At 17 I had just come out of school and faced the first setback of my life. I could not clear the medical entrance and ended up with the possibility of studying in some nondescript dental college. That was when I took the decision to take up arts. I was in Chandigarh and studied English honours. I also began participating in theatre seriously. I was always a Bollywood buff and remember that a year before my 17th birthday Hrithik Roshan had made his debut with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai in 2000. My 17th year was unique in that it was the moment of great transition in my life, when I decided to be an actor. Before that, like others, I was part of the education ratrace.