Meet Kabeer M from Pataal Lok, Aasif Khan
"I was born and brought up in Nimbahera, a small town in the Chittorgarh district. I was there till 2009. I wasn’t a bright student during my school days. So, the students who would participate in an annual function used to get proxies in class for almost a month. I used that as my chance to miss the class and involve myself in things other than studies. My interest inclined toward theatre during that time and I started realizing what a beautiful thing it was. After that, I actively started participating in school plays. After a few years, I started writing my own stand-up acts after watching this show called ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge which was a very new concept for me. I have performed in Nimbahera, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and many more places. I even used to perform at the camps organized by NGOs for entertainment purposes. In 2010, I thought of going to Mumbai and went there the very same year.
After I shifted to Mumbai, I stayed there for one and a half years. The only mistake I think I made was I shifted there without any training. I worked at many restaurants there as a waiter for a time I was there before I realized that I need professional training and then shifted back to Jaipur.
I came to Jaipur for 6 months to learn theatre but stayed here for 6 years instead. I trained under the best I could, my gurus who deserve a mention here, Mr Sabir Khan and Mr Ajeet Singh Palawat. I never thought of going back to Mumbai while I was here. I think that whatever I am today, is because of Jaipur theatre. I performed at Ravindra Manch and Jawahar Kala Kendra for 6 years and that was the most special phase of my life.
After staying here for 6 years, I moved back to Mumbai in 2016. But this time, I needed a nice job around the acting world so I could support myself financially and fulfill my dream. I started working as an associate casting director, but I left that job too after 1 year. I have done many supporting roles of 1-2 seconds in movies like Toilet ek Prem Katha and Pari. The first OTT break I got was in Mirzapur by Amazon Prime and my first debut movie was India’s Most Wanted starring Arjun Kapoor in lead.
I believe that I am lucky to have a supporting family. My Ammi and elder brother supported me in every step. When I shifted to Mumbai, my mentors Abhishek Banerjee and Anmol Ahuja supported me like anything. Whatever I am today is because of their support.
When people, especially those from UP and Bihar, talk about the people from their home states who have made it big in the entertainment industry, I feel very proud to join the conversation to say ‘Humare Rajasthan se 1 actor hai jo 100 pe bhari hai and that is Irfan Khan’. I feel very proud and lucky to tell people that I have performed in the very places where Irfan Khan had performed."