Ruslaan Mumtaz is one of the new entrants among the Bollywood heroes. He is young, he is good-looking, and he is also naturally talented (he happens to be the son of yesteryear actress Anjana Mumtaz). He is yet to make it big, though he is waiting to do so, having played the lead hero in just two films.
His first big break as the romantic hero was in the teenage love story called "Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar", or in short "MP3". The film, directed by Robby Grewal, flopped, but thankfully Ruslaan did not sink without a trace. He became the cynosure of all eyes, with his charming screen presence. The peppy songs scaled up the charts too. Young girls had instantly recognized him as the sweet swinger in the music video 'Aap jaisa koi' which had been widely shown on all music channels some months before his big screen outing! And after "MP3" released on home videos, Ruslaan's fan following grew substantially.
I missed seeing "MP3" on the big screen as the movie had just come & gone, but thanks to the coaxing from many of my e-friends who had egged me to see the movie, I did catch it on video a year later. I was impressed by Ruslaan. At the same time, I got to know that he was personally known to one of my friends who had so many good things to say about the young lad. Needless to say, I was intrigued.
Ruslaan has had his grooming in dance, under the tutelage of Shiamak Davar, and for three years in theatre. His mother had been initially hesitant about him joining the world of films, but later he successfully convinced her to give it a shot. Even as the shooting started, the ride was not so smooth for him. Just on the second day of the shoot, he had to jump off the ramp from a cycle and accidentally the cycle's tyre snapped out; he fell straight on his face and the shooting got delayed by 2 months.
Then as the cast & crew of "MP3" got ready for the next schedule, just one week before the shoot Ruslaan fell off a bike! Again he had hurt his face which was so bruised and scarred that the shoot had to be delayed once again! Finally, the film having been liked by the young girls & boys Ruslaan, must have felt compensated for all the agony. He soon signed his second big film "Teree Sang" with director Satish Kaushik. For this one too Ruslaan had a motorbike shot, it was a very simple shot and he had to take a turn. Ruslaan tried it out a little faster than usual, and the bike skidded with him being thrown off! Luckily, Ruslaan did not hurt his face this time though he had hurt his entire body. He completed the film being on painkillers all the while!
Even being called 'accident prone', and having had nasty brushes with falls, getting his face smashed or having torn ligaments, Ruslaan remains ever-energetic & spirited. He has a very modest approach towards his career, although he has a dogged determination to excel.
Ruslaan just thanks his stars for a good threshold and hopes to live up to the expectations the ticket-buying public. With the release of "Teree Sang" in theatres all-over, and having bagged yet another cool project called "Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai" with Nikhil Advani, he leaves no stone unturned to give his very best. Ruslaan has had to work rather hard for the film. Even though Ruslaan has a well-maintained physique, he has pulled up his socks to sweat it out in the gym for no less than two hours each day, to be able to beef up adequately. And after the workouts, he has to often spend as many as six hours in dance class, getting training from the renowned choreographers Bosco and Caesar. Hope his efforts pay him rich dividends. All the best, Ruslaan!
