“Aaj Ek Hasi Aur Baant Lo, Aaj Ek Dua Aur Maang Lo, Aaj Ek Ansoon Aur Pee Lo, Aaj Ek Zindagi Aur Jee Lo, Aaj Ek Sapna Aur Dekh Lo, Aaj… Kya Pata, Kal Ho Naa Ho…” – Since 2003, this has been our life’s motto and not only the dialogue of the film but everything about Kal Ho Na Ho is etched in our hearts for forever. Irrespective how many times we have seen the film, even today, it is impossible to watch it without shedding bucket of tears. Shah Rukh Khan as Aman, Preity Zinta as Naina and Saif Ali Khan as Rohit made permanent places in our hearts but so did the supporting characters including Jaya Bachchan, Dara Singh, Sonali Bendre and the youngest one, Jhanak Shukla a.k.a. Gia Kapur. (Also Read: Shamita Shetty Expresses Joy On Spending Time With Her Nephew, Viaan Kundra And Niece Samisha Shetty)
Do you remember Preity Zinta’s little sister, Gia Kapur in the film? You also know her as Karishma from Karishma Kaa Karishma. Yes, we are talking about Jhanak Shukla, daughter of the documentary filmmaker, Haril Shukla and actress, Supriya Raina Shukla. For the uninitiated, Supriya is known for her television shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, Naagin 4, Kumkum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya. She was also a part of popular Bollywood films including Parineeta, 3 Idiots, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and Shubh Mangal Savdhan. It was at the mere age of 7 when Jhanak was offered the role of Karishma and that was the beginning of her successful journey in acting. But soon she opted out of her acting career to pursue archaeology. In an interview with Hum Insaan, Hindi page of Humans of Bombay, Jhanak had spoken about her journey from acting to being an archaeologist.
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Jhanak Shukla’s superstar mother, Supriya Raina Shukla reposted it on her IG handle with a note that can be read as “Proud of u my girl…meri pyaari sachhi bachhi...” Speaking about how she had seen her parents going on shoots and when was she offered her first role, Jhanak had said, “TV se mera naata poorana raha hai. Mere mummy papa industry me kaafi samay se kaam kar rahe hai. Isliye TV ki duniya me kadam rakhna mere liye zyada mushkil nahi tha. Jab main choti thi toh aksar apne mummy ke saath shoot par jaati thi. Wahin se mere acting career ki shuruaat hui thi. Mujhe sabse pehle ek bank ke ad ke liye select kiya gaya tha. Emotional main bachpan se hi thi aur us ad me mere kirdaar ki requirement bhi emotional hi thi. Isliye vo chiz kaam kar gayi aur vo ad ‘best advertisement of the year’ ka khitaab jeet gayi. Uske baad mujhe mera superhit show, ‘Karishma ka Karishma’ mila.” (Also Read: Karanvir Bohra And Teejay Sidhu's Twins, Bella And Vienna Cannot Stop Adoring Newborn Sister [VIDEO])
Revealing why she left the acting industry to pursue archaeology, Jhanak Shukla had continued, “Mujhe yaad hai main kareeb saat saal ki thi jab papa mujhe set pe le ke jaate the aur sab kuch voi manage karte the. Acting mere liye itna mushkil kaam nahi tha. Mujhe bahut aasaan lagta tha, set par kaafi masti hoti thi. Mujhe school ka bhi itna pressure nahi tha. Mere teachers kaafi cooperate karte the. Padhai meri humesha jaari rahi. Ek show hit hone ke baad mujhe aur kaam milne laga tha. ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ jaisi bade parde ki filmo se le kar Hollywood ki film, ‘One Night with King’ jaisi film mein bhi kaam karne ka mauka mila. Lekin fir bhi padhai meri pehli prathmikta rahi. Maine TV se break le kar apni padhai par dhyaan dena shuru kiya. Mere parents ka ek vichar tha ki pehle graduation poori karo, uske baad jo tumhe karna hai vo karo, isliye TV se naata khatam kar maine padhai par focus kiya. Kyunki itihaas me meri dilchaspi adhik thi isliye maine apni masters bhi archaeology mein ki. Maine kabhi kaam ka tanaav mehsoos nahi kiya.”
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Speaking about her plans to settle down in the mountains once her business idea is a success, Jhanak Shukla had concluded, “Bachpan mein main zaroor bolti thi ki bade ho kar ek abhinetri banungi. Lekin ab samajh aaya ki acting kitna mushkil career option hai. Main apni mummy ko din raat shoot karte hue dekhti hoon. Toh usi se samajh jaati hoon ki yeh kitna kathin hai. Kuch log mujhse poochte hai ki acting career mein wapas aane ka kab mann kar rahe ho. Lekin sach bataun toh acting ko main ek lambe career ke taur par nahi dekh sakti kyunki ek na ek din, koi aur aapki jagah zaroor lega. Business me post graduate diploma chal raha hai. Abhi ke liye mera focus business par hai, in dinon ek saabun banana ka kaam shuru kiya hai. Agar vo kaam kar gaya toh main pahado mein ja kar apni baaki zindagi bitaana chahungi. Mujhe lagta hai yehi samay hai khud ke liye kyunki kya pata, kal ho na ho…” (Also Read: Sushmita Sen's Beau, Rohman Shawl Captures The Beautiful Moments Of Dancing With Her Daughters)
We wish Jhanak all the best for her future endeavours!
