Rising Stars of ‘The Badmash of Bollywood’ Share Industry Journeys and Aaryan Khan’s Influence

Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bambba, and Anya Singh, the fresh faces leading Aaryan Khan’s highly anticipated Netflix debut, ‘The Badmash of Bollywood,’ are true industry outsiders. Each has dedicated nearly a decade to carving out their space in the competitive world of cinema.

Before the series premieres on September 18, I had the opportunity to chat with these ‘Badmash’ stars via Zoom. They candidly shared insights into their long Bollywood hustle and a profound lesson they learned from their director, Aaryan Khan, who famously lets his work speak for itself.

A Decade of Hustle: How Bollywood Shaped Their Roles

Lakshya: ‘The Badmash of Bollywood’ felt like destiny. I’ve spent almost ten years navigating the ‘Bollywood circus,’ gaining invaluable life experience. The powerful line from the trailer, ‘There are many stars but just one Aasman,’ was actually from my audition monologue. While filming ‘Kill,’ I realized I had lived every aspect of the story—the countless rejections, the relentless struggle, and the frustration of seeing privileged newcomers get roles. I poured all those emotions into my performance. This industry, much like life, has its ups and downs; you just have to adapt and keep moving.

Raghav Juyal: My initial challenge was English articulation. I arrived in Bombay with nothing, but this city and its energy embraced me. The very day I stepped off at VT station, I landed a background dancer gig. I promised myself, ‘Even from the periphery, I will shine.’ From choreography to hosting shows, I built my career. I took a break from TV when it became repetitive, seeking more growth. Shah Rukh Khan, also from television, was a huge inspiration. For me, this journey hasn’t been a struggle, but an exhilarating adventure. I’ve only encountered good people here, and I have no regrets.

Sahher Bambba: Portraying Karishma Talwar, a superstar’s daughter, was a departure from my own reality, making it quite challenging. This industry presents significant hurdles; the highs are exhilarating, but the lows can be incredibly disheartening. Yet, our passion for this work keeps us motivated daily. I’m not from a film family; everything I’ve achieved has been built from the ground up, brick by painstaking brick.

Anya Singh: Our paths have been quite similar, I believe. Moving to Bombay (Mumbai) means arriving without any connections, which brings not just professional but also a deeply personal struggle due to the lack of a support system. But that’s life; it taught me immense patience. While everyone’s journey is unique, we feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a talented cast and crew, where everyone excels at their craft.

Aaryan Khan’s Defining Lesson

Anya Singh: Aaryan is incredibly passionate, disciplined, and hard-working. Even with the immense pressure, I never once saw him lose his composure. When challenges arose, he remained calm—not with indifference, but with a steady resolve—which in turn helped the entire team maintain their focus.

Sahher Bambba: I actually asked him once how he manages to remain so calm and unfazed! My biggest lesson from him is his complete dedication: once he commits to something, he pours every ounce of effort into it. Take Padel, for example; he recently started playing, became completely obsessed, and now wants to win every single game. He truly dives in headfirst, no matter the endeavor.

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Raghav Juyal: Observing Aaryan, I quickly realized that directing isn’t for me—I’m far too impatient! He navigated extremely challenging situations with remarkable calmness, clarity, and depth. He consistently knew his vision and ensured it was brought to life.

Lakshya: What struck me most was how he leveraged his privilege. He could have easily remained on the sidelines, but instead, he stepped onto the battlefield, worked tirelessly alongside us, and led with unwavering composure. It’s one thing to have resources, but knowing how to deploy them genuinely and effectively—that was his greatest teaching.

Beyond the Meta: Is ‘The Badmash of Bollywood’ a New ‘Entourage’?

All: Absolutely not. We believe this series breaks new ground; nothing quite like it has been created before.