The serene Thursday morning hustle at the Mumbai airport witnessed a moment of silver-screen nostalgia as actor Chandrachur Singh, accompanied by his son Shraanajai Singh, gracefully posed for photographs with the eagerly awaiting paparazzi.
Chandrachur, whose face had been a prevalent feature in late ’90s Bollywood cinema, found himself and his son, Shraanajai, in the limelight as they prepared to journey out of the metropolis. Dressed casually yet stylishly in shades of blue and gray, the father-son duo was the embodiment of poise and warmth. They acknowledged the photographers with a friendly demeanor before proceeding with their travel plans.
Their appearance was particularly noted as the ‘Aarya’ actor has been known to keep a low profile, making such candid interactions with the press a rare delight.
Chandrachur Singh stepped onto Bollywood’s grand stage in 1996 with the film ‘Tere Mere Sapne’, an initiation under the banner of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited. That very year, Singh’s noteworthy performance in ‘Maachis’ earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, setting a promising trajectory for his film career.
He pivoted to lead roles, although not all projects soared at the box office. Nevertheless, some flourished, such as ‘Daag: The Fire’ (1999) opposite Sanjay Dutt, the endearing ‘Kya Kehna’ (2000) with Preity Zinta, and ‘Josh’ (2000) featuring Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan. Yet prosperity in the industry is often fickle, and Singh’s zenith was muted as he encountered a distressing low phase—a consequence of severe shoulder dislocations sustained during an unfortunate water skiing incident in Goa. The injury inflicted more than just physical pain; it curtailed his ability to maintain fitness, resulting in weight gain and an ensuing decline in acting roles.
In an intimate revelation to Pinkvilla, Singh shared the impact of his injury on his professional life: “When I was working in films, it used to get stalled, even though I did physiotherapy and all that, if my shoulder would get dislocated during the shoot, it would stop the shoot for some days, so I could heal. I did physiotherapy and surgery but the problem recurred and it was one of the things which pulled you down, professionally definitely.”
Such challenges could not deter Singh permanently, however. He made a noteworthy comeback in 2012 with ‘Chaar Din Ki Chandni’, a film brandishing an impressive ensemble cast including Tusshar Kapoor, Kulraj Randhawa, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, and Farida Jalal. Though the critics’ reception was mixed, and the box office didn’t react favorably, Singh’s passion for the craft remained undeterred. This resilience saw him also taking on a role in Mira Nair’s internationally acclaimed film ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ in the same year.
Crowning his efforts to reclaim his standing in the industry, in 2020, Chandrachur Singh made a triumphant return with a starring role in the Disney+Hotstar series ‘Aarya’, masterfully directed by Ram Madhvani. The web series not only marked his powerful resurgence but also received acclaim from audiences and critics alike, once again consolidating Singh’s acting prowess in the Indian entertainment domain.
In his personal life, too, he shines—engaging with the press alongside his son, Shraanajai, in those brief moments at the airport, presenting an image of an endearing family unit, a reminder of his blend of familial devotion and commitment to his artistry.
As Chandrachur Singh and his son disappear beyond the airport gates, one is left to admire the tenacity with which this fine actor has navigated the undulating paths of stardom, managing to emerge once more into the spotlight, all while maintaining the essence of personal integrity and grace.
