From hotel boy to Bollywood actor, know incredible story of Odisha’s Chandu Nayak

Overcoming all the obstacles in life is necessary to achieve success and the journey of a poor hotel boy from Ganjam to be an actor in Bollywood is really an inspiring one for many youngsters who are only cribbing and complaining about many huddles in their career.

Chandu Nayak, who hails from Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district, beat all odds to fulfill his ambition as an actor.

The 21-year-old had the ambition to be an actor and model from his very childhood. However, his neighbours and relatives used to ridicule him for daydreaming due to his poor economic condition. But, he was determined to pursue his passion.

When Chandu was only 12 years old, he had stolen Rs 400 from his house and landed in Bhubaneswar with all kinds of difficulty to try his luck in an acting audition. Though he performed well, he was not selected as the organisers wanted money from him. He cried before the organisers by telling them about his poor economic condition. He pleaded before them to give him an opportunity, but it fell on deaf ears.

Devastated by this bitter experience, Chandu decided to try his luck in some other State and went to Kerala. As he had only read up to Class 8, he had to work hard as a hotel boy there to earn his living. However, the passion to be an actor was still burning in his heart. During his leisure time, he was building his body by going to a gymnasium there and preparing himself as an actor.

They say-if there is a will there is a way. Once, he found an advertisement about an upcoming audition in Mumbai and contacted the organisers who were impressed by his fitness photographs. Subsequently, he got a call from the organisers and the rest is what they call ‘history’.

Chandu took part in the acting and modeling audition in Mumbai and clinched a gold medal. Following his initial success, he never looked back. He got a break as an actor in Hindi serial Radha Krishna. He impressed many directors by playing the role of Krishana in the serial and got opportunities in a couple of Gujarati and Hindi movies. Gradually, he managed to carve a niche for himself in the industry. Recently, he has been selected to act in Hindi movie ‘Bangladesh Colony’.

Going down the memory lane, Chandu gets emotional.

“I tried my best to get an acting opportunity in Ollywood industry, but in vain. Once, I was even arrested in Odisha while trying my luck in acting. I was really shattered to be discarded by Ollywood industry. However, with God’s blessing I got an opportunity in Bollywood,” said an elated Chandu.