As Vicky Kaushal gears up for the release of his upcoming film Bad Newz, the actor opened up about his father, Sham Kaushal’s, early struggles and eventual success in the film industry. In an interview with Raj Shamani, Vicky shared the poignant story of his father’s hardships in Punjab before he moved to Mumbai and became a renowned action director.
Vicky recalled how his father, despite having a Master’s degree in English literature, faced severe joblessness in Punjab, leading him to contemplate suicide. “My grandfather had a small kirane ki dukaan (grocery shop) in our village in Punjab. That’s where my parents are from. Dad came to Mumbai in 1978. He had an MA in English literature, but he was still jobless. We had no land back there. One day, after drinking with his friends, he declared that he wanted to die. My grandfather became very concerned, so he sent him to Mumbai with a friend,” Vicky recounted in Hindi.
Sham Kaushal’s journey in Mumbai was marked by numerous struggles. “In Mumbai, my dad was willing to work as a sweeper even because he knew that nobody in the village would get to know. My dad’s youth was full of struggles. There’s no job security in this field. While you’re working on one project, you’re wondering if you’ll find something else next. My family was genuinely very happy that finally someone is going to have a stable income, job security, off days. He (my father) was so happy. He felt like his struggles had finally paid off. But I just knew that I couldn’t do a conventional 9-5 job. I had an offer letter, I’d passed with good marks.. but I knew that I’d become depressed if I went ahead with it,” Vicky shared.
Sham Kaushal’s persistence paid off when he transitioned from a stuntman to an independent action director in 1990, with his first film being Indrajaalam, a Malayalam movie. Over the past four decades, he has made significant contributions to both Bollywood and Hollywood. Some of his notable works in Bollywood include Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), PK (2014), Padmaavat (2018), Sanju (2018), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), and Simmba (2018). Internationally, he worked on the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2008).
Reflecting on mental health, Vicky’s candid discussion highlights the importance of support and awareness. As Vicky continues to promote Bad Newz, his father’s story remains an inspiring testament to resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Suicide is preventable, and helplines such as Sumaitri (011-23389090) and Sneha Foundation (044-24640050) in India offer critical support.