Happy B'day Jugal Hansraj: Know how actor-turns-director-turns writer

Mumbai, July 26: Today is the birthday of Mohabbatein actor Jugal Hansraj. Born in Mumbai on July 26th, 1972, the actor started his career as a child artist in the year 1982 in Masoom. He played the illegitimate son of Naseeruddin Shah, and the film won several Filmfare awards. He also worked in the film Aa Gale Lag Jaa which was a hit, before he finally landed in the 2000 romantic-drama Mohabbatein. Things were looking up for the actor and with his romantic boy charm, it looked like he would go far ahead. He even tried his hand at direction but almost 40 of Jugal’s projects didn’t take off. He revealed, “There have been a few ups and downs. Unfortunately, there were a lot of films which were committed to me as an actor and director that didn't start. When I sat down to count, it was almost 40 projects, which were committed to me, or I had signed and even tried out costumes for. I had been shown my office space for a few films that I was supposed to direct. But apart from that I did a few films as lead, did a few TV projects too and directed a couple of films, so it has been an interesting journey. I met a lot of interesting people, most were nice to me.” Jugal has a decently good start. His first directorial was an animated movie titled Roadside Romeo which won three National Awards. His second directorial was Pyaar Impossible which starred Priyanka Chopra and Uday Chopra, his former co-star. “After Pyaar Impossible, I almost was to direct a film for Excel Entertainment but again for some reason regarding rights that film was shelved. Again with Ashutosh Gowariker, a similar thing happened. As an actor and director as well, there have been a lot of projects like this,” Said Jugal. He also tried writing. His book ‘Cross Connection: The Big Circus Adventure’ was originally a screenplay of his second animation film which he had written. “The idea was approved and the story was approved by both YRF and Disney, but for some business reason that project didn't take up. So, I had the script and dialogues all ready in my pen drive. In early 2015, while I was going through my stuff, I found it and realised it won't be made into a film, but I wanted the story out, so I decided to write it as a novel and had a lot of fun doing it.”