Siddharth Sen The Man Behind Shree of Arjun

A boy had just finished his second semester exams and he knew his heart was not in it. He was pursuing BSc. as expected by his family. He had responsibilities to shoulder as a man and education to his parents was the foundation for that. His mother had come down to Bangalore, where he was studying.That night when he reached home, he was asked, "How were studies?" and his reply was, "I am done with it." He declared to his mother that he was leaving, for Mumbai. He did not know if he would find any acting job or even what he wants to do or to find it in the first place but he packed his bags that night and came to Mumbai.

Now the first glimpse was antithesis of what he had envisaged from the movies he had seen. Mumbai, the "South Mumbai" shown in movies he was expecting, was not to be. He was told this is Mumbai when he reached Mira Road by bus. He got down. Took an auto rickshaw and told him to take him to a lodge that is cheap. Here, there is a story. He chatted with auto driver and what he had come to Mumbai for. Guess what the answer was? Acting. Siddharth's heart fell. Would I end up doing this? The VO (Voice Over) played in his head. Sounds dramatic? This is just the beginning of the night. He got a room for Rs300. How lucky. Well, his luck ran out when later in the night someone knocked on his door. Do we have a potential thriller here? No, nothing that dramatic. But it was the lodge staff asking, "Kaunsi chahiye?" means which one do you want. And we are not talking about drinks here. The second blow for the night. He quickly refused and shut the door again a VO playing in his head, "Where have I gotten stuck?"

One would say all that starts on a low can only go higher. There is song that goes, "The only way is up". But the journey was not a quick rags to riches story. After four months, he ran out of money. So, Plan B? Yes, he went back to Bangalore, finished third semester, worked and armed himself with more skills and money to give it a second shot. He even ensured he enrolled into a correspondence course so that he finishes his education. Good thinking!, is what we would say, right? Plan B of Plan B, when all else fails, there is education to fall back on.

Once again, the boy now a bit of a man came back and struggled for six more months. In his struggle of one and half years, he got one print ad of McDonalds. He also did a movie called Life Reboot Nahi Hoti but it never reached the Cinemas. Such is the struggle of an actor. Here, a positive thinker would draw inspiration and say, he persevered and he conquered. We think so too. He was again out of money so about to leave this time he gave an audition and left. On reaching Bangalore the next morning, he got a call and he was selected. What was the role? Chhoti Bahu. He played the brother, Chhenu. That ran for one and half years. And then Arjun happened just as Chhoti Bahu was closing the second season.

As Shree, Siddharth Sen has become the man, man who knows what it takes to be an actor and yet be grounded. The way he treats people around him shows his upbringing and his principles. Always sporting a smile, affable and straight forward, conversations with him always veer off to music, bands and food.

We at Forum 32 will bring different aspects to Siddharth. This is the first glimpse of the man he is, a young man with right attitude. We wish that he finds the altitude he strives for. A pleasure knowing you, Siddharth Sen.