6 days ago
Rejected By Top Director, This Dwarf Actor Stole The Show With One Role
Lilliput recalled how an assistant to director Basu Chatterjee dismissed his dreams, citing his physical condition and saying people like him had no place in the film industry
Actor MM Farooqui, widely recognised as Lilliput, recently shared his remarkable journey to Bollywood in a candid interview with Red FM podcasts. Despite many aspiring actors dreaming of making a name in the industry, Farooqui's path to success was fraught with challenges, particularly due to his height.
Known for his roles in films and TV series such as ' Dekh Bhai Dekh ', ' Vikram Vetal ', ' Gutur Gu ', ' Shararat ', ' Shaurya Aur Suhani ', ' Razia Sultan ', and the popular web series ' Mirzapur ', Lilliput's journey was anything but easy.
MM Farooqui, popularly known as Lilliput, got his stage name due to his dwarfism. In a recent interview with Red FM podcasts, he recalled living in his hometown, Gaya (Bihar), when a friend encouraged him to pursue acting in Bombay. Lilliput shared that he had done theatre in Gaya and was often regarded as one of the best in the city. So when his friend said, ' Aap Bombay aayiye. Aap Bombay aayiye to chhaa jaayenge (Come to Bombay, when you come you will be a star)," he began to wonder if he could really make it there.
'I came from a very poor family. We didn't even have money to take a rickshaw into the city. How could I dream of going to Bombay?" Lilliput recalled. But just as the thought crossed his mind, a friend who believed he could be the next Mehmood handed him Rs 150 for the journey to Bombay.
'I never thought about where I would live or what I would eat because I had no financial support from my family," he said. While his condition saddened his family, they never abandoned him. His relatives, too, were concerned, but he never let them see his struggles.
Life in Mumbai proved to be harsh. Farooqui often went hungry and spent nights sleeping on the streets. Recalling those difficult days, he shared that he had only one set of clothes and could bathe just once a week. 'I used to go to a public toilet, take a bath, wash my clothes there, and then wear them wet. They would dry on my body under the sun."
Lilliput also recalled a painful moment when an assistant to veteran director Basu Chatterjee bluntly told him he wouldn't make it in films. 'He reminded me of my shortcomings and said, 'All this doesn't work in cinema,'" Lilliput said. He believes the remark wasn't meant to hurt, but to convey a harsh truth, that people like him rarely get opportunities in the industry.
Lilliput's fortunes changed with his role as Dadda Tyagi in the acclaimed series Mirzapur starring Pankaj Tripathi, Divyandu, Ali Fazal and Shweta Tripathi. His performance in the second and third seasons was highly appreciated, overshadowing even established actors like Vijay Verma and Pankaj Tripathi.
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