logo
#

Latest news with #KadhalDesam

Meet actor who romanced Aishwarya Rai, worked with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, then lost all his money, cleaned toilets, now works as..., he is...
Meet actor who romanced Aishwarya Rai, worked with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, then lost all his money, cleaned toilets, now works as..., he is...

India.com

time08-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • India.com

Meet actor who romanced Aishwarya Rai, worked with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, then lost all his money, cleaned toilets, now works as..., he is...

If you were watching South Indian cinema in the late '90s, chances are you swooned over Abbas. Debuting in Kadhal Desam (1996), the actor quickly rose to fame with hits like VIP, Pooveli, Jeans, Padayappa, and Kandukondain Kandukondain. With his chocolate-boy charm and quiet intensity, Abbas became a pan-India crush. But the dream didn't last long After a string of flops in the early 2000s, the actor, once flooded with offers, was soon relegated to supporting roles and blink-and-miss cameos. Minnale (2001) gave the spotlight to R. Madhavan. And by the mid-2000s, Abbas had exited the industry altogether. Before he became a star, Abbas had already battled his demons. In an emotional interview with Rednool, he recalled a traumatic turning point in his youth. 'During my teenage years, I went through a tumultuous period where I contemplated taking my own life after failing the 10th grade. The departure of my girlfriend at the time intensified those thoughts,' he said. One moment of empathy changed his fate. As he considered stepping in front of a vehicle, Abbas paused. 'Even in my darkest moment, I found myself considering the well-being of another individual.' That single thought saved him. From the silver screen to survival jobs Abbas made a failed Bollywood debut with Ansh: The Deadly Part and his career nosedived. He found himself broke, disillusioned, and detached from his craft. 'Some of my movies faced failure, leaving me financially destitute and unable to afford even necessities like rent or cigarettes,' he revealed. He sought help from producer RB Choudary and landed a role in Pooveli, but the spark was gone. 'I wasn't enjoying my work.' Eventually, he left India, settling in New Zealand — and began rebuilding life from scratch. 'I worked as a bike mechanic and drove taxis,' he said, describing it as survival, not shame. Life in a New Land Far from film sets, Abbas's reality was simple: construction sites, public restrooms, and unrecognised stardom. 'People there would wonder if they have seen me somewhere… I would be like, 'Yes, I keep getting that,'' he shared. When he occasionally admitted he was that Abbas, reactions ranged from stunned to silent. He took on any work he could find — including appearing in a toilet cleaner ad. 'That helped me run my household,' he said. The glitz was gone, but dignity remained. During the pandemic, Abbas did something he rarely does: logged in. 'While residing in New Zealand, I utilised Zoom calls to connect with fans. I intended to assist those in need,' he explained. His story, one of stardom, loss, and silent perseverance, resonated with those struggling in silence. Abbas never became a blockbuster hero. But perhaps his most inspiring role was the one off-screen, that of a man who dared to begin again.

Meet star who romance Aishwarya Rai, once challenged many stars, then lost all his money, cleaned toilets, drive taxis to earn money, name is....
Meet star who romance Aishwarya Rai, once challenged many stars, then lost all his money, cleaned toilets, drive taxis to earn money, name is....

India.com

time03-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • India.com

Meet star who romance Aishwarya Rai, once challenged many stars, then lost all his money, cleaned toilets, drive taxis to earn money, name is....

The South cinema has given numerous seasoned actors to the audience. From Rajinikanth to Kamal Haasan, there have been various actors who not only won hearts in the South but also across the globe. Today, we will talk about one of those actors who was fondly called the heartthrob of the 1990s. He made his debut with Kadhal Desam, following which he delivered several superhits and established himself as a leading star. However, there is a saying that the faster you climb the ladder of success, the quicker you come down as well — and something similar happened with this actor. The man in discussion, after being hailed as a leading hero, was soon limited to supporting roles and cameos after some of his projects flopped. If you are wondering who we are talking about, then he is none other than Mirza Abbas Ali. Who is Actor Mirza Abbas Ali? Mirza Abbas Ali was born on May 21, 1975, and predominantly worked in Tamil and Telugu cinema, along with a few Malayalam and Hindi films. He featured in notable successful films including VIP (1997), Pooveli (1998), Jeans (1998), Padayappa (1999), Suyamvaram (1999), Malabar Police (1999), and Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000). However, there was a time when Mirza faced both highs and lows. In an interview, the actor revealed that, devastated after failing his Class 10 exams and being dumped by his girlfriend, he contemplated ending his life. However, he chose not to and gave himself a second chance. After deciding to start fresh, Mirza tried his luck in the world of cinema and did find success. He became an overnight star. There was a time when he worked with actresses like Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, and more. Sadly, he then vanished from the industry. Mirza Abbas Ali faced bankruptcy not once or twice, but four times, forcing him to work as a taxi driver and clean toilets to make ends meet. In an interview, Abbas said, 'Following my initial achievements, some of my movies faced failure, leaving me financially destitute and unable to afford even basic necessities like rent or cigarettes. I soon approached producer RB Choudary, requesting work. He offered me the opportunity to be part of the film Pooveli. However, I eventually left films because I got bored. I wasn't enjoying my work.' After 2015, Mirza Abbas Ali eventually left acting and relocated to New Zealand.

Tamil heartthrob who romanced Aishwarya Rai became ‘destitute', worked as a mechanic and drove taxis to make ends meet
Tamil heartthrob who romanced Aishwarya Rai became ‘destitute', worked as a mechanic and drove taxis to make ends meet

Indian Express

time02-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Indian Express

Tamil heartthrob who romanced Aishwarya Rai became ‘destitute', worked as a mechanic and drove taxis to make ends meet

Actor Mirza Abbas Ali, best known as Abbas, was a heartthrob in the 1990s, having made his debut in the film Kadhal Desam, before going on to star in VIP (1997), Pooveli (1998), Jeans (2008), Padayappa (1999), Suyamvaram (1999), Malabar Police (1999), and Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000). But his career stalled at the turn of the century, and he was reduced to playing supporting roles and cameos after some of his projects flopped. A notable example is Minnale, which starred R Madhavan in 2001. A few years later, Abbas felt a disillusionment setting in, and he quit the film industry altogether. Abbas moved to New Zealand, where he took up several menial jobs to make ends meet. In an interview with Rednool a few years ago, he opened up about his life, which was difficult even before he became a model, and then an actor. Abbas said that he was so distraught after flunking his Class 10 exams and being dumped by his girlfriend that he considered taking his own life. But he decided against it, and gave himself a second chance. 'During my teenage years, I went through a tumultuous period where I contemplated taking my own life after failing the 10th grade. The departure of my girlfriend at the time intensified those thoughts. However, something profound occurred that transformed me. While standing by the roadside, contemplating stepping in front of a speeding vehicle, I noticed a passing motorist and had a realisation: if I were to act on my impulses, that person's life would also be profoundly affected. Even in my darkest moment, I found myself considering the well-being of another individual,' Abbas said. Also read – Legendary Bollywood music composer lived as paying guest in final years, banned family from attending funeral He attempted to crossover into the Hindi industry with the film Ansh: The Deadly Part, but it flopped. 'Following my initial achievements, some of my movies faced failure, leaving me financially destitute and unable to afford even basic necessities like rent or cigarettes. Initially, my pride prevented me from seeking alternative employment. However, I soon approached producer RB Choudary, requesting work. He offered me the opportunity to be part of the film Pooveli. However, I eventually left films because I got bored. I wasn't enjoying my work. I distinctly recall advising my friends, who came to watch my Bollywood debut film Ansh: The Deadly Part not to waste their time as I considered it to be bakwaas. In order to provide for my family, I worked as a bike mechanic and drove taxis in New Zealand.' Read more – Bollywood's most celebrated Golden Age writer died penniless, burdened by heavy debts; Javed Akhtar blamed Raj Kapoor Opening up about his life in New Zealand, he said, 'I would not use the toilet that was at the construction site. I would instead go to a petrol pump, buy something and use the restroom there. People there would wonder if they have seen me somewhere. I would be like, 'Yes, I keep getting that.' Sometimes, I would reveal I am Abbas, and they will be shocked. I just registered their reaction in my head.' Also read – Star of Bollywood's Golden Era died penniless due to flamboyant lifestyle, influenced Amitabh Bachchan and won praise from Mahatma Gandhi Abbas said that he isn't particularly fond of social media, but he made an exception during the pandemic, when he thought to help others going through difficult times by sharing some of his own experiences. 'While residing in New Zealand, I utilised Zoom calls to connect with fans. My intention was to assist those in need,' he said. Abbas made another attempt at acting some years ago, and scored a contract to appear in an advertisement for a toilet cleaning liquid. He said that the deal helped him run his household, and that he put his ego aside to take up alternative paths in his career. His last credited role came a decade ago.

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