While it takes several years for some actors to achieve stardom, some get it overnight. Manjot Singh falls in the latter category. Dibakar Banerjee's 2008 movie 'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!' changed his life forever. Manjot played Lucky Singh and the film indeed proved to be 'lucky' for his career as well. Singh who was last seen in 'Fukrey 3' tells Outlook India that earlier, there was a struggle to get work and now the struggle is to get good work.
He says, ''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! was the turning point of my life because I never thought that I would come to the industry. My life changed after the film. I had the role of 15 minutes and won Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. People used to call me Lucky in the initial years because they liked my performance.
Manjot calls himself an accidental actor. Recalling his audition for the film, he says, ''My friend took me for an audition. I was asked to give an audition and I got scared. Out of respect, I did. Then I was called for another round. So, for me, that journey is very special because the film changed my life forever''.
He is grateful to director Dibakar Banerjee and writer Manu Rishi Chadha. ''I am very grateful to Dibakar Banerjee who offered me the role. Even Manu Rishi Chadha, the writer of my character. I am very thankful to them because I am in Mumbai today with my family only because of them. It's a big thing for me. I never thought that I would move from Delhi to Mumbai and today I have changed my base for work and it has become possible because I am successful today. That's why I am grateful to Dibakar sir for giving me a chance,'' says the 'Dream Girl 2' actor.
Manjot also reveals that earlier, he was sceptical about the length of his role in the film. ''I had no expectations. I never imagined that a guy who was sitting in Delhi would get stardom overnight,'' he adds.
'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!' will complete 15 years on November 28.
