This Tamil Actor Starred With Aishwarya Rai, Rajinikanth; Then Turned Taxi Driver After Flops

News18

4 days ago

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Mirza Abbas Ali's fall from superstardom to obscurity highlights the film industry's unpredictability and the resilience required to survive its highs and lows
Popular South cinema actor Mirza Abbas Ali, once a superstar of the 90s, has faced significant highs and lows in his career. Known for his work alongside big stars like Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth, Abbas starred in many successful films during the early 90s. However, his career took a downturn, leading to financial struggles so severe that he couldn't afford rent.
Abbas, who has acted in both South Indian cinema and Bollywood, made his Bollywood debut with ' Ansh: The Deadly Part '. Unfortunately, the film did not perform well, and Abbas even advised his fans against watching it, admitting it was not up to par.
The early 2000s saw a string of flops for Abbas, which caused his career graph to plummet. Despite having worked with superstars like Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth, he quickly vanished from the acting scene.
Quit Acting After Career Began To Decline
Abbas became a well-known face in Tamil cinema with hits like 'Kadhal Desam', ' V.I.P. ', and ' Kandukondain Kandukondain '. Yet, as his career declined, he started taking on supporting roles before eventually disappearing from the industry altogether. He ultimately left films and moved abroad, settling in New Zealand, where he took up jobs as a mechanic and taxi driver to support his family.
Struggled To Pay Rent
In an old interview, Abbas recounted the hardships he faced, 'Initially, some of my films were successful, but then a series of flops left me without money to pay rent or even buy cigarettes. Out of self-respect, I initially resisted taking up other work, but eventually, I sought help from producer RB Chaudhary, who gave me a role in ' Pooveli '. However, I soon quit films as I no longer enjoyed it."
Abbas's financial struggles were so dire that he had to use petrol station washrooms because he couldn't afford to use the facilities at construction sites. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he attempted to reconnect with fans through Zoom calls to offer some encouragement and support. 'I tried to motivate people by connecting with them over Zoom," he shared.
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