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Aayush Sharma reveals how his father rejected his acting dream, refused a Rs 10 crore launch and called him a ‘lame horse’ in a brutal reality check.
Aayush Sharma recalls his father’s blunt rejection, being cut off financially, and pitching a Rs 10 crore plan to launch himself in Bollywood.
Aayush Sharma has revisited the difficult beginnings of his acting journey, opening up about the resistance he faced at home and the stark reality checks that shaped his early years in Mumbai. In a candid conversation with Cyrus Broacha, the actor spoke about hiding his ambitions, running out of money, and even pitching a Rs 10 crore launch plan to his father, only to be met with blunt rejection.
Father found out after college complaint
Aayush revealed that he had moved to Mumbai under the guise of pursuing studies, enrolling in a BMS course at Jai Hind College. He set up a comfortable life in Bandra, complete with a rented apartment, a car, and domestic help, all supported by his family. At the same time, he had quietly begun exploring acting, attending workshops without informing them.
Things came to a head when his attendance dropped drastically, prompting the college to call his father from Himachal Pradesh.
“My father was called by the college and told that your son’s attendance is 9 percent. My dad came to Mumbai—he was quite ashamed. My mom was also upset and said, ‘What have we not given you—we gave you a house, a car, and you’ve brought us shame. We told the entire family that our child is going to Mumbai and will make something of himself.’”
It was during this confrontation that Aayush finally admitted his dream.
“I told my dad that I want to be an actor. I showed him my photoshoot and my CD of my performances. It was a very important moment of my life.”
‘I won’t even pay Rs 50 to watch you’
The revelation did not go down well. Aayush recalled his father’s brutally honest response, which left little room for encouragement.
“My father said, ‘Neither are you tall, nor do you have a physique, nor do you have a voice, nor are you good-looking. You have no personality whatsoever. When you walk on the road, nobody looks at you. Has anyone ever told you that you can become an actor?’”
He continued, “You are nothing close to Bachchan sahab, you are nothing close to Dharmendra ji. You are not going to be a hero at all. I am not going to pay even Rs 50 to watch you on screen.”
His father made his stance clear, asking him to return to Himachal Pradesh and join the family business. Financial support was cut off, forcing Aayush to fend for himself.
‘I had Rs 20 left’
The sudden withdrawal of support brought him to a breaking point.
“Things came down to a point where I had Rs 20 left,” Aayush said, recalling the phase when survival became his primary concern.
Help arrived unexpectedly when a friend, who had just secured a job, transferred Rs 50,000 to his account after learning about his situation. The gesture helped Aayush stay afloat during one of the toughest periods of his life.
The Rs 10 crore pitch and a blunt reply
Despite the setbacks, Aayush did not give up on his dream. He later returned to his father with a bold proposal, asking for Rs 10 crore to launch himself as an actor.
“I went back to Himachal and said, ‘Dad, I want Rs 10 crore to launch myself.’ That’s the number somebody gave me,” he shared.
His father’s response was sharp and unfiltered.
“He said, ‘Beta, tune dekha hai kabhi langde ghode pe paisa lagate ho? Main to chalo 10 crore beta samajh ke de bhi dunga, but tere ko dekhne kaun aayega?’”
Grandfather stepped in
The turning point came when Aayush’s grandfather intervened, urging his father to give him a chance with a defined timeline.
“Luckily, my grandfather told my dad that he is the first one in the family who is trying to do something on his own. Give him a chance and a timeline—and my father re-started giving me money,” Aayush said.
Aayush Sharma eventually made his Bollywood debut with Loveyatri in 2018, backed by Salman Khan Films, and was last seen in Ruslaan (2024). He is married to Arpita Khan, Salman Khan’s sister, and the couple have two children, Ahil and Ayat.
April 10, 2026, 17:05 IST
