Mumbai, July 2 (AHN) Actor Zaid Khan has opened up about his experience of portraying Ajmal Kasab in the film "Bharat “Bhagya Vidhata.”

Speaking exclusively to AHN, he revealed the initial hesitation he felt while taking on such a challenging and sensitive role early in his career. Khan also shared insights into his family’s reaction, including his mother’s concerns, and how guidance from his mentor helped him overcome his doubts and approach the character with confidence and honesty.

When asked about his first reaction upon being offered the role, Zaid admitted that he was initially hesitant and even intimidated by the idea. “Honestly, I did not want to play the character initially because Kasab is one of the most hated figures in our country. The entire nation hates him, and I do too. Taking on such a negative role at the beginning of my career felt intimidating.”

“My career had just started, and I wasn't sure whether I had the courage to portray someone like him. At that time, I spoke to my mentor, Satya Sabharwal, with whom I had worked on a Zee5 project. He advised me that as an actor, my responsibility is to show up honestly and give my best performance. If the work is good, people will remember the work, not worry about typecasting or image-building. His words gave me confidence.”

The actor went on to state, “Even my mother was against the idea. She wanted me to play cheerful and positive characters that audiences would enjoy watching. But I decided to trust the process and approach the role with complete honesty.”

On a related note, "Bharat Bhagya Vidhata" was directed by Manoj Tapadia and co-produced by Kangana Ranaut. The film featured Kangana Ranaut, Girija Oak, and Smita Tambe in key roles. Inspired by real-life events, the story highlighted the courage and resilience of doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who risked their lives to protect patients during the 2008 Mumbai attacks at Cama Hospital.