In this exclusive interview, Bhutanese actor Sangay Tsheltrim shares his remarkable journey from a distinguished career in the Royal Bhutan Army to the glitzy world of Bollywood, discussing his pivotal role in the highly anticipated film 'Jawan' alongside Shah Rukh Khan. Sangay recounts how he initially hesitated due to scheduling conflicts with a local project but ultimately embraced this career-defining opportunity. He offers insights into his experiences working with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, the nuances of on-screen action, and the immense popularity of Bollywood in Bhutan. Sangay Tsheltrim unveils the fascinating intersections of his life as a soldier, bodybuilder, and now, a rising star in the Indian film industry.
How were you selected for the role in Jawan?
I was contacted by one of the casting agents from Mukesh Chhabra's casting company. I was in Bhutan at that time. I was planning my upcoming movie 'Lingpoen'. It was in August 2021 when I got a call from Mukesh Chhabra's company. They asked me if I was available to shoot from September onwards, and it would take about 4-5 months. They did mention that it was a movie with Shah Rukh Khan. But I was scheduled to shoot for my other film from October onwards, so I told them that I won't be able to make it. Then, the next day, the Assistant Director from the film called and explained to me the role. He said it's a very important role and I should do it because it's a big opportunity. I gave it another thought and said yes. I had to reschedule my other film for next year and I took the flight to Pune for the shoot.
Did you meet Shah Rukh Khan or watched any of his films before doing Jawan?
I have never met Shah Rukh sir before the movie. My first time was on the set. It was my first schedule in September 2021.
Since you come from an Army background, you must have done real-life action. What do you have to say about Shah Rukh Khan's action scenes from Jawan?
The action in real life, like MMA, Boxing, Karate, kung fu, and action we do on the sets of movies are completely different. We need a lot of techniques to perform action sequences on screen and on the sets. Shah Rukh sir has got a lot of experience doing action scenes. He is more experienced than I am. I saw those action scenes that he has done, and for his age, he is very good with it. The action directors and choreographers were also very good. They're highly trained and high octane action choreographers. They all did a great job. I want to add that Shah Rukh sir is just a fabulous actor. The action scenes in the film are also fabulous.
How popular is Shah Rukh Khan in Bhutan, and do Hindi films release in your country?
Shah Rukh Khan sir and Salman Khan sir are very big in Bhutan, and people there do watch and love Bollywood movies. I grew up watching their movies. I watched Salman Khan's 'Maine Pyaar Kiya' and Shah Rukh Khan's 'Baazigar', 'Dar' and 'Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman'. I've watched all their hit films, and Bhutanese people love them, and we are looking forward to seeing them in our country. Now that I'm working with them, I've got a lot of pressure from the citizens of Bhutan. They often tell me to invite them to Bhutan, and I did invite them, but unfortunately, they're very busy. But I hope that they visit Bhutan soon.
How was it working with Shah Rukh Khan, and can you have any trivia from the set?
When I first met Shah Rukh sir, he was very kind, humble, and down to earth. The moment he saw me, he shook my hand, gave me a hug, and said, "Sangay, Welcome on board and thank you very much for accepting the role." That really touched my heart. On the sets, I noticed that sir will help you to bring the emotions and your character out. He is a good learner. I've seen Vijay Sethupathi suggesting some scenes to sir, and he took that. What I've noticed is that sir will teach you what he knows, and he learns what he does not know from others who know better than him. This is one good quality that I saw in sir. I'll always remember this and I will also be ready to learn from anybody. There is no age and there's no experience required to learn. No matter how experienced you are, how senior you are, you can still learn from other actors. So this is what I like about Shah Rukh sir.
Can you tell us more about your journey from being an Army Officer to an actor?
Switching from an Army Officer to an actor was a challenging but also an amazing experience. When I look back at my childhood days, I loved watching Bollywood movies. I was always interested in dancing and acting, but at the same time, my ambition was to become an army officer and serve my nation. So when I joined the army, I gave a hundred percent to my training, and after I passed, I got an appointment certificate and served in the Royal Bhutan Army as a bodyguard to protect my king and the members of the royal family, which is the highest honour job in Bhutan. Meanwhile, I was interested in bodybuilding; I'm a big fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger, so I wanted to compete and get a medal for my country. Because of this, I had to resign from the role of Royal bodyguard and pursue my career in bodybuilding. I got my first Asian gold medal in 2015 for my country; I'm the first one to get an Asian gold medal in the sporting history of Bhutan. I did five years of professional bodybuilding and competitive bodybuilding events. After I finished in 2017, my friends told me that I have got talent, I can dance. I looked intimidating and I had a good physique, so they recommended that I act. I produced my own movie in Bhutan in 2018. It became one of the biggest action blockbusters in the history of Bhutanese cinema. Then in 2019, I got the Best Debut Actor award. I met Salman sir in the same year, and he gave me an offer to work in Radhe. That's how I made it to Hindi cinema.
