Today, Anil George know as Mirzapur’s Lala. Recently, I have also appeared in the film Kalki 2898 AD. Every actor’s dream is working with stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, and Deepika Padukone. I also had this dream, which has now been fulfilled.
However, when I reflect on my life, my eyes well up with tears as I think about my struggles. I came to Mumbai in 1996 with the desire to achieve something. The only person I knew here was Tom Sir (Tom Alter, the famous actor). I came with his support, but the struggle to establish my identity made me cry tears of blood.
Anil George starts crying while recounting his story. Anil says that today he cannot openly share his feelings with anyone. Initially, he used to do so, but people would mock him after learning about his hardships.
Wiping his tears, Anil says, “Only Tom Sir and my wife have supported me on my journey thus far. They have both wiped my tears whenever I cried.”
He Started Acting at a Young Age
Anil was born into a Christian family. Talking about his childhood, he said, “My childhood was like any other child’s. There used to be played during festivals like Easter and Christmas. My elder brother and sister also participated in these plays. Following in their footsteps, I also acted. I did it just for fun; I never thought this hobby would become my destiny.”
Wanted to Become a Cricketer
Anil said he was very fond of playing cricket. He participated in plays during festivals but spent most of his time playing cricket. He said, “Playing cricket brought me the most peace. Initially, I didn’t even realize I was a great bowler.”
“My mother died at an early age, and I was sent to live with a relative. Life there was also full of struggles, but my passion for cricket didn’t diminish. Some seniors from college made me realize that I was a good bowler.”
“I wanted to play cricket for my country, but some people in the field didn’t let me progress. They feared I would surpass them, so they chose to crush my dream.”
Wife Supported Him Financially During Difficult Times
Before entering the acting field, Anil had a friendly relationship with the late actor Tom Alter. It was Tom who gave Anil his first break in the acting world. Anil says, “In 1996, Tom Sir called me to Mumbai. Thanks to him, I got work in the TV show Yug.”
However, the journey in Mumbai was far from easy. There were so many problems that I can’t even describe. I had no place to live or food to eat. During these tough times, Tom Sir and my wife Nandi supported me the most.
“When there was nothing to eat, Tom Sir would give me some money, which helped me survive for a few days. Nandi also helped me a lot financially. She was a nurse at AIIMS and bore all my expenses until I found work after marriage.”
“At that time, I didn’t have work for a long period. I had no idea what would happen next, but Nandi never questioned me. She never told me to look for another job, believing that my work would eventually pay off. The circumstances were such that I could have easily broken down, but Nandi’s support encouraged me to move forward at every step. I am still grateful to Nandi for this.”
Friends Made Fun of Me When Scenes Were Cut from the Film
Anil worked in the 1999 film Hu Tu Tu, which featured actors like Sunil Shetty, Tabu, and Nana Patekar in lead roles. Anil shared that he had most of his scenes with Tabu in the film.
He said, “In one scene, I even hit Tabu. After signing the film, I happily told many of my friends that I would be seen on screen with such a big star cast. But when the film was released, I saw that many of my scenes had been removed. This hurt me a lot, and my friends made fun of me.”
“After this incident, even after signing a big film, I don’t tell anyone until the film is released.”
When I went to Ask for Work, People Would Tear My Photo and Throw It in the Dustbin
About his further journey, Anil said, “Like every struggler, I have also faced auditions and rejections. I used to look very good in my younger days. I thought people could offer me the role of a hero even while walking on the road. Because of this, I would visit the offices of big directors and producers.”
“With great enthusiasm, I would get my photo clicked and go to the studio to ask for work. Every time I thought things would work out. However, this did not happen. My photo never reached any director or producer. Earlier, that photo would have been thrown in the dustbin.”
Finally, Anil mentioned that he is not working on any project at the moment. He says that whatever work he gets, he will do it with full dedication.