In reality, Tahir Raj Bhasin is a far cry from the dark brooding character, Walt, which he played in Mardaani. Suave and soft-spoken, he springs up surprises with glimpses of his intellectual and philosophical self. He stepped into the city of dreams with oodles of confidence and the will to make it big. So much so that he didn’t even have a plan B. Four years of perseverance finally took him where he always wanted to be – to the Yash Raj stable. After YRF’s Mardaani, he’s now doing Abhinay Deo’s thriller Force 2. He’s all set to show variety with his craft. But eventually, he wants to be a filmmaker.

Years back Tahir took the rebellious decision of not enrolling in the Air Force like his father. “I’ve grown up on a staple diet of Bollywood films, which gave me a sense of identity. I had to watch films as soon as they released. Baazigar, Main Khiladi Tu Anadi, Khalnayak… I recall watching these in a single screen. Amitabh Bachchan was my favourite. I watched Agneepath in Gwalior in an open air theatre. I must have been eight then.”

Like most children from defence families he found himself frequently on the move. “Moving places displaces you as a person. I was switching schools constantly. You’d make friends and then you’d lose them. So I was good at fitting into new situations and interacting with people. It helped my social skills.” He adds, “In a contingent area, you take part in extracurricular activities. Fancy dress competitions and debates are common. I developed an urge to perform because I was on a stage so many times. That contributed to the dream of becoming an actor.”

There wasn’t any drama when it came to his family’s reaction to his career choice. “Every Indian parent is wary when their child makes an unconventional choice. Initially, there was apprehension but my family supported my passion.”

He maintains looks were not the only reason he took to acting. “I’ve never associated good looks with the acting vocation. I always had the theatre ka keeda. People believed I’d be typecast as the charming guy but I’m glad I broke the stereotype with Mardaani.” Surviving in Mumbai was always a matter of brains over brawn. “When I first came to Mumbai I stayed with four friends and saved on rent. People call it ‘struggling days’ but I prefer to call it ‘aspiring days’,” he says adding, “Youngsters get easily distracted with what Mumbai has to offer. There’s a lot of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. If you get caught in any of that, it doesn’t matter whether you came here to become a banker or an actor. All that will destroy you. I’ve seen people come here and get completely sidetracked by distractions.”

Maintaining composure is the key he says, “People come to Mumbai with a timeline, ‘In six months I’ll make it or in one year I’ll do it.’ I came with no such notion. I had to make it no matter what. In my mind, I always saw a banner – YRF. That conviction worked. I didn’t have a plan B. I believe having plan B makes sure plan A doesn’t work out. I was ziddi, ki karke hi dikhaoonga.”

The ‘aspiring’ period lasted for four and a half years. “I look back at those days fondly. I learnt so much. You take part in auditions and often you’re rejected. But you learn to overcome rejection. That’s been my biggest strength.” He learnt to focus on the silver lining, “I tried to improve my skills rather than feel dejected or depressed.” His savings from working in a production house in Delhi for two years and a sprinkling of income from ad shoots helped him survive. “It was a frugal existence. There wasn’t enough money to go clubbing or partying. But that brings in a sense of discipline and helps keep your nose to the ground.” His struggles ended with an audition for YRF’s Mardaani. “I cried with happiness. The feeling didn’t sink in until I signed the dotted line.”

He had no qualms about playing the bad guy. “The great thing was my character wasn’t going to be portrayed in a typical villain-like way. There was a boy-next-door vibe to him. They also wanted me to be suave and charming.” Tahir takes heart from other big names who started off as baddies in films. “Irrfan Khan is a great example; Shah Rukh Khan did Baazigar and Darr early in his career...”

Mardaani literally changed his fortunes. “Performing with Rani Mukerji was like being in an acting class. Also working under a perfectionist like director Pradeep Sarkar was an experience,” he smiles adding, “People start taking you seriously. Public perception changes... It was a ‘life changing Friday’ for me.

Getting a Filmfare nomination for your first big performance and sharing the honour with the likes of Kay Kay Menon and Nawazuddin Siddiqui was a big kick for him. The praise was welcomed most by his family. “My parents were overwhelmed with the response. Especially, when Aamir Khan tweeted ‘who is this new guy?
I liked his performance’.”

Surprisingly his tryst with showbiz had an adverse effect on the female presence in his life. “I was in a relationship when I came to Mumbai but it fizzled out a year before Mardaani released. And ever since I haven’t been in a relationship.” He prefers to focus on his career instead. “I like to go back to a scene from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, when Milkha Singh is in the swimming pool and he tells the girl, ‘Mujhe maaf karna, meri jung khudse hai.’ I relate to that. That’s the level of commitment I’ve set for myself.” But he’s quick to point out. “I’ve been in relationships. It’s amazing being in love, to find that one person with whom you can share the weirdest things and the story of your life. I’d like a girl who’s high on IQ and EQ. She should have spunk and someone who loves taking risks. She should also be someone spontaneous.”

The Delhi lad has witnessed two sides to the women in Mumbai. “One is the artistic type who admires the fact that you are creative and taking risks. They find the fact that ‘he’s different and isn’t bogged down by a secure 9 to 5 job’ attractive. There are also girls who say, ‘Oh you’re a Delhi boy who wants to become an actor’. That’s typical! It hurts when people reject you based on your life choice.” But things changed post Mardaani’s release though, “There was a 180 degree turn. Then they wanted to meet me for coffee. Success changes people’s attitude towards you.”

Force 2 will see him play the antagonist again. “If Mardaani was a dark character, this is a grey one. The time of Gabbar and Mogambo is over. Grey is in. Like Shah Rukh Khan in Darr was a grey, flawed character just as Aamir Khan in Rangeela or Ghulam. The best part is the audience is now exposed to stuff that’s going on internationally. In Force 2 there are layers to every character.” He’s enjoyed the intensity of the film. “Force 2 is high on adrenaline. It’s every boy’s dream to do chase scenes; it’s full of cars and muscles.” Also, Aamir’s advice stayed with him. “Aamir once said, ‘Never be afraid of picking another character that’s negative. Then build up a variety.”

Now that he’s got his dream banner and fame, one would think Tahir is a satisfied man. But that’s not the case. “I’m restless. I compete with myself. I want to play varied roles,” mulls Tahir. He’s in no hurry to make big bucks. “I don’t look at money as the end. I do want to get paid and someday own a car and a bungalow. But it’s not that I want to do 10 films just so that I have a house in Pali Hill. Hopefully, at some point I want to produce films like how John or Anushka Sharma. For that I need to be financially independent.”  Strangely, the commercial metropolis has made him spiritual. “I believe there’s energy out there. What you give is what you get. But yes, Mumbai has made me spiritual. I’ve started believing in a higher force.”

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