It's Shiney Ahuja's birthday on May 15. As the actor turns 47 today, we take a look at some of his lesser-known facts, before he rose to fame.
Updated On: 2020-05-15 08:40 AM IST
Born on May 15, 1973, Shiney Ahuja grew up in New Delhi, India. Shiney made his Bollywood debut in 2003 with Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, starring Kay Kay Menon and Chitrangda Singh. He earned praises for his performance in his debut vehicle itself. (All pictures/mid-day archives and AFP)
In picture: Shiney Ahuja with wife Anupam Pandey
Shiney Ahuja had his moments of glory as he went on to star in films such as Karam (2005), Gangster (2005), Fanaa (2006), Woh Lamhe (2006), Zindaggi Rocks (2006), Life in a Metro (2006), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and Khoya Khoya Chand (2007).
While things on the professional front were doing well for Shiney Ahuja, his personal life became messy when he was arrested on charges of raping, detaining and threatening his 19-year-old domestic help in June 2009. He was booked under Section 376 (rape), and Section 506 (threat to kill) of the IPC.
In picture: Shiney Ahuja is supported by policemen as he comes out of a city court in Mumbai on September 25, 2009. A fast track court directed the jail authorities to provide immediate medical relief to Ahuja, arrested for allegedly raping his maid, on his application seeking treatment. Shiney was seen crying and wincing in pain following a slipped disc problem and later had to be flanked outside in a semi-conscious state by constables as he was not able to walk.
Here's a look at some lesser-known facts about Shiney Ahuja, other than his legal mess and filmography:
Born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Shiney Ahuja's father Col. Suraj Prakash Ahuja was an officer of the Indian Army.
Shiney Ahuja was quite a sports enthusiast. He excelled in football, volleyball and cricket. Shiney even took coaching classes from Mr. Gursharan Singh at the National Stadium, New Delhi.
Not just sports, Shiney Ahuja was equally passionate about theatre. Through the dramatic quota, he pursued his education from Hansraj College, Delhi University and later completed his engineering from RV College of Engineering Bengaluru.
Shiney Ahuja used to attend various acting workshops held at the National School of Drama, New Delhi. And, later went on to join the theatre group 'Tag'. He met Barry John and thereafter, joined his Acting School in Delhi.
Before entering Bollywood, Shiney Ahuja worked in over 40 ad films. His first commercial ad was for Pepsi.
In picture: Sayali Bhagat (L), Shiney Ahuja (C), and Russian actress Julia Bliss (R) pose for a photo during the promotion of the film Ghost, in 2011.
Shiney Ahuja married his girlfriend Anupam Pandey. The couple came to Mumbai from Noida, where he was a model, while she worked in a corporate firm. But they shared a long-distance marriage for three years. Click on to the next slide to know why!
Shiney Ahuja and his wife lived in a single bedroom apartment and saved every penny to buy their dream house. In 2003, Shiney got his first Hindi film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. The film took two years to release. The same year, his wife received an offer from a firm in New York. "It would have been unfair to hold her back. So she went," said Shiney. And on his insistence, Anupam went to the US for work.
In picture: Shiney Ahuja with wife Anupam Pandey and daughter Arshiya
After Shiney became professionally stable, Anupam gave up her job in the US to be with her husband. The duo was blessed with a daughter in 2008 and named her Arshiya.
In picture: Shiney Ahuja on the sets of Welcome Back
Shiney Ahuja is not a party person. "I never saw my parents going out for parties. I know there is a lot of glitz and glamour in the profession I am in. But honestly, I have never grown up like that. I feel out of place at parties. It's hard for me to do social chit-chat where I know the conversation is going to end pretty much from where it started. Only sometimes it is interesting," said Shiney in an interview with mid-day, a few years ago.
Shiney Ahuja considers his family a source of strength to him. Anupam, his wife has been like a rock, by his side, throughout his legal battle. "My mom is a sardarni, so my dad who is an ex-army officer keeps stating that I'm an 'Aadha Sardar'. I do have a fighter's spirit and I think I get that from both my parents," said Ahuja.
In picture: Shiney Ahuja exiting the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai on October 3, 2009. Ahuja, who was arrested on June 15, 2009, for allegedly raping his nineteen-year-old housemaid and held in prison for nearly four months, was granted bail on October 2, 2009.
Shiney Ahuja made a comeback of sorts in the film industry with Anees Bazmee's Welcome Back, which released in 2015. Last year there were reports that Shiney will be making his comeback in Bollywood with filmmaker Riingo Banerjee's debut Hindi film Black Gold.
In picture: A still from the movie Welcome Back (2015)
