To heal the shattered dream of not making it to the Indian Army, Jaideep Ahlawat turned to theatre. And like a play he recalls watching—revolving around the theme of destiny versus character—Ahlawat slowly came into his own on the stage and now on screen. The journey has been long and he's now finding his feet in lead roles
In 2012, Jaideep Ahlawat’s role as Shahid Khan in Anurag Kashyap’s crime film Gangs of Wasseypur (GoW) not only garnered critical acclaim but also marked a turning point in his career. Image: Tridev Sudevan; Styling: Divyak D'Souza; Make up: Bharat Kedar; Hair: Pratik Gaikwad
Jaideep Ahlawat is all smiles during the interview. He’s cracking jokes and seems relaxed.
For someone who is more than six feet tall and had once wanted to join the Indian Army, it’s hard to believe that there is a lighter side to a man we’ve mostly seen in dark, gritty and intense dramas.
Blame it on the roles the 43-year-old has played so far.
For instance, the stoic and reclusive mathematics professor, Naren Vyas, from the recently released Jaane Jaan (2023), or going back to his role as Shahid Khan, a complex character with shades of grey, in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Sprinkle it with a few villainous ones in the middle in movies such as Aakrosh (2010) and Khatta Meetha (2010); a terrorist in Vishwaroopam (2013); and a gangster in Raees (2017).
However, those who know him know that while he’s an introvert, he’s also not a serious person, he says. “I’m scared that people have formed this image. I just have a serious face,” he jokes. “I can’t make small talk. I like listening more than talking,” he adds.