Deepak Tijori

Mumbai’s Narsee Monjee College he soon became famous for his dramatics. He won many awards during Inter-College Drama competitions. Excited by the response, Deepak joined Amateur Theater group which was thronged by many celebrities from Bollywood like Amir Khan, Paresh Rawal, Ashutosh Gowarikar, and Vipul Shah Etc. They all appreciated Deepak for his excellent skill in acting and recommended him to join Bollywood. When Deepak Tijori tried his luck in Bollywood he faced much rejection. He had to sit hours outside film producer’s office and return home with empty hand without job. Hence in a bid to survive, Deepak did many jobs but he cunning joined those offices where he could meet film stars and film producers. He first worked as pace selling executive at Cine Blitz Film Magazine and later worked as hotel manager at Mumbai’s posh Sea Rock hotel.

Frustrated Deepak Tijori took-up extra’s job to be part of Bollywood With no ‘Godfather’ in film industry, Deepak had to face many humiliations and rejections hence frustrated he started doing even extra’s role to be just a part of Bollywood. He did many insignificant roles like the henchmen in Sanjay Dutt and Sunny Deol starrer Krodh, Tera Naam Mera Naam, Parbat Ke Us Paar Main Tera Dushman etc. The few roles that he got were of hero’s friend or college student in films like Afsana Pyaar Ka, Kaun Kare Kurbani etc. After 2 years of struggle, when nothing seemed going in right direction, Deepak decided to quit Bollywood and take-up a job. Deepak Tijori’s career got an impetus after Aashiqui Deepak Tijori’s performance in Aashiqui helped him survey in Bollywood. Mahesh Bhatt repeated him in his 2 next films Aamir Khan’s Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Sanjay Dutt’s Sadak. Both the films were super hit and this opened doors of big production for Deepak Tijori. He did Abbas-Mustan's suspense thriller Khiladi alongside Akshay Kumar; Indra Kumar’s Beta with Anil Kapoor; Yash Chopra’s Aaina opposite Jackie Shroff ; Kundan Shah’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa opposite ShahRukh Khan etc. Deepak became such a sensation that when Aamir Khan’s cousin Mansoor Khan started Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, he signed Deepak Tijori in the pivotal role of Shekhar Malhotra, who is not only rich, handsome but a cycle champion in his school. Few are aware that Mansoor Khan wanted to cast Akshay Kumar as Shekhar Malhotra but when he declined the role, he approached Milind Soman. However Amir Khan suggested casting Deepak Tijori as he had been his class mate during the Amateur Theater group and Amir was quite impressed by his acting. The success of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar elevated Deepak Tijori’s position for character actor to hero! Deepak Tijori failed miserably as hero Deepak Tijori got his big ticket as hero in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s directed film Pehla Nasha (1993), a romantic murder mystery with hot sex bomb Pooja Bhatt and Raveena Tandon as his heroine. Deepak had high hopes from the film but the film was a big disaster. After this no film producer dared to cast Deepak as hero! His inning as hero was short lived and miserable. In order to survive Deepak switched to strong character roles like the wayward son of Jeetendra in D Rama Naidu-directed Santaan; as CBI Officer in Baadshah, as police officer in Ram Gopal Varma's action film Department and Mahesh Manjerekar’s Vaastav and Vikram Bhatt’s Ghulam. Deepak Tijori stint on TV Deepak Tijori made an appearance in the first season of Bigg Boss, as a substitute for Salil Ankola. Later he launched his Tijori's production house and started producing television serials. His popular TV serial include Rishtey, Saturday Suspense, Khauff, Dial 100 and X-Zone. Tijori also won Indian Television Academy Awards for his mini TV serial Fareb (2001) Deepak Tijori makes his directorial debut After winning fame on TV as a good director, Deepak Tijori made his foray in Bollywood as a director in 2003, with an adult film about male strippers Oops! The subject was too controversial hence failed to click. Deepak Tijori tried to repeat his TV magic by making suspense thriller Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat. He signed top actress like Shilpa Shetty and Juhi Chawla. To add masala he also included sex bomb Rakhi Sawant in the film but the film failed miserably. Poor, Deepak even attempted a comedy film Tom, Dick, and Harry but it too bit dust! His last film Do Lafzon Ki Kahani too failed.