Recently, veteran actor Pankaj Kapur relived old memories of his time spent at the National School of Drama (NSD), where he studied acting, and narrated a sweet story from his times there. On a YouTube podcast show, the renowned actor narrated his experiences in theater rehearsals and backstage scenes and how he happened to have met a budding superstar, who was at that time just a ten-year-old kid working in his father's canteen. This story was narrated when he was talking about getting together with his NSD batch mates after fifty years since his graduation.

NSD Reunion Brings Back Decades-Old Memories

The get-together presented Pankaj Kapur and his old schoolmates a chance to recall some memories of their college times at NSD. It is believed that this get-together led to a discussion of a number of productions that were staged under the direction of famous Indian theatre director Ebrahim Alkazi, whose impact on Indian theatre has been immense till date.

One such story was that of the play "Razia Sultan," where students of the first year had been allotted small but significant roles.

The Backstage Food Arrangement During Razia Sultan

While recalling the production, Pankaj Kapur described a humorous arrangement created by the students. In one scene, actors portraying soldiers would throw naans into a crowd of hungry citizens. The students soon devised a plan to make the most of the prop food.

According to Kapur, members of the crowd would catch the naans during the performance. Later, during the interval, they would combine them with tea and samosas for a makeshift backstage meal. The arrangement became a favorite ritual among the young theatre students.

How A Young Shah Rukh Khan Became Part Of The Story

The most surprising detail of the anecdote involved Shah Rukh Khan. According to Pankaj Kapur, the samosas enjoyed by the students were supplied by none other than a young Shah Rukh, who was around 10 years old at the time.

Kapur recalled that Shah Rukh's father operated the canteen associated with the venue, and the future Bollywood superstar would often be around the premises. While nobody could have predicted his future success, the memory has become even more special because of who that young boy eventually became.

A Heartwarming Glimpse Into Bollywood History

It is an interesting insight into a part of history which is associated with one of the biggest Bollywood movie stars. Well before becoming a household name across the world, Shah Rukh Khan was just a boy who worked in the canteen run by his father while the students of theatre department got ready for their performance.

This little story for the fans of Shah Rukh Khan is also a good illustration of how sometimes the most spectacular stories of success have very unexceptional beginnings.