logo
Vicky Kaushals Father Sham Kaushal Reveals He Thought About Suicide After Cancer Diagnosis: Wanted to Jump From Third Floor

Vicky Kaushals Father Sham Kaushal Reveals He Thought About Suicide After Cancer Diagnosis: Wanted to Jump From Third Floor

India.com4 days ago
New Delhi: Vicky Kaushal's father and veteran stunt director Sham Kaushal recently opened up about a deeply emotional and vulnerable phase in his life when he had suicidal thoughts following a cancer diagnosis.
In a candid conversation on a podcast with Aman Aujla, Sham recalled that during the shoot of the film Lakshya in Ladakh, he suddenly experienced severe stomach pain and was rushed to an army hospital. What was initially thought to be a routine issue turned out to be something far more serious cancer.
He shared that after undergoing a three-hour surgery to remove a suspicious growth from his stomach, doctors informed him that the condition was critical, and they weren't sure he would survive. It was after receiving this news that Sham, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, had suicidal thoughts.
'They informed me in the evening, and at night, I had this wild thought of jumping from the third floor of the hospital where my room was situated. I didn't make the decision out of weakness, but thought when I have to die anyway, why not now? But I couldn't move due to the pain post-surgery,' Sham said.
The veteran action director also revealed that in that moment, he hoped give him just 10 more years to live.
'After that night, something changed. I overcame the fear of death. The next morning, I gained the hope that it's just a matter of a couple of surgeries, and I'll be alright. That incident changed my entire outlook on life and strengthened my willpower.'
Sham revealed that over the course of a year, he underwent multiple surgeries and tests but remained strong. Thankfully, the cancer had not spread. He credits that difficult phase for shaping his personal and professional journey.
'I asked God to bless me with 10 more years, and today it's been 22. I met good people, received good work, my kids have done well I grew in life,' he added.
Sham Kaushal's Work Front
Sham Kaushal is one of India's most respected action directors, with over four decades of experience in both Bollywood and Hollywood. His debut as an action director was in the Malayalam film Indrajaalam (1990).
In Bollywood, his work includes critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), PK (2014), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), Padmaavat (2018), Sanju (2018), and Simmba (2018). He has also worked internationally, notably on the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire (2008).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ashwath Bhatt: Ashwath Bhatt: If you are a true artist, your art must reflect what is going on around you
Ashwath Bhatt: Ashwath Bhatt: If you are a true artist, your art must reflect what is going on around you

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Ashwath Bhatt: Ashwath Bhatt: If you are a true artist, your art must reflect what is going on around you

Actor has been playing the role of Saadat Hasan Manto in the play Ek Mulaqat Manto Se for over a decade, and he believes that we have inhabited the world that the late writer lived in. The relevance, in today's life and times, is a stark reminder that Manto showed us a world that was equally, if not more, apathetic. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Imagine what Manto would say when he read about Gaza today – about lives being lost, of children dying. Nothing much has changed – in every generation, it seems like he is alive and writing about the world now. Truth is always uncomfortable and that is the reality of the world,' says Ashwath. Ahead of performing the play in the city, the Raazi actor spoke about Manto-yat, its universal appeal, his work and more. Excerpts: 'Manto's stories have universal appeal' as Saadat Hasan Manto in a still from his play. Ashwath says that reading Manto in the late 90s was a completely different experience for him. 'By then I had read Eugene O'Neill and Franz Kafka, among others, but I had never read anything so bold and strong. And I could relate it to what was going on in Kashmir at that time. Kashmir was always in the news – there was violence being reported every other day. I was extremely angry, and I could completely relate to Manto's stories and writings,' he says. While researching, Ashwath realised that nobody knew much about the perception of Manto and how he saw himself. 'And I thought this was an interesting character to play as an actor. Plus, Manto's stories have a universal appeal,' he adds. The actor explains that there are two parts to the play, set before - pre and post-partition. One is static and the other is moving. 'We all need to pay our bills and need the work' Ashwath reiterates the point that most actors in the industry make today, that the audience has evolved and has plenty of good content to choose from. 'Producers must realise that you need to give a big screen release some time before you decide to bring it to OTT platforms. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If in 20 days, a new film is on OTT, how do you expect people to go to theatres to watch a film?' he asks. The actor says that the audience does not want to compromise on content. 'People have been exposed to Turkish, Spanish, Korean, Malayalam, and a variety of content from across the world. Bollywood needs to realise that people's tastes have changed,' he says, adding, 'A friend of mine who was a typical Bollywood masala film lover consumed a variety of content during the pandemic. Today he discusses Stanley Kubrick's films with me.' Ashwath also feels that good content is a huge struggle in Bollywood. 'The corporatisation of the industry, where you have a bunch of business school graduates deciding your script and storyline in 20 minutes, cannot produce great cinema. But we all need to pay our bills and need the work. It's not that there are no good stories written. But we need passionate producers to back them,' he adds. Ashwath Bhatt in Ek Mulaqat Manto Se 'Bollywood is not pure art, it's a commercial business' While the Indian film industry is not known to make political statements on global issues, Ashwath feels even if they are not politicians, artists have to be political. 'If you are a true artist, your art must reflect what is going on in the world. You cannot be distant. You can't not be connected to what is going on in your country, in your society, in the world. Whether you are part of the system or not. Whether you have raised your voice or kept silent – everything will be written about. You are part of history,' he opines. Referring to the Iranian cinema and theatre, Ashwath shares, 'Censorship is perhaps the toughest in Iran. But they have filmmakers like Jafar Panahi and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, among others, who always find a way to be political through their work without compromising on entertainment or engagement value. That's what I call a connect, and that is art. But then, Bollywood is not pure art — it is a commercial business.' On avoiding the jingoistic tropes in commercial cinema Ashwath Bhatt as Malik in The Diplomat Ashwath has had a long run in Bollywood, playing crucial roles in films like Raazi, Mission Majnu and Kesari, among others. The actor admits that he was not ready to play the role of Malik, Director General of Pakistan's ISI, in The Diplomat, immediately after his role in IB71 (where he plays the ISI intelligence chief). 'If the director has a vision and clarity, it helps. Shivam Nair (director of The Diplomat) was clear he did not want jingoism, no bashing people from across the border. The film was based on a true story, and the brief was to keep it realistic. Initially, I was not sure and wanted to shy away from this typical trope. I had done a couple of films with similar supporting characters and did not want to go into that zone again. But Shivam convinced me. He gave me the freedom to create the character the way I wanted to, in terms of appearance, mannerisms etc, and I am glad the character stood out,' says Ashwath.

Did Fahadh Faasil decide to make Maareesan in Tamil for the ‘sake' of casting Vadivelu? Actor says ‘My only condition was…'
Did Fahadh Faasil decide to make Maareesan in Tamil for the ‘sake' of casting Vadivelu? Actor says ‘My only condition was…'

Pink Villa

time5 hours ago

  • Pink Villa

Did Fahadh Faasil decide to make Maareesan in Tamil for the ‘sake' of casting Vadivelu? Actor says ‘My only condition was…'

Fahadh Faasil is gearing up for the release of his movie Maareesan, starring alongside Vadivelu. Ahead of the film hitting big screens on July 25, 2025, the Aavesham actor reflected on reuniting with his Maamannan co-star and whether the film was originally intended to be made in Malayalam. Did Fahadh Faasil initially plan to make Maaresan in Malayalam? Talking with The Hollywood Reporter India, Fahadh Faasil said, 'Maareesan, I originally heard it as a Malayalam film. I was planning a Malayalam movie at that point, and that is when I heard this. When we got into the casting and all, I said that we needed someone like Vadivelu sir for this movie.' 'After these discussions, the producer came to us. He is already a Tamil producer and asked why we aren't making this in Tamil itself. However, my only condition was, if we were doing it in Tamil, it had to be with Vadivelu sir,' Fahadh added. Fahadh Faasil on reuniting with Vadivelu Fahadh Faasil continued his answer about his bond with Vadivelu and how the veteran actor wanted to do a comedy film together. Fafaa highlighted, 'Even though there is comedy in Maareesan, he wanted to do a typical Vadivelu-style humorous film.' The Aavesham actor underlined how he was a bit skeptical whether Vadivelu would accept the movie. However, the latter agreed to the film and offered a new shade to his acting. About Maareesan Maareesan starring Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil in the lead role is a comedy thriller film, directed by Sudheesh Sankar. The movie features the story of Velayudham, an old man who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. On a journey, the man comes across a thief called Dhaya, who intends to loot him, making use of the disease. However, what follows is a life-altering journey for both of them, leading to unexpected moments. Aside from Vadivelu and Fafaa, the movie features an ensemble cast of actors like Kovai Sarala, Vivek Prasanna, Sithara, PL Thenappan, Livingston, Renuka, Saravana Subbiah, and many more in key roles. Maareesan is musically crafted by Yuvan Shankar Raja.

From MS Dhoni to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: 6 Sports Biopics That Turned Theatres Into Stadiums
From MS Dhoni to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: 6 Sports Biopics That Turned Theatres Into Stadiums

India.com

time8 hours ago

  • India.com

From MS Dhoni to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: 6 Sports Biopics That Turned Theatres Into Stadiums

photoDetails english 2935894 Sports biopics have a unique power to inspire and entertain, bringing the triumphs and struggles of real-life heroes to the big screen. These films often transcend the boundaries of cinema, transforming movie theatres into roaring stadiums. Here are six such Indian sports biopics that captivated audiences and celebrated the spirit of sportsmanship. Updated:Jul 23, 2025, 08:22 PM IST Theatres To Stadiums 1 / 8 Sports biopics have a unique power to inspire and entertain, bringing the triumphs and struggles of real-life heroes to the big screen. These films often transcend the boundaries of cinema, transforming movie theatres into roaring stadiums. Here are six such Indian sports biopics that captivated audiences and celebrated the spirit of sportsmanship. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) 2 / 8 This biographical drama chronicled the extraordinary journey of former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. From a ticket collector to a World Cup-winning leader, his inspiring rise resonated deeply. The film was a massive box office success, celebrating the beloved cricketer's life. It truly turned theatres into a sea of blue jerseys. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) 3 / 8 Based on the life of legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh, "The Flying Sikh," this film was a powerful portrayal of resilience. Farhan Akhtar's compelling performance brought Milkha's struggles and triumphs to life. The movie was critically acclaimed and a commercial hit, inspiring a generation with its message of perseverance. Paan Singh Tomar (2012) 4 / 8 This critically acclaimed film narrates the true story of Paan Singh Tomar, an athlete who became a dacoit. Irrfan Khan's powerful portrayal captured the complexities of his journey from national steeplechase champion to rebel. The film offered a gritty and realistic look at a life shaped by extraordinary circumstances. Dangal (2016) 5 / 8 This wrestling drama, based on the Phogat family's incredible story, showcased a father's determination to train his daughters into world-class wrestlers. It highlighted themes of gender equality and breaking societal norms. Dangal became one of the highest-grossing Indian films worldwide, proving the immense appeal of underdog stories. Mary Kom (2014) 6 / 8 Priyanka Chopra starred as the titular boxer Mary Kom, depicting her journey from a humble background to a multiple-time World Boxing Champion. The film celebrated her grit, sacrifices, and unwavering spirit. It was a powerful and emotional narrative that inspired many, especially women, to pursue their dreams against all odds. Kaun Pravin Tambe? (2022) 7 / 8 This biopic tells the astonishing story of Pravin Tambe, a cricketer who made his IPL debut at the age of 41. It's a testament to unwavering passion and perseverance against all odds. The film resonated with audiences for its inspiring message of never giving up on a dream, no matter the age. The Unforgettable Impact of Sports Biopics 8 / 8 These films are more than just stories; they are celebrations of human spirit, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. They remind us that behind every sporting legend lies a tale of immense hard work and sacrifice. These biopics continue to inspire, proving that the magic of sports can truly fill theatres with stadium-like energy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store