Mumbai:
From being labelled a terrorist and spending a few months in jail to acting in an ad with the Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, this is one tale that could have been scripted for celluloid. Only, it is a true story - that of Tariq Dar.
Three years ago, Tariq, a celebrity model in Bangladesh, was accused of being a spy and deported to India. He was then jailed for three months on charges of being a Lashkar-e-Toiba operative. Released after three months, Tariq began a struggle again to find his footing, this time in Mumbai.
Now, he has shot for an ad campaign with none other than SRK. "I was called for the shoot and Shah Rukh Khan was present there. I even got to speak to him and it felt really nice. It is the first ad that I have done here and that too with Shah Rukh, who is a superstar. It was a great experience", says an excited Tariq.
In Srinagar, his family is distributing sweets to celebrate his new career. "By God's grace Tariq has the good wishes of a lot of people, we hope he does well. Hard work pays off," says his father Ghulam Nabi Dar.
His brother, Ahmad Dar, adds, "We are happy that he has made an ad film with such a big star. When he was facing trouble in Bangladesh and India, we were feeling bad. Now these are very good moments for us."
His troubled past is behind him, as Mumbai welcomes Tariq. His family hopes the road ahead will be smooth.