After the roaring success of the Paatal Lok series, actor Jaideep Ahlawat has convinced the audience of his excellence. His portrayal of the gripping yet relatable Hathiram Chaudhary has made Jaideep a household name. And now, he is already breaking the internet with his charisma and spectacular dance moves in his upcoming movie, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. Honestly, is there anything this man can’t do? However, did you know that he didn’t want to be an actor in the first place?

Jaideep Ahlawat wanted to join the Indian Army

Born in a small town, Kharkara in Haryana, Jaideep Ahlawat was passionate and disciplined about being in the military. However, after several failed attempts at clearing the Service Selection Board (SSB) exam, he was disheartened and dropped his dream. Even though he has made a great name in Bollywood now, he still yearns to defend his country with his friends in the Indian Army.

In an interview with News X Live, Jaideep said, “I think sometimes, if not acting, I would be in the army, fulfilling my responsibilities. There’s a bond with that uniform which will stay forever… I have a lot of friends in the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. I do get emotional meeting them, but then I get happy thinking, if not me, at least they are in the army. Through them, I fulfil my wishes, I get to see the soldiers and explore the cantonments.”

From an Army aspirant to a talented actor

When his military dream didn’t work out, Jaideep used his alternate skill to have a career. In his early years, Jaideep Ahlawat performed in street theatre, which later helped him find his new calling. He then moved to Pune and enrolled in the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) to train as an actor. But his journey was anything but easy. Being an outsider to cinema, Jaideep took a risk to make a name in Bollywood. When he expressed his wish to become an actor, his late father said, “If you fail, you’ll do farming.” However, his father continued to support him in his pursuits regardless.

Jaideep graduated in 2007 from FTII with his batchmates, now well-known actors, including Rajkummar Rao, Sunny Hinduja and Vijay Varma. In a recent interview with GQ India, Jaideep recalled his FTII days and revealed, “Raju (Rajkummar Rao) was always so sure he’d become a star. Vijay and I, we were a little more laid-back. A little unserious. We’d bunk classes, skip exercises, and wander off. But we were all chasing the same dream.” After graduation, his friends landed good roles in the industry, but Jaideep was stuck in supporting roles. However, he wasn’t bitter about it and continued to work on his craft.

From a supporting actor to a lead hero

Jaideep Ahlawat made his debut as Sanjay Rane in Priyadarshan’s movie Khatta Meetha (2010). In the same year, he also appeared in Aakrosh with Ajay Devgn. But it was Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur that brought Jaideep’s true talent to the world. After a few years, he delivered a powerhouse performance as a Haryanvi cop in the Paatal Lok series, giving us two memorable seasons to date. From this to Jaane Jaan, Maharaj, Three Of Us and more, he swayed the Indian audience with his versatility.

In his upcoming Netflix release, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, Jaideep Ahlawat is set to play Rajan Aulakh, a mafia boss. He will act in the lead alongside Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor and Nikita Dutta. The crime thriller is scheduled to release on April 25, 2025.

A man who was working relentlessly in silence has now become a sensation. In today’s era, where audiences are losing hope in Bollywood, actors like Jaideep Ahlawat are carving out their own niche to restore our faith. Furthermore, according to Hindustan Times, Manoj Bajpayee, the lead actor of The Family Man series, has confirmed Jaideep Ahlawat’s role in the upcoming season. This has generated excitement in the audience as they now wait to see two Bollywood gems in this compelling crime series.

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Related: Beyond Paatal Lok: 8 Lesser-Known Roles Played By Jaideep Ahlawat That Prove His Versatility