Pegged to be the Next Big Thing, Ishaan Khatter has already won hearts with glimpses of his searing act in Beyond the Clouds. The young actor, who is currently shooting for Karan Johar’s Dhadak opposite Janhvi Kapoor, is all set to make his Hindi film debut with world famous Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi's first Indian film.
In a recent, no-filter interview he spoke with amazing candidness about his personal life and the tough times they had after his parents Neelima Azim and Rajesh Khatter separated. “I was very young when my parents separated, and later, my mother remarried,” he shared. “For six years, I stayed with my stepfather (Ustad Raza Ali Khan) and my mother. Then, they separated and I saw her go through two broken marriages and her struggle to keep things together."
"She would often put her own feelings in the backseat to take care of others. That’s an act of selflessness. For many years, I saw her go through emotional strain and difficulties. She had more on her plate than she could deal with while taking care of us. I often saw her go through changes in her personality.”
The trials his mother faced have clearly impacted young Ishaan deeply, as he maintains, “She is a lovely person, that’s why it’s important for me to give her all the comfort, happiness and satisfaction I can. I have great admiration for her. I can’t say that my childhood was easy or difficult, and I can’t re-live those days, but what I can say is that it made me grow up faster than other kids. It taught me a lot and made me the person I am today. I am emotionally strong, passionate, empathetic and sensitive towards others, especially the people I love.”
He holds no bitterness against his father either, as he shares, “I developed a friendly equation with him once I grew up. He has seen Beyond The Clouds and has loved it. Even today, my mother and father are good friends, like they were before their marriage. That has helped me a lot.”
More power to you, Ishaan!
