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.com5 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

Prithviraj praises Rajamouli's grand vision; calls him a master storyteller - 'He excels in it'
Prithviraj praises Rajamouli's grand vision; calls him a master storyteller - 'He excels in it'

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Prithviraj praises Rajamouli's grand vision; calls him a master storyteller - 'He excels in it'

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) After the success of 'L2: Empuraan', Prithviraj Sukumaran is all set for another biggie, the much-anticipated Mahesh Babu-SS Rajamouli film. Recently, in an interview, Prithviraj opened up about his experience of working with the 'RRR' director. 'He excels at telling a story' In a recent chat with Mid-Day, actor Prithviraj Sukumaran offered insight into what sets director SS Rajamouli apart, especially when it comes to his signature grand-scale filmmaking. While speaking about the much-anticipated film 'SSMB29', Prithviraj remarked, 'Rajamouli sir chooses large backdrops because he excels at telling a story through big, visual strokes.' Sarzameen Trailer: Prithviraj, Kajol & Ibrahim Ali Khan Starrer Sarzameen Official Trailer The Malayalam star, who is also part of the film's ensemble cast, seems genuinely impressed by the director's storytelling canvas, which he described as both ambitious and deeply engaging. Silence from the team, buzz from the fans The film, which stars Mahesh Babu , Priyanka Chopra , and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is surely one of the most awaited films this year, and the reasons are plenty. While the filmmakers have been tight-lipped about the plot and finer details, the sheer scale of SSMB29 has fueled excitement. The fact that Rajamouli is helming the project only adds to the growing curiosity. Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra are ready for the August shoot According to India Today, the cast and crew of 'SSMB29' are currently on a break. Mahesh Babu, who recently took time off to celebrate his daughter's birthday in Sri Lanka, will be returning to the sets soon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The team is expected to kick off an extensive shooting schedule starting in August. Priyanka Chopra, too, has locked in major dates for the film. Meanwhile, Prithviraj Sukumaran's third directorial venture 'L2: Empuraan's beginning flashback sequences were praised by the audiences, and some even compared it to SS Rajamouli's movies, due to its grand scale and the execution style. 'Empuraan' may have had its flaws, but Prithviraj Sukumaran surely has set a benchmark in terms of the technical side, with the Mohanlal starrer.

Exclusive: Stories like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag don't fade, they mature with time, says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Exclusive: Stories like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag don't fade, they mature with time, says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Exclusive: Stories like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag don't fade, they mature with time, says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra As Bhaag Milkha Bhaag turns 12, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra looks back at the film's journey, relevance and longevity in an exclusive conversation with Bombay Times. 'I grew up in Delhi idolising Milkha Singh, Dara Singh and Dhyan Chand. They were our Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Milkhaji didn't have shoes at one point, so he ran barefoot. I identified with it because our whole generation grew up without having proper facilities' What makes Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB) relevant even today? Some stories don't fade out. They mature with time. Samay ke saath aur gaadha ho jata hai. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is one of them. The story is timeless not topical, so it does not lose its relevance with time. I always wanted to tell a story weaved around the partition of the country and in Milkha Singh's biography, I found that. Besides being the first biopic made on a sportsman in our country, there were two tracks in the film. One was Milkha Singh's journey, and the other was one of the most seminal point in modern Indian history -- the partition of India. The plot and the character are intertwined in each other. They coexist because of each other. I am glad it's re-releasing in theatres on August 8. Certain films are meant for the big screen. We should develop a culture of revisiting our classics. Not just for business, but legacy. That's more important for me. Why did you want to tell a story that was woven around the Partition? The partition is a seminal point because millions were celebrating the independence of the country, and millions were suffering the partition. I was born in the 60s. I grew up listening to both horrific and beautiful stories of partition. They left an indelible mark on me. When I entered college, we shifted to a colony in Delhi which was given to refugees of partition, and they rebuilt their lives from scratch there. Everybody had come from Pakistan there. I used to hear their stories of how they loved their land. Vatan aur desh mein farak hota hai (sentimentally). A Sindhi will consider Sindh as his land. A Punjabi will consider Punjab as his vatan and three-fourth of Punjab is in Pakistan. Borderline politics is another thing. I see myself through the lens of human beings. I don't see it from the lens of aaj kal kya ho raha hai, log kya soch rahe hain. I am drawn to common man. Ek aam aadmi kya kar raha hai, kya soch raha hai, uske sukh-dukh kya hai. What moves them is very important for me. As a filmmaker, you get to choose your gaze and mine is human. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar on set of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag While the story belongs to Milkha Singh, it also resonates with your past. Tell us about that. It is a story of have-nots. Milkha had nothing to lose. When you don't come from privilege and you make it, that resonates with me a lot. I grew up in Delhi. I used to swim and play cricket in the National Stadium. Before my time, Milkha Singh, Dara Singh and Dhyan Chand used to practise there. We grew up on these three names. They were our Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Milkhaji didn't have shoes at one point and ran barefoot. We all identified with it because our entire generation grew up without having proper facilities. I come from a lower middle-class family. I could relate to characters who were thrilled when they got to wear a Team India blazer like Milkhaji did. He won his first race for a glass of milk and two eggs. He didn't win to make a world record or become a great athlete. I have practiced swimming because at the end of the practice section, we would get a glass of warm milk with Horlicks and two boiled eggs. It was great breakfast and that too for free. This is everybody's story in India. The late Milkha Singh on sets of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag At three hours and six minutes, the film's duration was much talked about. In hindsight, would you make any changes in terms of length or otherwise? It was a difficult story to mount because everyone said where is the romance, hero is just running. Where is the action? Athletics kaun dekhta hai India mein? Saare sawaal sahi thay. But it was important for me to prove the detractors wrong. If I didn't believe in what I made, I wouldn't make it in the first place. Pacing derives its essence from the story and how it is told. A length of the film is the length that works. A two-hour film can feel long and a three-and-a-half-hour film, can seem perfect. Look at the modern-day epics like Avatar, Oppenheimer, Brutalist (3 hours, 34 minutes). Lagaan, was longer than these at 3 hours and 44 minutes. When you're enjoying a movie, you are completely lost in that world and time flies. This whole length concern came from distribution. It never came from the audience or critics. It was a distribution thing because they believed they could pack one more show if a film is shorter. Longer films mean lesser shows and perhaps lesser business, but they are totally mistaken. All these films including Milkha dismissed that notion. Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, still from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag The casting of the film was one of its highlights. Take us through that process. If you cast the right actor for the right job, that's half the battle won. Every journalist has asked me if Farhan Akhtar was my first choice to play Milkha. He was the right choice. Let me put it like that. His eyes reminded me of Milka sir. They have the same intensity and depth, the way he looks at you. Farhan doesn't have many lines in the film because his eyes speak. We bumped into the club almost every day. I knew he's an athlete. He's good on the treadmill. He's good at sports. He's kept himself fit. So, the getting into shape part I knew he will cross the bridge. It was painful for him to go through that body transformation process in 18 months, but pain is a part of sports. Rishabh Pant met with an accident. He was out of action for a year. Look at the way he's bounced back. It's not a miracle. It's a story of inspiration and determination. When you're playing a character like Milkha, something intangible happens to you. Farhan didn't play the role. He became the part which is my brief to all my actors. Don't play yourself. Play the part. 'Sonam only charged Rs11 for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' 'When I approached Sonam Kapoor , I clearly told her she would appear for 15 minutes. Her character changes Milkha's life by making him question his choices. I told her she won't appear later in the film, and I don't know if she will appear in the trailer or the poster. She heard me out and said the film must be made, and she will charge me a bomb for it. I told her bata dena fees, koshish karenge. Her contract came, and she had only charged me `11 as a shagun. She brought so much dignity to the part. '

Fahadh Faasil spills tea on his equation with Kamal Haasan: ‘We crack jokes for two, three hours'
Fahadh Faasil spills tea on his equation with Kamal Haasan: ‘We crack jokes for two, three hours'

Pink Villa

timean hour ago

  • Pink Villa

Fahadh Faasil spills tea on his equation with Kamal Haasan: ‘We crack jokes for two, three hours'

Fahadh Faasil is in the spotlight with the release of his recent film Maareesan. The actor who prefers to stay out of the limelight is rarely spotted meeting with other colleagues. However, he recently opened up about his equation with Kamal Haasan. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter recently, Fahadh Faasil revealed how he and Kamal Haasan end up spending a good 2-3 hours cracking jokes whenever they meet up. Their topics of conversation are nowhere close to the films the Pushpa 2 star highlighted. He shared, 'When Kamal sir and I meet, we crack jokes for like two, three hours. It's got nothing to do with cinema. It's mostly about what's going on and around.' Is Fahadh Faasil curious about Kamal Haasan's style of acting? Moving on in the same interview, Fahadh Faasil shares how he has never once chatted with Kamal Haasan while asking about the latter's style of craft and acting. The Aavesham actor mentioned that he only prioritises spending time with the Tamil senior icon. In his words, 'There has never been a moment where I could ask him: 'Sir, how did you do that shot?' But spending time with him, I understand how he did it. I totally understand how he took a call, why he didn't do it and why he did it.' Fahadh Faasil spilled the beans on his retirement plans In another excerpt from the same interview, Fahadh Faasil had also opened up about his retirement plans, if he has any. The Malayalam actor referred to his recent visit to Barcelona, which gave him the idea of becoming a taxi driver. In his words, 'Yeah, yeah. Of course. We were in Barcelona a few months back. I still very much think about it. I think that'll only happen once people are done with me, you know?' He adde,d 'Jokes aside, but just the idea of driving someone from one place to another, I think that's a beautiful thing. At least you're witnessing someone's destination.'

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