MUMBAI

He was one of the top heroes of late '80s and early '90s, but a sudden dip in his Bollywood career hit Chunky Pandey hard. The actor says he didn't hesitate to start anew as a struggler in movies and the results have been positive.

After cementing his position in Bollywood with films like ‘Tezaab’, ‘Aag Hi Aag’ and ‘Aankhen’, Chunky stopped getting work and then moved to star in Bangladeshi film for a few years, only to return with memorable roles in the ‘Housefull’ series and ‘Begum Jaan’.

"In 1993 after giving a blockbuster 'Aankhen', I had no work. I was sitting at home for a year. I only had one film titled 'Teesra Kaun?' That's when I got the opportunity to work in Bangladesh and my first film was a super hit. I worked there for three-four years. After marriage, my wife told me, 'Bollywood is my actual identity'. When I came back to Hindi cinema, I realized a generation had forgotten me completely. I had to start struggling. I would meet people, ask for work and luckily I got it," Chunky told.

The actor said filmmakers Harry Baweja, Subhash Ghai and Sajid Nadiadwala helped him restart his career in Hindi cinema. "Then there was no looking back. I believe an actor should be shameless. I am a thick skull," he added. Chunky said after tasting stardom it was hard to sit at home with no work.

"You get into depression when you are sitting at home and have no work, especially after being at the top of your game... where you have seen the highs and people were chasing you." The actor believes the key to survive is to keep yourself busy.

"One should take up small roles, do work related to films, like I started an event management company and a restaurant. I kept myself busy." Chunky will next be seen in Saif Ali Khan-Tabu starrer ‘Jawani Jaaneman’. The actor has also signed a couple of new projects.