Subhash K Jha chats with Arya Babbar about his debut film Ab Ke Baras, which releseaed in 2002, how being an actor has changed him, and more!
Arya, it’s 23 years since your debut in Raj Kanwar’s Ab Ke Baras?
First of all, I consider it a privilege to still be standing here as an actor. It’s been 23 years since my first film. I feel deeply grateful. I entered the industry at a very young age, and working with Raj Kanwar in my debut was an experience I’ll always hold close. But when I look back, I feel Ab Ke Baras was more than just a debut for me.
What was Ab Ke Baras for you?
When I reflect on that time now, I realise that your first step into cinema is actually a step out of hiding. It’s the moment you become a public figure open to praise, but equally open to judgment. Cinema and audience isn’t forgiving. No matter your lineage or bloodline, what ultimately shapes your journey is fate and the kind of hard work you’re willing to put in
Wasn’t a film on reincarnation rather risky for a debutant?
One thing I’ve observed about filmmaking. Especially back then, is that once a concept clicks… everyone scrambles to recreate that magic. It becomes: This is what the audience wants, let’s give them more of it. And honestly, that’s often more the filmmaker’s call than the actor’s. At the time, Hrithik’s Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai had just become a massive hit. Suddenly, sort of doing two roles were in. So my film got a reincarnation angle, probably to ride that wave. Mere do-do janam hue uss film mein… aur ek bhi janam uss film ko bacha nahi paya. (I spent two lives in that film… and not even one life could save that film) Hehe.
Amrita Rao also made her debut
We are in touch, but we are colleagues, probably not best of friends
How do you assess you career so far?
Like I mentioned, I started my journey at a very young age. My first film marked the beginning, and now it’s been 23 years in the industry. And honestly, I’m proud of this journey. It hasn’t just shaped me as an actor; it’s shaped me as a person. Through acting, I discovered parts of myself I never knew existed. It has been a teacher who has taught me to truly live fully; you have to put your eggs in more than one basket. This journey didn’t just keep me in front of the camera; it made me a better writer, a director, and most unexpectedly, a stand-up comic. It taught me to be self-sufficient, to find humour even in heartbreak, and to laugh when life didn’t make sense. So today, even in the worst moments, I see brilliant stories waiting to be told. Stories that might just remind someone watching or listening, ‘Main hoon. Tu kar.’
How do you handle the pressures of showbiz as a star-son? Babil Khan recently had a public meltdown.
I think pressure is something that finds everyone, whether you’re in film, corporate, or sports. What we’re seeing with people like Babil is just how visible those moments have become. But the truth is, people succumb to different things to deal with pressure. I rather feel that artists are lucky that they at least have their art. So while it puts a toll on your life, I have realised getting up there and talking about it, helps… that’s literally how I found stand-up comedy while being an actor. And honestly, I am right now literally putting everything that you are questioning into a heartfelt stand-up special, which does highlight all these pressures but in a light-hearted manner.
