Actor Ashutosh Rana has often spoken about the people who shaped his outlook on life, including the valuable lessons he received from his spiritual guru and veteran actor Dilip Kumar.
An old clip from the chat show ‘Movers & Shakers’ has recently resurfaced online, in which Ashutosh recalled the advice his guru gave him when he was leaving his hometown to pursue his dreams.
The actor said he came from a small city but had big ambitions and wanted to experience greater things in life. Before he left home, his guru told him to remember that no work should be considered small or big.
“I have a Guru in my life. I had big dreams, I was from a small city. I had big dreams, I used to see big things,” Ashutosh said, recalling his guru’s words. He added that his guru told him, “work is work, work is not small or big. Opportunities are always small, but the results are great”.
Known for his powerful performances, Ashutosh has frequently shared life lessons and wisdom that he has received from people he admires.
In an earlier appearance on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’ with his wife, actor Renuka Shahane, Ashutosh also recalled an important piece of advice from the legendary Dilip Kumar about patience and building a lasting career in the film industry.
Ashutosh said Dilip Kumar had compared actors to toy sellers, explaining that every actor has a limited number of “toys” in their basket and must decide whether to sell them over five years or 50 years.
Recalling their meeting, Ashutosh said Dilip Kumar had praised his work, telling him, “Mr. Barkhurdaar, I am very impressed with your work.” The actor said he was amazed that a legend of Dilip Kumar’s stature knew about him.
Ashutosh further recalled Dilip Kumar advising him to pursue his career with patience and persistence. Using the analogy of a shopkeeper, the veteran actor stressed that the real measure of a career was not merely how quickly one used up opportunities, but how long the “shop” remained open.