Taha Shah Badussha

The Hot Hustler

After more than a decade of struggle, the stars have finally aligned for Taha Shah Badussha. Trumpeted as the ”national crush” of India, he's in a league of his own and has no plans of slowing down. On a gloomy Mumbai afternoon, the Heeramandi heartthrob discloses details about networking at Cannes Film Festival, his ideal partner, and more with Aza.

Photographs by Tejas Nerurkar; Styling by Anisha Gandhi & Rochelle D’sa Syiemiong; Makeup by Ram Pramod Sah; Hairstyling by Sahil More; Artist Reputation Management Sanchita Trivedi, Idhyah Media; Co-ordination by Nadia Malik; Creative Direction by Arthi Medithi; Words by Kajol Shah

Our phones are buzzing with red alert warnings of a heavy downpour. It's July 25, eerily close to the date of the infamous 2005 flood calamity (26/7). Taha's scheduled to fly in from New Delhi—after walking the ramp as the showstopper for designers Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla at Indian Couture Week 2024. There was a good chance that Murphy's Law would come into play and cause the shoot to be cancelled. Little did we know that the forecast indoors would match the weather outside yet work in our favour—with our cover star delivering a thirst trap of a shoot, water playing a supporting role.

Beyond Bollywood

Taha’s airport-friendly, off-duty athleisure look features a tee, joggers, and headphones wrapped around his neck—ear studs and a chain add his special touch. He greets the team in his distinctive polished accent, shaped by his upbringing in the UAE to South Indian parents. As a self-proclaimed cinephile, Taha admits that venturing out of Bollywood—especially South and Arabic cinema—is not ruled out. “Bollywood has always been the dream, it's a part of my genes. But I live for cinema, and I mean all types of it. Arabic TV was a huge part of my childhood as I consumed a lot of Arabic content growing up; if a good opportunity comes my way, I would 100% take it up. Same goes for South movies. Tollywood is truly redefining cinema today.“

I had a fun encounter with Richard Gere (at Cannes Film Festival). I bumped into him at the screening of Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. I just walked up to him and started talking about his films.

Red Dupion Embroidered Bugle Beads Sherwani And Printed Kurta Set

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Designer, Varun Bahl Couture; Necklace & ring, Tribe Amrapali; Footwear, Regal Shoes

Maybe international films are on the horizon as well? Earlier this year, Taha attended the 77th Cannes Film Festival, still riding high on the success of his portrayal of Tajdar Baloch in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, Heeramandi. But the experience wasn’t all smooth sailing. He faced considerable public vitriol, with some claiming he didn’t seem to fit in. Taha responded to the criticism by explaining that he was indeed there to network with the great and good of the global film industry. The hustle must go on! Talking about a notable interaction at the grand event, he says, “I had a fun encounter with Richard Gere. I bumped into him at the screening of Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. I just walked up to him and started talking about his films. I think I caught him off guard at first, but he quickly warmed up to me. We ended up having a great chat and even watched the movie together.“

The Breakthrough

Taha is seated in a chair, ready to be groomed—his Tajdar-core handlebar moustache is trimmed, and his hair is gently massaged, swept back and tamed with a headband. The “cool boy“ vibe reminds me of his debut role in Luv Ka the End (minus the insolence, of course). He always had the making of a heartthrob, yet his breakthrough didn't happen until fifteen years later. What kept him going? “I found resilience in wanting to make my mom proud. She’s invested so much—time, money, emotions, and faith—and I never want to let her down. That’s what drives me. Her happiness, her pride, and seeing her smile is the greatest reward. She’s played a crucial role in my growth, and everything I do is for her.“

“Here's a quote that has stayed with me from the movie Rocky: “It’s not about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.“ It's my reminder to take responsibility, work hard, and leave the rest to God.“

Cream Embroidered Floral Pattern 3d Jacket And Kurta Set

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Designer, Payal Singhal; Necklace, Razwada Jewels; Footwear, Jeetinder Sandhu

One unforgettable experience was walking by the sea in the French Riviera, when a group of almost twenty girls went crazy, shouting “Tajdar“ and running after me. Soon, I was on video calls with their families!

The dreamboat has come out of the changing room in our cover look, a striking scarlet red embroidered sherwani set by ace designer Varun Bahl. Only a few minutes prior, a group of girls had assembled in the periphery of the studio after being alerted that Taha was in the territory. He's obviously no stranger to the effect he has on women, but the impact Tajdar has had on the ladies? He describes it as “surreal“. “Whether in Cannes, London, or Dubai, the love I’ve received for playing Tajdar has been overwhelming. I’ve had women cry when they saw me, and it made me realize the impact of the character Mr. Bhansali created. One unforgettable experience was walking by the sea in the French Riviera, when a group of almost twenty girls went crazy, shouting “Tajdar“ and running after me. Soon, I was on video calls with their families!“

Peach Chikankari Embroidered Floral Vine Achkan Set

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Designer, Soniya G X AZA; Brooch Pin, CAL; Footwear, Kavith Sainaani

Every day, I work on strengthening my body by improving my skills in dance, gymnastics, Taekwondo, and boxing. Mentally, I read, journal, plan my goals, and reflect on my actions to stay calm and composed. Spiritually, I meditate to connect with a higher power and give back through NGO work.

Work, Work, Work

The photographer and his muse have turned the studio into a personal playground—with Taha stirring up eddies in the indoor puddle, going above and beyond to bring the creative vision for the shoot to life. He has just recovered wits and breath after all the aqua acrobatics and is currently having a hot cuppa coffee out of his flask. A rare moment of the powerhouse pausing. ”Work is my play. The real work is when I have to work on myself.” says the hot hustler. So, what does ”work on myself” mean to Taha? The answer is multifaceted. ”Working on myself involves multiple aspects—physical, mental, and spiritual growth. Every day, I work on strengthening my body by improving my skills in dance, gymnastics, Taekwondo, and boxing. Mentally, I read, journal, plan my goals, and reflect on my actions to stay calm and composed. Spiritually, I meditate to connect with a higher power and give back through NGO work.”

Black Jacket Velvet Embroidered Cutdana Work And Pant Set

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Designer, Sawan Gandhi; Rings, Ishhaara; Necklace, Esme Crystals

Beggin' by Måneskin is playing presently, but our cover star is begging for some Hindi tunes. ”Bhai Hindi gaana lagaao”, he says with refreshing candour. The next song in queue is Main Hoon Don and with the hunky Sawan Gandhi black suit set Taha has on, his SRK-esque 'man in power' aura is palpable. The list of people he'd like to work with next comprises of some powerful industry bigwigs too, including SRK, who's been his ”idol”. ”Among actresses, I'd love to do a movie with Shraddha Kapoor again, as well as Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon. Anurag Basu, Raju Hirani, Aditya Chopra, Vikramaditya Motwane, R. Balki, Sandeep Vanga Reddy, and Prashant Neel are just a few at the top of my 'directors I'd like to work with' list.”

His list of aspiring roles? Diverse and very specific. God forbid the ambitious man is put in a box. ”A soldier, a spy, a blind character—give me something different, give me something exciting.”

Taha's Type

”Adab, this is Taha Shah Badussha ...” the charmer begins his introduction as we kick off a fun IGTV segment where he reveals facts and fiction about himself. As intriguing details emerge, I save one last burning question, one that's on everyone's mind—for our one-on-one interview: What does Taha look for in a partner? A detailed answer is essential.

Purple Sequin Fabric Jamuni Qasiba Sitara Bundi And Kurta Set

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Designer, Torani; Rings, Razwada Jewels; Footwear, Nauvab

He gives a half-smile and tells me, ”Initially, I wasn’t sure what I was looking for in a partner, but now I think it’s someone who supports and motivates you, calls you out when needed, and believes in your dreams. I would want to be with someone who loves not just me but my family too, who values independence, works hard, and can accept their flaws. Of course, being attractive is a plus, but true beauty comes from their soul and kindness.”

I would want to be with someone who loves not just me but my family too, who values independence, works hard, and can accept their flaws.

”You guys are truly at the top of your game. I hope we can collaborate again,” Taha tells team Aza with admiration as we wrap up. After six exhilarating hours, the shoot comes to an end. But the reign of Taha Shah Badussha has just begun.

Also Read:When newly married Ali Fazal shared with Aza the most elaborate date he had planned for wife Richa Chadha, before she had said “Yes” to him.

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Taha Shah Badussha

Beyond Bollywood

The Breakthrough

Work, Work, Work

Taha's Type

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