Mumbai’s glitzy film world often hides personal struggles, but Siddhant Chaturvedi just laid bare his own. The rising star, set to charm audiences alongside Mrunal Thakur in the upcoming romantic drama ‘Do Diwane Shehar Mein,’ opened up about his roots in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district and the language hurdles that shaped his early days in the city.
Growing up in a home where Bhojpuri was the everyday tongue, Siddhant revealed how his mother’s affectionate reference to Lord Shiva as ‘Shankar Bhagwan’ influenced his speech and worldview. These cultural nuances followed him to Mumbai, where for the first five to six years, his Hindi remained broken and hesitant. ‘I mostly spoke in Bhojpuri with people,’ he shared at the film’s launch event, evoking nostalgia as he connected deeply with his character upon reading the script.
The actor didn’t shy away from the emotional toll. Arriving in a bustling metropolis like Mumbai with imperfect Hindi can shatter confidence, he explained. Subtle pronunciation differences—like distinguishing ‘s’ from ‘sh’—and struggles with English added layers of embarrassment, especially for those from regional backgrounds across UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Northeast India, and even Nepal.
‘These small language barriers slowly erode your self-assurance,’ Siddhant candidly admitted. His story resonates widely, highlighting a shared challenge for migrants chasing dreams in urban India. Directed by Ravi Udyawar, ‘Do Diwane Shehar Mein’ trailer dropped on Wednesday, winning instant fan love. With a stellar cast including Ila Arun, Joy Sengupta, Ayesha Raza, and Sandipta Dhar, the film hits theaters on February 20. Will it capture hearts and box office glory? Time will tell.