I dropped out of college before getting a degree: Sushant Singh Rajput

'Raabta' actor discusses odyssey from engineering to acting

Sushant Singh Rajput was recently presented with the Best Actor Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Australia. The actor received the award for his performance in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, which was a biopic made on former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, the Raabta actor opened up about his journey so far talking about his background, aspirations, upcoming projects, love life and much more.

When questioned on how it felt to get the Best Actor award, Sushant seemed very appreciative and stated that it felt good to receive acknowledgment for his hard work.



Moreover, he provided that although he is more than happy to receive these awards, he claims to not feel bad when he doesn't because "he is not looking for it." He speaks about how a few years ago he was excited at the thought of being just a background dancer. He never thought that one day, he would become an actor and receive such awards.

He compares his two trips to Melbourn; one when he excitedly worked with Shiamak Davar as a back-up dancer and the next, when he gratefully received this award. How time changes things.

He further goes on to say that regardless of what he is doing; be it TV, theatre or films, just working in general gives him immense happiness. He is genuinely appreciative and "anything extra is just a bonus."

The PK actor opens up about his background where he was told to become an engineer, worked really hard to get into a premier engineering college but ended up dropping out right before graduating.



"I come from a very humble background. From a family where a guy is told that you have to be an engineer and then the guy works really hard and gets into one of the premier engineering colleges in the country and just when he is about to get the degree, he plans to drop out and wants to act," shared the star, adding, "Now, I am getting a chance to work in Bollywood with wonderful directors so I already feel like a winner."

He further spoke on his successful transition from the small screen to the big screen. What worked for him? Well firstly, he claims to have not obsessed over what was going to happen and take things as they come. "Now when I am doing what I like, which is acting in front of the camera - that is it, that is the work I wanted. I am not fidgety or worried about the future. Right now, I am very happy where I am and looking forward to my next films," confessed the star.

Sushant is the first Indian actor to have visited the NASA Centre. He went to Space Camp in Hintsville, Alabama to prepare for his role in Chanda Mama Door Ke.

"They are very strict about things at NASA but I got to accompany the chief there and also John Palmer, who has worked on many other Hollywood films, so it was a good feeling. I did and saw everything," the actor quipped, adding, "It was important because I needed to know what it was like being an astronaut - and then experience their work to get the emotions right. I have never seen the earth from the moon nor have I flown a space shuttle, there I would get to experience all that astronauts' experience."



When asked if he had been doing any workshops for Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath, he responded by confirming that he always does workshops before starting a film. "I am currently still figuring out and continuously searching for the right way to do my character," stated Sushant.

Saif Ali Khan’s daughter, Sara Ali Khan will be making her debut opposite Sushant Singh Rajput; but he does not feel any pressure: "If you start giving something else more importance, you don't look convincing. Right now, the only thing I am obsessed about is how to do my character convincingly."

With such a hectic schedule, it must be tricky for him to give time to his loved ones. He states that he tries to have a balance however, he knows that this is something that cannot be predicted and is at peace with the idea of figuring things out.

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