Turning dreams into reality requires hard work, patience, and the right opportunity. Ranjeev Verma is a living example of this, as he came to the metropolis of Mumbai from Punjab to fulfill his dream.
How a small act of kindness landed him the role of the villain’s brother in Ghatak—let’s find out!
Beginning the Struggle in Mumbai
It was 1992-93 when Ranjeev arrived in the city of dreams, Mumbai, without a godfather, without any connections, and without an opportunity.
There are thousands of new faces come here every year, struggling for years in search of a big break. While some eventually achieve success, others fade into obscurity. A similar story is that of veteran actor Raaj Kumar’s son, Puru Rajkumar, who had a promising start to his career but later disappeared into anonymity. Read about his journey here.
However, Ranjeev got the opportunity to fulfill his dream when he lived in a colony where many struggling actors resided. Outside his house was a tea stall, which became a meeting point for aspiring actors. It was here that crucial discussions took place—where auditions were happening, and which movies were looking for fresh faces.
How Did He Get a Role in ‘Ghatak’?
One day, he heard that Rajkumar Santoshi, after his blockbuster ‘Ghayal’, was making a new film with Sunny Deol—’Ghatak’. The casting team was looking for fresh faces to play Danny Denzongpa’s younger brothers.
Determined to try, Ranjeev found out that Santoshi Sir often sat at a recording studio. He reached there, but meeting him directly was nearly impossible. Instead, he met an assistant and handed over his photos, only to receive a discouraging response:
“Leave your photos here. If needed, we will contact you.”
At that time, there was no email or mobile phones. Actors had to submit hard copies of their pictures with their name and contact details written on the back.
Disappointment and a Ray of Hope
Ranjeev was determined to meet Santoshi Sir personally, as he revealed in an interview (YouTube). He started visiting the office regularly, hoping for a chance. He saw him multiple times but could never get close enough to speak due to the crowd surrounding him.
Watch his full interview here:
Finally, one day, the assistant bluntly told him:
“The casting is done.”
Heartbroken, Ranjeev felt lost. That evening, while returning home on his Bullet motorcycle, he saw a man at a bus stop asking for a lift.
“Brother, where are you headed?”
“Just heading home, but I can drop you off.”
Ranjeev gave him a lift. When they reached the man’s destination, he smiled and said:
“Thank you! Sorry for the trouble.”
“No problem at all. We Punjabis love helping others!”
The Twist of Fate
The next morning, while Ranjeev was praying, a friend rushed in with exciting news:
“Brother! You got a call from Santoshi Productions. They want to meet you!”
Ranjeev wasted no time. He jump-started his Bullet and rushed to the office. When the door opened, he was shocked—the man he had given a lift to was standing right there!
“Oh! You?”
“Yes, I called you. I work here and have been noticing you for days, trying to meet Rajkumar Santoshi. Come in, he’s inside.”
The Dream Begins to Come True!
A few moments later, Ranjeev was in front of Rajkumar Santoshi. Nervously, he handed over his pictures. Santoshi Sir examined them and asked:
🎭 “Do you have any acting experience?”
✅ “Yes, Sir. I’ve done theatre in Punjab, but I’m new to Mumbai.”
🥋 “Do you have any action or fight training?”
💪 “Yes, Sir! I’ve trained under fight masters.”
Santoshi Sir picked one of Ranjeev’s photos and called his assistant: “Subodh, take him to the producer. He will play Danny’s youngest brother in ‘Ghatak’.”
😲 Ranjeev was stunned. After so many struggles, his big break had finally come! 🚀✨
A Small Kindness Changed His Fate
As Ranjeev stepped outside, he looked at the man who had helped him.
“Brother, thank you so much!”
“No need for thanks! We UPites never count favors!”
Later, Bobby, the manager of Santoshi Productions, had Ranjeev sign the contract and handed him his signing amount.
Dreams Do Come True!
After years of perseverance, patience, and hard work, Ranjeev Verma got his first Bollywood break in ‘Ghatak’—a defining moment in his life!
Lessons to Learn:
✅ Never give up—success will come! ✅ Always be prepared for the right opportunity. ✅ Small acts of kindness can create big changes. ✅ Networking and connections are crucial in any industry.If you found this story inspiring, don’t forget to comment, and share! 🙌🔥
