. Leaving home and family, I went to Rishikesh.

I feel very relaxed going there. I decided to leave home and work and stay there. To earn money, I started cooking in a hotel there.

One day, director Rohit Shetty came there looking for me. He asked to go to Mumbai for the film ‘All the Best’. I was not ready, but Rohit started insisting. Eventually I came and worked in this film. There is a dialogue from this film – Just as a bath comes before a bath, similarly a disciple comes before the Guru.

The first film after father’s death was All the Best

Even after coming into films, he went through a period of anonymity.

Once upon a time. I used to stand hiding at the bus stand. Thinking that if someone recognizes me, they will think that I am traveling by bus. That day I came to know that people recognize me only by my looks and my dialogues. Don’t know my name. You know only some of the dialogues spoken by me.

When I was standing there, a man came there and said, Hey Rajpal Yadav sir, how are you? I have seen your film Bhool Bhulaiyaa. You have done a great job.

Hearing this I did not know how to react. Okay, there is nothing wrong with it. Some people are known by their name, some people are known by their work, people know me by my work. I am happy even thinking this.

Not being able to save my younger brother’s life is the biggest defeat of my life.

No matter how successful I become, I have faced the biggest defeat of my life. My younger brother died in front of me and I could not save him. Her younger son lost his life in front of my mother. I cannot ease my mother’s sorrow. I have got this defeat for the rest of my life. He was my younger brother so to speak, but he stood by me in all my difficulties.

Once upon a time I was in drama school. I was issued a notice to expel me from school. Actually I was very naughty. When the notice came it was in English. I asked my friend to read the notice. He told that there is a notice to expel you from school. I was very upset at that time. I was very sad about how I would go home and face my father.

That day when I was sitting under a tree in the campus. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder, that hand was that of my younger brother Golu. He explained the whole matter to me and said don’t worry, I will do something.

I was feeling shy.

I told Golu that I am a very useless son and brother. Golu was explaining to me when suddenly my entire batch of Tigmanshu Dhulia, Navneet Nishan, Nirmal Pandey, Vineet Kumar, Pawan Wadi, Rohitas Kaur was standing behind me.

Everyone with me told me that if they expel you, we all will also leave the school. Now not only my father but also my brother and my special friends were behind me.

Sanjay said- The acting bug was in me since childhood.

When father wrote in his diary- Sanjay embarrassed me

When Papa wrote in his diary, Today Sanjay embarrassed me in front of my friends. This is one of the biggest regrets of my life. The story is of that day when I was going to watch my film ‘Aloo Chaat’ with my family. I was discharged from the hospital at that time. Because of the medicines, I was feeling very angry and irritable. To please my family, I went to watch a movie with them in a nearby cinema hall.

The guard there came to me and started taking photographs with me. He also came in the lift with us. I was feeling angry inside. When he said, Sir, take my gun and strike a pose.

Meanwhile I shouted and abused the guard. The atmosphere became completely calm. Papa and I sat side by side and watched the entire movie without saying anything.

When we were returning, father’s friends were also there. Papa told me softly that son, you should not have shouted at the guard like that. For the first time, I spoke loudly to Papa in front of his friends.

What do you know, someone did this just to get a photo taken with you? Papa became completely silent.

In those days I was shooting in Delhi only. I told dad I am sending the car for you. You come and have dinner together. Papa said ok. I sent a car for him, but father did not come.

When I called, I came to know that father’s health was a little unwell. He has a stomach problem because he had eaten two days old jackfruit vegetable.

I asked my father what was the need to eat 2 day old vegetables. Then father said- I don’t need your advice. These were his last words and in the morning he got a call that Papa was no more.

My father had a very good habit that he used to write everything in his diary. When I opened his diary after he left, he had written about the day at the cinema hall.

It was written in the diary that Sanjay does good work. There’s something about him, but he embarrassed me for the first time in front of my friends.

I cannot describe my condition after reading this line. I wanted Papa to wake up just once and I would slit my throat and tell him. I never wanted to embarrass you. Please forgive me. I will have this regret for the rest of my life.

The meaning of success changes with age

When I was young, I used to hide from my mother and eat sweets from the fridge. That too was a success for that age. Success is never achieved by just one thing. The meaning of success keeps changing with age. A person should never change after achieving success.

Awards received for these films

I received the Best Actor Award for the film ‘Aankhon Dekhi’ at the Filmfare held in 2015. After this, I received the Best Actor Award in 2023 for ‘Vadh’.

Received the Best Actor Award for ‘Aankhon Dekhi’ at the Jagran Film Festival in 2014.

Once again he received the Best Supporting Actor Award for ‘Masaan’ by Jagran Film Festival in 2015. In 2016, he again received the Best Supporting Award for ‘Masaan’ at the Zee Cine Awards.

Sanjay Mishra with wife and daughters

Daughters say dad why don’t you buy Mercedes

My daughters ask me, Papa, why don’t you buy a Mercedes? Everyone’s father comes to pick them up in a Mercedes. I said when I come to pick you guys and the father of the other children comes in a Mercedes. What is the difference? My daughters said, no papa, the teacher becomes happy when you come. I explained to them that this is what I have earned.

Note- Some things written above have come from Sanjay Mishra’s interview and some have been taken from his other interviews.