Taha Shah Badussha, aka Nawab Tajdar Baloch from “Heeramandi,” is officially the internet’s newest heartthrob! His fanbase is blowing up, so let’s spill the tea on everything you need to know about him!
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first ever web series with Netflix, Heeramandi, a project 18 years in the making is all what the entertainment world can talk about right now. The OTT series is Bhansali’s imagined version of Lahore during the pre-independence era when the Mughals still held sway over the subcontinent, albeit with their power waning as the British set to colonize India. Bhansali undertook the task of portraying the tawaifs’ formidable influence and significance in society, culture, and the lives of courtesans during the Nawab rule – showcasing how they were symbols of status, adaab (etiquette), culture, tehzeeb (refinement), and entertainment. His grandest project to date stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Sehgal, Shekhar Suman, Fardeen Khan, and a few others.
Nawab Tajdar Baloch, with his poetic, lovesick demeanor and covert role as a freedom fighter, has managed to make audiences swoon to no end. Following its long-awaited premiere on May 1st, “Heeramandi” promptly propelled Nawab Tajdar Baloch, portrayed by Taha Shah, into the spotlight as the internet’s latest heartthrob. Taha Shah Badussha’s portrayal of ‘Nawab Tajdar Baloch’ has garnered widespread acclaim, igniting attention akin to wildfire. His depiction of an Oxford-educated lawyer and the rebellious son of a Nawab, who challenges both his father and the British upon his return from London, has viewers engulfed. Moreover, his portrayal of Alamzeb’s lover has become synonymous with old-school, dreamy, poetic love.
Well, the guy can act, speak like a pro, and has a body that’s straight out of Greek mythology, so it’s no wonder he’s causing a stir. The internet is buzzing with love and praise for him, with many dubbing him the latest worldwide internet crush. He’s got everyone completely smitten as his character in Heeramandi takes the online world by storm.
Here is more about him and his life:
1. Early Education: From Dubai To India & Back To Dubai
Taha Shah was born in Abu Dhabi and attended Sherwood Academy there until the 4th grade. Following that, he went to a renowned boarding school in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. However, feeling homesick, his parents brought him back to Sharjah, where he completed his education. After finishing school, Taha initially pursued Business Administration at the American University of Sharjah but later dropped out after a semester due to lack of interest in the program.
2. He Truly Belongs To A Family Of High Achievers
Taha Shah’s father, Shah Sikkander Badusha, is an orthopedic doctor, while his mother, Mahnaz Sikkander Badusha, initially worked as a biochemist before venturing into entrepreneurship. Taha has an elder brother who is a prominent civil engineer, having received his education from the University of Toronto.
3. All The Careers He Has Dabbled In
He ran a steel company in the U.A.E, trying his hand in various businesses like HRM, and also dabbling in real estate in Ajman and Dubai. Taha also experimented with modeling, appearing in ads for brands like Honda, Bacardi, Emirates Bank, and others, before finally taking the plunge into his real passion: acting. He joined an acting school in Mumbai and after sharpening his skills there, he decided to level up and enrolled in the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi.
4. His Bollywood & Hollywood Debut!
Taha kicked off his acting journey with an anti-hero character in Yash Raj’s Y-Films’ “Luv Ka The End” in 2011 opposite Shraddha Kapoor. Subsequently, he appeared in “Gippi” in 2013, earning praise from numerous A-list filmmakers. He embraced diverse roles across various genres which became his acting trademark. Taha went on to feature in movies such as “Barkhaa,” “Baar Baar Dekho,” and “Ranchi Diaries.”
In 2020, Taha Shah marked his Hollywood debut with “Draupadi Unleashed.” Besides the big screen, Taha showcased his acting prowess in web series like “Bullets,” “Bekaboo 2, and now finally creating a storm with Heeramandi.
5. He Can Also Sing & Dance Like A Pro?
Apart from being a versatile actor, Taha has one more hidden talent, and that is singing. In 2022, he made his singing debut when he released his single ‘Vande Mataram’.
6. His Role In Heeramandi Was Originally One Of Only 3 Days
During the launch of the ‘Heeramandi’ trailer, Taha revealed that initially, he was cast for a 3-day role. While he had hoped for a larger part, possibly even as the main lead, he expressed gratitude for being selected for a Sanjay Leela Bhansali project. Much to his surprise, Bhansali personally reached out to him and offered the role of Balraj, which was later expanded to Tajdar, and eventually, unexpectedly, he found himself in the lead role. He also expressed that working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali was a dream come true for him.
7. Fitness Is His Therapy!
In a previous interview with Gulf News, the actor shared, “I train five hours a day. I am in pain most of the day. I am either training physically or going for classes in acting, singing, dancing.” In a very recent interview for Heeramandi promotions, he also stated he has been training for over 4 hours everyday while struggling to finally make it in Bollywood to stay productive and focus on physical pain rather than emotional pain.
Have you seen his previous projects or are you just discovering about him?
