Whenever people mention Arshad Warsi’s name, the first thing that comes to mind is his comic timing in the Munnabhai series. However, not many are aware that Arshad used to be a gymnast in school. In fact, the actor was also selected to be a part of the Indian contingent for an international gymnastic event.

But what comes as a surprise is that it was Arshad’s father who prevented him from representing the country in gymnastics. That decision changed his life forever and paved the way for Arshad to become an actor.

A close friend of the actor says, “Arshad was adept at floor exercises and he was very skillful when it came to somersaults. When he was a teenager, he had a slim body and his lanky frame was ideal for gymnastics. His coach was very upbeat about him. He even thought that he would win the title for the country. But Arshad never imagined that he would face resistance from an unexpected quarter — his own parents.”

Arshad admits that it was his father who said a ‘no’ when he was all set to tour with the national side to Europe to take part in the international meet. Arshad’s father felt it was foolish to pursue a career in gymnastics because it was not lucrative enough.
“At that point of time, I was really mad with my dad as he just did not let me go. I felt it was the end of the world for me,” says Arshad.

But today, he says he can’t thank his dad enough because that paved the way for him to become an actor.

“Today I thank my dad for that decision. If not for that, I would never have pursued films. However, I wish my parents were alive. They would have been really happy and proud,” he ends.

His struggle

Arshad lost his parents at a very young age. Since then he has struggled for a living in Mumbai. He used to sell nail polish and lipsticks on the pavements. However, his interest for dance led him to join a dance school. The turning point in his life came when he won the fourth prize in a dancing competition at the age of 21. He started a dance school with the prize money and also joined the English Theatre group in Mumbai.