“They say ‘life is a blessing’ but that’s only for those who are born ‘normal’. Anyone remotely different is automatically viewed with intense scrutiny and judged by society. And in my case, it goes without saying that my height was always used as a mocking tool, sometimes overlooking the very fact that I’m human too!

You see, I was the fourth of five boys born to a family of farmers. Now while three of my elder brothers appeared ‘normal’ in the conventional sense, Dwarfism, unfortunately, wrecked us others. Everyone right from teachers to even doctors started viewing me with contempt! My earliest memories as a child, in fact, was a practitioner’s rude explanation on why I was short. The answer never elaborated on the reason I was vertically challenged but only harsh words quoting god, fate and subsequently stating that my mother deserved it.

Even in school, I was demoted by four years and was asked to repeat from grade two just because my height didn’t fit the norm!
All this pushed me to shift multiple institutions and even ponder about quitting education at one point because people never accepted me for who I was. What stopped the move, however, was the disappointment on my parents’ face especially since they wanted me to be the first son in the family to have attained a degree.

So in an attempt to fulfil their dream, I enrolled in B.A Tamil literature and even enjoyed pursuing it for a while before destiny threw in another shocker. This time, it was in the form of my first-ever heartbreak! Again, what hurt the most wasn’t the fact that the girl I loved rejected me but the reasons she’d stated eventually. One of them was a rather casual remark that people like me weren’t cut out for life. Scarred deeply by those words, I decided then to face whatever hardship was in store but never stop until I make a name for myself!

And alongside that vigour, I was lucky enough to find a bunch of friends, who helped me bag my first couple of opportunities on screen. The ultimate aim is, of course, to venture into cinema, but that’s a long road ahead. Right now, I’m looking to hustle more and keep my family afloat, especially since my father slipped into an unexpected mental illness, a few years ago. My mother is struggling at the moment and all I want is to see her be comfortable. So until then, my hustle will continue regardless of the hurdles ahead!”