Taha Shah Badussha says 'attended Cannes to make contacts'
What's the story
Taha Shah Badussha, who recently starred in Netflix's Heeramandi, addressed the controversy surrounding his debut appearance at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in an interview with News18.
The actor revealed that he attended the prestigious event to launch the trailer and poster of his film Paro at the Bharat Pavilion and to network.
"I went to Cannes to launch my film and to make contacts," he stated.
Online chatter
'Seen hovering': Badussha was mercilessly trolled for his Cannes appearance
For those unaware, Badussha's presence at the Cannes Film Festival sparked a wave of online chatter, with some questioning his motives for attending.
A report even claimed that he was "seen hovering uncertainly" on the red carpet, a move described as "fatally flawed."
Responding to these comments, Badussha called the internet chatter "bizarre" and expressed confusion over why his attendance at Cannes was being scrutinized.
Networking efforts
Badussha emphasized 'networking' as the motive
Despite the criticism, Badussha remained unphased and openly admitted to networking at the festival.
"So many people from America and Canada looked at me and said, 'This guy is the star of Heeramandi but he's acting like a newcomer,'" he explained.
The actor emphasized his belief in "hustling and building" relationships, expressing optimism about finding "one golden person" who could change his life "out of 500-600 people he met at the festival."
Unfazed determination
'People are here to talk, so let them talk...'
Meanwhile, responding to trolls, the actor retorted, "Nobody said these things about me earlier. I did some jugaad (hack) and went to IFFI last year, but nobody spoke about it. What about that? What about the time when I had nothing [going on for me]?"
"People are here to talk, so let them talk as much as they want to...My focus is very simple—to wake up every morning and give my 100% to my work," he said.
Career highlights
A brief look at Badussha's career highlights
Making his debut in 2011 with Luv Ka the End, Badussha subsequently secured roles in films like Karan Johar's teen drama Gippi, Barkhaa, Baar Baar Dekho, and others over the next two years.
However, it was his recent portrayal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi that catapulted him to national and international acclaim.
In the series, he essayed the character of Nawab Tajdar Baloch, an advocate and the lover of Alamzeb, played by Sharmin Segal.