Story of Abbas: From starring opposite Aishwarya Rai to working at a petrol bunk in New Zealand

The 1996 release Kadhal Desam was a sensation among the youth of that era. As the film approaches its 30th anniversary, one name that is still being discussed is that of Abbas, who played a pivotal role alongside Vineeth in this iconic movie. Though Kadhal Desam became a massive success, Abbas, who had a promising start, faced a series of unfortunate events in his career and ultimately faded from the limelight.

Born Mirza Abbas Ali in West Bengal, Abbas ventured into modelling during his college years in 1994. His big break came in 1996 with Kadhal Desam, which became a huge hit. Following that, he acted in several successful Telugu films such as Priya O Priya and Raja Hamsa, and Tamil films like Padayappa and Swayamvaram. Abbas also appeared in Malayalam films including Dreams and Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu. He had a brief role in the Bollywood film Hey Ram alongside Shah Rukh Khan, his role in Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), opposite Aishwarya Rai also garnered significant attention. The next year, he played a second lead role in Minnale. By the early 2000s, Abbas was considered one of the top young actors in Tamil cinema.

However, his career began to take a downturn after the early 2000s. In 2002, he starred in the Hindi film Ansh: The Deadly Part, but it failed at the box office, and Abbas struggled to regain his footing in Bollywood. By 2006, his career faced a series of setbacks, and his attempt to focus on Hindi films led him to step away from Tamil cinema. Ansh did not perform well at the box office, and the shoots of several other films he had signed were delayed or cancelled (including Aur Phir with Bipasha Basu). Eventually, Abbas found himself relegated to supporting roles, with many of his projects never seeing the light of day.

As his film career faltered, Abbas transitioned to television, appearing in various shows. In an interview, he revealed that he had grown disillusioned with acting, eventually leaving the industry altogether. In 2015, he moved to New Zealand, where he worked in various jobs to sustain himself. In an unfortunate twist, he lost all his savings and had to take up small jobs. Abbas worked on construction sites, then as a mechanic, and later as a cashier at a petrol station. Eventually, he became a motivational speaker.

By 2023, Abbas returned to India, expressing his desire to act again. However, despite his interest in re-entering the film industry, he has not yet signed any new projects. Abbas’ journey from a successful actor to facing personal and financial challenges serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of showbiz, and his story is one of resilience and reinvention.