'Panchayat' actor once worked as waiter at Kareena Kapoor-Saif's wedding, was refused pics with stars: 'I cried that day'

Time of India

4 days ago

Today, he is known for the viral dialogue 'Gajjab Bezzati Hai' from ' Panchayat ,' but once upon a time, actor Aasif Khan 's life was far from a bed of roses. As per a Bollywood Shaadis report, the actor, who hails from Rajasthan, faced financial difficulties after his father passed away in 2008. Along with taking up small jobs, he also worked as a waiter.In an interview with ABP Uncut, Aasif revealed he worked for a while at Taj, Mumbai, during his struggling days. The hotel hosted the grand wedding of Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. When he asked for a photo with the stars, he was denied, leaving him heartbroken. 'I cried that day as I could not meet the actors despite being so close to them,' he said.After a period of uncertainty, he made the firm decision to return to his home state of Rajasthan. Once there, he took a significant step forward by joining a local theatre troupe based in Jaipur, hoping to refine his skills and immerse himself deeper into the world of acting.He dedicated six long and formative years to the stage, performing regularly with the group and learning the nuances of live performance. This valuable experience laid the foundation for his next leap—he packed his bags once more and headed back to Mumbai, determined to re-enter the film and television industry with greater clarity and focus.His initial re-entry into the entertainment world was not in front of the camera but behind it. He kickstarted his career by working as a casting director , closely observing the dynamics of filmmaking and understanding the business from within. As he continued to gain exposure, he stepped into minor roles as a background performer in several major Bollywood productions.His early appearances included brief parts in popular movies such as Salman Khan's Ready, Hrithik Roshan's Agneepath, and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha featuring Akshay Kumar. These small roles, though limited in screen time, gave him a chance to gain industry experience and slowly build his confidence.His persistence eventually paid off in 2018, when he earned his breakthrough role in the widely praised web series Mirzapur, portraying Babar, a devoted assistant. This marked a turning point in his acting journey. Since then, he has appeared in several well-known series, including Paatal Lok, Jamtara – Sabka Number Ayega, Mirzapur 2, and the fan-favorite Panchayat, proving his mettle as a reliable and versatile performer in the digital entertainment space.