"Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" star Taha Shah Badussha said turning showstopper for designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla at the opening show of the India Couture Week 2024 is an honour.

Badussha, 36, shot to fame with his role of Nawab Tajdar Baloch in the popular Netflix series by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

"I feel very honoured... I used to be invited to walk the ramp as a model and now I am invited to walk as a showstopper. So I think it’s a growth in life,” Badussha told PTI in an interview, crediting his success to "15 years of hard work, resilience, and persistence".

The actor, who made his debut opposite Shraddha Kapoor in “Luv Ka The End” (2011) and has been a part of projects like “Gippi” (2013), “Ranchi Diaries” (2017) and “Baar Baar Dekho” (2016), recalled how he was approached for a two-day role in the series but ended up being cast as one of the leads.

“I never read the script, we never get a chance to read the script but, of course, it’s a dream for any actor to be in a Bhansali’s production, under his direction. I was initially cast for a two-day role and then how it grew and I finally became the lead,” he said.

The actor admitted that designs by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are similar to the essence of the show, which was set in the pre-independence period of India.

“The designs that I have seen all around definitely have a lot of Indian tradition in it and ‘Heeramandi’ was all about that tradition, so definitely there are some similarities.” After the release of “Heeramandi” which is streaming on Netflix, the actor has been riding a wave of success and also got a chance to meet Hollywood star Tom Cruise with whom he shared a picture earlier this month on Instagram.

Referring to it as a pure fan moment, he said, “It would be a fan moment for anybody. I have been a fan of his. He redefined cinema, he redefined action in so many ways. There is so much to learn from him. Just to be in his presence it was so inspiring and to be honest it didn’t feel real at all. He is so kind, so humble.” Badussha walked alongside Wamiqa Gabbi last evening at the Taj Palace, New Delhi. The actors presented the collection “Asal & Mard” at the show.

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