Shatrughan Sinha Age, Affairs, Wife, Caste, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Shatrughan Sinha

• Does Shatrughan Sinha smoke: Yes

• Does Shatrughan Sinha drink alcohol: Not Known

• Born and brought up in Patna, Bihar, Shatrughan Sinha was one of the first Bollywood actors from the region.

• In his childhood, Sinha could mimic the voices of as many as 40 celebrities. In addition, he idolized actor Raj Kapoor and dreamt of becoming like him.

• His father, however, wanted two of his sons to become doctors and the other two, scientists. Though his brothers submitted into his father’s aspirations, ‘shotgun’ was not one of those who gave up easily. Defying all odds, Sinha got an admission into the Film and Technology Institute of India (FTII), Pune.

• One fine day, Sinha’s idol, Raj Kapoor, happened to visit the FTII. Luckily, Sinha and some of his friends got an invitation from the actor to visit his studio named R.K. Studios. At the venue, Raj Kapoor offered them cigarettes; however, Sinha’s friends declined the offer as it would seem ‘unethical’ to accept cigarettes from such a senior artist. But, Sinha looked at the scenario from a different angle and could not turn down the offering of his idol. After lighting up, Sinha didn’t know where to throw the cigarette’s ash as the ashtrays lying on the table looked like fruit bowls to him. Confused, he collected the ash in his pocket and came back with a “hole in his pocket.”

•  Dev Anand starrer Prem Pujari, wherein Sinha played a Pakistani military officer, was supposed to be his debut movie. However, the film got stuck in post-production delays and thus Sinha made his debut with the 1969 movie ‘Sajan’.

• Sinha first met his future wife, Poonam, on a train. In an interview, Sinha said that when he boarded the train, he saw Poonam crying. Thus, he scribbled a message on a magazine and passed it on, which angered her further. His message had read, “Itni sundar ladki ko rona shobha nahi deta.”

• Slowly the two became friends and decided to get married. However, Poonam’s family stood as an obstacle in their path to happiness. Her mother dismissed their marriage stating that her fair daughter will not look good with a “Kaalia” (a dark person) like him.

• His 1976 movie ‘Kaalicharan’ became a rage at the time of its release. Impressed by such a response, Shatrughan Sinha announced a month’s salary as a bonus to the unit members of ‘Kalicharan’, within 24 hours of its release.

• Aside from being an actor, Sinha became an active politician in the ’90s.

• It is believed that ‘Shotgun’ Sinha and late actor Rajesh Khanna were very close friends. However, after tasting a big defeat by the hands of Rajesh Khanna in the 1992 by-elections, the two became bitter enemies and even refrained from talking to each other.

• He is also referred to as the ‘Big B’ of Bhojpuri TV industry as he hosts the Bhojpuri version of the popular game show- Kaun Banega Crorepati. Additionally, the actor-turned-politician was seen as a judge on the now-defunct Star One’s popular Comedy Show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 4.

• Interestingly, Shatrughan Sinha was the first choice for the role of ‘Jai’ played by Amitabh Bachchan in the 1975 cult classic- Sholay.

• Sinha and his wife Poonam also own a production house by the name of ‘Shotgun Movies’.

• After having a complicated relationship with BJP for a long time, he finally joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in March 2019.
  

  Shatrughan Sinha With Rahul Gandhi

• In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, he lost to BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad by 2,78,198 ballots from the Patna Sahib Constituency in Bihar.