Abhinav Shukla Recalls Being Told He Lacked ‘Spark' By Shanoo Sharma: 'Good-Looking, But That's It'

News18

2 days ago

Abhinav Shukla recalls being told by YRF's Shanoo Sharma that he lacked 'spark' before his film Roar.
Television actor Abhinav Shukla, known for his adventurous spirit and candid takes, has opened up about a decade-old casting experience that left a lasting mark on his journey. Married to actress Rubina Dilaik, Abhinav revealed that back in 2014, just before the release of his film Roar, he was told by YRF's celebrated casting director Shanoo Sharma that while he was 'good looking," he lacked the spark needed to stand out.
The actor shared the story in an Instagram post on Monday (August 11), recalling, 'When my movie Roar was slated to release back in the day I was cajoled by my well-wishers to go meet Yash Raj Films' casting director. I did and she told me: 'You are a good looking guy but that's it, spark is missing, you can audition but…'"
But life, as Abhinav noted, has a way of turning the tables. Years later, he found himself auditioning for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's now-shelved film Inshallah. This time, the feedback was completely different. 'Few years down the line I was sitting face to face with Sanjay Leela Bhansali Sir for his next Inshallah. I remember SLB was all praise, all appreciative and asked me many times, 'How come you haven't worked so much? I saw the audition, you are super talented,'" Abhinav wrote.
Although Inshallah never made it to the big screen, the encounter was an uplifting reminder for the actor. 'The movie got shelved, my destiny took a turn! @talwarisha I can relate, and I think insults are an opportunity to meet the people who value your talent & time!" he concluded, tagging actress Isha Talwar, who recently shared her own unusual audition experience.
Isha, best known for her role in Mirzapur, had revealed that she was once asked to cry during an audition held in the middle of a restaurant. Finding the request bizarre, she chose to walk away, but admitted that the moment still dented her confidence.
Her confession sparked a wave of solidarity among actors, with Manipuri talent Bijou Thaangjam also joining the conversation. Bijou, who appeared alongside Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom (2014), recounted his first audition for Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, led by the late Sushant Singh Rajput. Despite feeling nervous and not being fluent in Hindi at the time, Bijou remembered pushing through, holding onto hope and determination to make his mark.
These candid revelations from Abhinav, Isha, and Bijou offer a rare, unfiltered look into the unpredictable, often humbling world of Bollywood auditions — where a 'no" from one corner can one day transform into high praise from another. And for Abhinav Shukla, the journey from being told he lacked 'spark" to hearing Sanjay Leela Bhansali call him 'super talented" is proof that persistence — and self-belief — can change the script entirely.
First Published:
August 11, 2025, 17:00 IST
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