Shiney Ahuja

{{Infobox person

| name = Shiney Ahuja

| other_names = Shiney Suraj Ahuja{{Cite web |title=Shiney Suraj Ahuja VS State of Maharashtra |url=https://supremetoday.ai/doc/judgement/00400032726 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Supreme Today AI}}

| image = Shiney Ahuja.jpg

| image_size = 265px

| caption = Ahuja in 2012

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|05|15}}

| birth_place = New Delhi, India

| education = St. Xavier's School, Delhi
Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan

| alma_mater = Hansraj College
R.V. College

| nationality = Indian

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|Model}}

| yearsactive = 2003–2015

| spouse = {{marriage|Anupam Pandey|1997}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20090629-the-shine-wears-off-740063-2009-06-18|title=The shine wears off|first1=Swati|last1=Mathur|first2=Kaveree|last2=Bamzai|date=June 18, 2009|website=India Today}}

| children = 1

| relatives =

| website =

}}

Shiney Suraj Ahuja (born 15 May 1973) is an Indian former actor who worked in Bollywood. He won the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2006 and then followed with several hit films like Gangster, Woh Lamhe, Life in a Metro, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Welcome Back.[http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/ullstory.php?id=13720797&cid=13491372 Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi]{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Sify.com (2005-04-18). Retrieved on 2011-11-02.

Early life

Ahuja was born on 15 May 1973 into a Punjabi{{cite web |date=September 18, 2006 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/i-am-a-true-punjabi-shiney/story-4FwBwPBl9OzJiZaYM24SaN.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 11, 2022 | author=Princy Jain| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211095959/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/i-am-a-true-punjabi-shiney/story-4FwBwPBl9OzJiZaYM24SaN.html |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |title=I am a true Punjabi : Shiney |publisher=Hindustan Times |language=en-IN }} family in New Delhi, India. His mother is from Shimla, with her family originally from Sargoda, and his father Suraj Ahuja's ancestry is from Sahiwal, both in modern day Pakistan.{{cite web |date=February 22, 2008 |author=Khalid Mohamed|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/i-m-no-marriage-thief-shiney-ahuja/story-Mp3wdXt7mWIfheRiKMK0QP.html|access-date=June 27, 2023 |title=I'm no marriage thief: Shiney Ahuja|publisher=Hindustan Times |language=en-IN}} His father was born in Dehradun, and was a colonel in the Indian Army.

Ahuja studied at St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School, Delhi and Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, before attending Hansraj College of the University of Delhi, followed by R.V. College of Engineering in Bangalore. Later, he joined the theatre group "TAG" where he met Barry John. Shortly thereafter, he joined John's acting school in Delhi.{{cite news|title=Wishing Shiney Ahuja a very happy Birthday|url=https://www.screenindia.com/news/wishing-shiney-ahuja-a-very-happy-birthday/459935/|work=Screen|date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620055926/http://www.screenindia.com/news/wishing-shiney-ahuja-a-very-happy-birthday/459935/|archive-date=20 June 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Career

After completing college, Ahuja secured his first commercial ad for Pepsi. This instantly brought him into consideration by the top ad agencies. Flooded with offers, he worked in over 40 ad films in that year, including Cadburys and Citibank. He also featured in the music video 'Pyar ho Gaya' for the British-Asian band "Stereo Nation."{{Citation needed|date= July 2022}}

Sudhir Mishra, who was auditioning for a film by Pritish Nandy Communications, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, saw Shiney in the Pepsi commercial and called him to audition for Kay Kay's character – Sidharth Tyabji. Upon his request, Mishra also auditioned him for the role of Vikram Malhotra. He was selected from over 200 aspirants for the role of Vikram Malhotra and made his acting debut in the film.{{Citation needed|date= July 2022}} The film went on to win critical acclaim, and was screened at as many as 12 film festivals over 6 months. These included film festivals at Turkey, Estonia, River to River (Florence), Berlin, Edinburgh, Washington, Dallas, India (Goa), Bite The Mango festival (Bradford, UK), the Commonwealth festival (Manchester), and the Pacific Rim festival (California). The film was released commercially in 2005 with minimal publicity but a national footprint across India. He received several best actor (debut) awards given for the year including Filmfare, Zee Cine, and Stardust.{{Citation needed|date= July 2022}}{{cite web| title=Filmfare winners of the year 2006 {{!}} Best Newcomer (Male)| access-date=9 December 2022| url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners| website=filmfare.com}}

Thereafter, Ahuja played the lead role in Mahesh Bhatt's Gangster, a popular commercial movie genre and Woh Lamhe opposite Kangana Ranaut. Other films followed including Life in a Metro, Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Two of his films, Ek Accident with co-star Soha Ali Khan and Har Pal with Preity Zinta are yet to be released.{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141125/entertainment-bollywood/article/producers-refused-account-har-pal-following-shiney-ahuja-rape|title=Producers refused to account 'Har Pal' following Shiney Ahuja rape case, reveals Jahnu Barua|work=Deccan Chronicle|publisher=Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited|date=25 November 2014|access-date=31 January 2015}}

In 2015, Ahuja was cast in Anees Bazmee's Welcome Back co-starring John Abraham, Shruti Hassan, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Paresh Rawal.{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/john-abraham-shruti-haasan-and-shiney-ahuja-strike-a-pose-on-the-sets-of-welcome-back-view-pics/#!1/teaser-welcome-back-1-101014/|access-date=18 January 2015|title=John Abraham, Shruti Haasan, and Shiney Ahuja strike a pose on the sets of Welcome Back-view pics! – Bollywood News & Gossip, Movie Reviews, Trailers & Videos at Bollywoodlife.com|date=10 October 2014 }}[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Shiney-Ahuja-returns-as-Naseers-son/articleshow/41766225.cms Shiney Ahuja returns as Naseer's son]. Times of India. 5 September 2014

Family

Ahuja is married to Anupam, and they have a daughter Arshiya.{{cite web| title=Shiney in custody, wife rushes back| author=Samyabrata Ray Goswami

| url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090616/jsp/nation/story_11117283.jsp| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619061943/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090616/jsp/nation/story_11117283.jsp| date=15 June 2009| archive-date=19 June 2009| website=telegraphindia.com}}{{cite web| title=Exclusive: My Daughter Is My Biggest Strength, Says Shiney Ahuja| author=Priyanka Jain| date=2 September 2015| url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/exclusive-my-daughter-is-my-biggest-strength-says-shiney-ahuja| website=thequint.com}}{{cite web| title=Life will go back to normal again: Shiney's wife| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/life-will-go-back-to-normal-again-shineys-wife/articleshow/8911291.cms| date=20 June 2011| author=Sarita Tanwar| website=indiatimes.com}}

Legal history

In June 2009, Ahuja was arrested on charges of raping, detaining, and threatening his 19-year-old domestic servant. He was booked under Section 376 (rape), and Section 506 (threat to kill) of the Indian Penal Code.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/photo/Remember-Shiney-Ahuja-The-Gangster-actor-is-completely-away-from-limelight-84384#4| title=Remember Shiney Ahuja? The Gangster actor is completely away from the limelight| date=15 May 2020| accessdate=30 Jul 2021| website=mid-day}}

During the trial, his maid (the victim) recanted on her testimony and told the Court that she was never raped. However, the judge believed that the maid falsely testified under pressure and, in 2011, Ahuja was sentenced to seven years of prison.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/31/shiney-ahuja-bollywood-jailed-raping|title=Shiney Ahuja, fallen Bollywood star, jailed for raping maid|date=31 March 2011|website=The Guardian}}

This case was the inspiration for the writing of the legal drama film Section 375. The film was written by Manish Gupta, his friend who had interacted with the parties of the case during the time of the arrest.{{cite web| url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/bollywood/section-375-writer-talks-about-how-the-shiney-ahuja-case-inspired-the-film#read-more| title=Shiney Ahuja Case Inspired 'Section 375', Says Film's Writer|date=17 Sep 2019| accessdate=30 Jul 2021| author=Nandakumar Rammohan| website=thequint.com}}{{cite web| url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/section-375-story-based-shiney-ahujas-rape-case-reveals-writer-manish-gupta-805587| title=Section 375 story is based on Ahuja's rape case, reveals writer Manish Gupta| date=September 17, 2019| accessdate=30 Jul 2021| author=Suparno Sarkar| website=ibtimes.co.in}}

Filmography

class="wikitable"

|+Key

| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}

| Denotes films that have not yet been released

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! Year

! Movies

! Role

! Other notes

rowspan="4" |2005

| Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi

| Vikram Malhotra

| Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut

Karam

| ACP Wagh Pratap Singh

Sins

| William

Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow

rowspan="4" |2006

| Gangster

| Daya Shankar

| Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow – Male

Fanaa

| Suraj Ahuja

| Friendly appearance

Woh Lamhe

| Aditya Garewal

Zindaggi Rocks

| Dr. Suraj Rihan

rowspan="3" |2007

| Life in a... Metro

| Akash

Bhool Bhulaiya

| Siddharth Chaturvedi

Khoya Khoya Chand

| Zaffar

rowspan="2" |2008

| Migration

| Short film

Hijack

| Vikram Madaan

2009

| Dheeme Dheeme

| Himself

2012

| Ghost

| Vijay Singh

2015

| Welcome Back

| Honey Sharif

Awards

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! Award ! Film ! Category !Result
Filmfare Awards \| rowspan="5" \| Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi \| Best Male Debut \|{{Won}}
Screen Awards \| Best Male Debut \|{{Won}}
Zee Cine Awards \| Best Male Debut \|{{Won}}
IIFA Awards \|Star Debut of the Year - Male \|{{Won}}
rowspan="2" \|Stardust Awards \|Best Male Debut \|{{Won}}
Gangster \| Superstar of Tomorrow \|{{Won}}

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

! Award

! Film

! Category

!Result

Filmfare Awards

| rowspan="5" | Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi

| Best Male Debut

|{{Won}}

Screen Awards

| Best Male Debut