Pawankhind’s Ankit Mohan opens up on his struggle: Have survived on Gurdwaras’ langar and ₹10-20 bucks a day

Keel gad gayi hain, bas thukni baaki hain,” quips Ankit Mohan when you ask him about his journey in showbiz. The actor, who started his career with a youth-based adventure reality show, went on to do a couple of Hindi TV shows, including Begusarai and Naagin 3. However, he got massive recognition only after he starred in Marathi films, starting with Farzand (2018).

It took 16 years, he shares, to be where he envisioned himself. While he calls his journey “amazing”, it certainly wasn’t a cakewalk. “I have survived on gurdwaras’ langar, stayed empty stomach on days, travelled by bus, and walked on foot for my auditions. People used to ask, ‘You’ve done the reality show, why are you travelling by bus?’ Every day was difficult. I stayed in a PG where my roommates were rude, and I’ve survived on ₹10-20 a day. I had a limited amount in my account, no work and was not able to crack auditions. Sirf rejections mil rahe the. There was no source of income to [even] groom ourselves,” the actor shares.

Mohan, however, is proud of his struggle. “I know it took some time, but gradually, things did happen. Tough times didn’t let me get on the wrong track. I could see a better version of myself… I want my son to struggle as well and not get anything on a silver platter,” he adds.

The Pawankhind actor, 34, does not hesitate to admit that he had an attitude issue when he came to Mumbai. He shares, “I came to the city with an attitude. I couldn’t digest fame and I got carried away. I remember when I went for an audition for a shaving product, I spoke to the guy very rudely. I told him that I had done a reality show, and he just said, ‘Woh toh ho gaya, abhi kya kiya hai?’ I was left speechless at that. I didn’t even give that audition… It was then that I realised that you can’t rest on your past laurels. You need to continue working hard.”