Salim Diwan, born in a Doctor’s family in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, has come a long way and the path has not been a cake walk. After finishing his studies he landed up in Mumbai to spearhead his family’s Pharma business but the actor in him was searching for an avenue to open up.
Already a veteran at plays during his college days he was keen to work in Bollywood and was selected for a film. Director K D Satyam, after 2 screen tests and a strict regime, wherein Salim Diwan had to lose weight, agreed to cast him in the role of Rohit in Bollywood Diaries. Salim plays Rohit, a call centre executive, and is a key protagonists in the film reflecting the madness of Bollywood that all aspiring actors landing up in Mumbai have. He goes through an identity crisis living a normal life with a normal job but at the same time carrying on the suppressed passion of making it big in Bollywood. His co – stars Ashish Vidyarthi, as a retired man & Raima Sen, a prostitute too portray the same ambitions.
Salim has undergone professional training under veteran Kishor Namit Kapoor and later on with Atul Mathur. His passion for acting & learning was such that even when his shots were not being filmed he would visit the sets to watch other co – actors. Salim Diwan averred, “As an actor you should be able to effectively portray the role you are playing. I learnt a lot from Ashish Vidyarthiji during the shooting of this film”, said Salim Diwan.
Back in 2005 – 2006 he had participated in Star TV’s reality programme Get Set Go and won an IIFA award for the same. There he happened to meet stalwarts like Karan Johar, J P Dutta and the urge to become an actor and making it to Bollywood only got stronger.
The actor, who has also been part of an episode on television further averred, “The role I am looking for should be convincing & relate to the audience”. His film Bollywood Dairies has recently been awarded the Special Jury Mention Award
(Critics Choice) by The Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Award for the year 2016. The award was recently presented to him at Delhi at the hands of the President of India.
