'If you have an ambition, your age is not a factor at all,' says actor Sharib Hashmi

In the recently released biopic of the famous chef Tarla Dalal starring Huma Qureshi, talented actor Sharib Hashmi plays her supportive husband. In this interview with City Times, Sharib talks about how his acting journey is similar to Tarla’s story and how his debut felt like a dream when he worked in Yash Chopra's Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

From dark, serious roles in Vikram Vedha, Afwaah and The Family Man to this sweet, cute take in Tarla. How did it happen?

I am glad that Tarla happened. I can’t thank them enough that they considered me for this beautiful character. The day I had heard the narration of Tarla from Piyush Gupta (writer-director), I said to myself, “I am Nalin Dalal. No one else can play this character. Please cast me. Don’t look anywhere else (laughs). If I wasn’t chosen for this role, it would have a lifelong regret for me.”

Though Tarla is a biopic of a famous chef, the story works on many levels, covering many important issues…

The main theme is about a dream. If you have a dream or ambition, your age is not a factor at all. Tarla was married with kids, but she found her calling which, by conventional standards, was quite late in her life. And the way her husband supported her despite societal pressure is an incredibly inspiring story and an emotional one. That’s why it connects.

I feel your own story is similar to Tarla’s story in terms of finding your calling quite late in life. When you decided to become an actor, wasn’t it quite late by conventional standards? Were you scared?

Yes, I was scared. Though I always wanted to become an actor but finally took a lot of time to take the decision. In my childhood I always dreamt of becoming a Bollywood hero but when I grew up and looked in the mirror I said, “This guy doesn’t look like a hero at all (laughs).” And I didn’t want to settle for anything less - either hero or nothing, so I didn’t pursue acting. I became an assistant director and started writing. Then I worked in MTV for four years and made some famous shows like MTV Bakra and a spoof called Rendezvous with Semi Girebaal with Cyrus Sahukar.

Oh, that show had annoyed Simi Grewal?

And many more to come. I want to play different roles and yes, definitely write and direct films.