Life can take unexpected turns, especially when you’re a film star. Imagine a popular actor, known for his charming roles and sharing screen space with cinema legends. Then, picture him working as a mechanic or driving for a living, far from the cameras. This isn’t a movie plot, but the real story of Tamil actor Mirza Abbas Ali. He once shined brightly, then faced tough times, showing true grit.
Abbas was a big name in Tamil cinema during the late 1990s. He won many hearts with his acting. People loved him in films like ‘Kaadhal Desam,’ ‘VIP,’ and ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain.’ He even worked alongside big stars. He was in ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain’ with Aishwarya Rai. He also shared the screen with Rajinikanth in ‘Padayappa.’ He even did a Bollywood movie called ‘Ansh.’
But fame can be a tricky thing. His career took a dip in the early 2000s. He started getting only supporting roles. Soon, he decided to leave the film industry and move. Abbas packed up his life and went with his family to New Zealand. He hoped to find different work there.
Becoming a regular person after being a star wasn’t easy. Abbas spoke about his journey in an old interview with Rednool. He shared how his films started failing. This made his financial situation very bad. He couldn’t even pay his rent or buy cigarettes. He said it was hard to take on other jobs because everyone knew him as an actor. He even turned down a movie offer from R.B. Choudhary for ‘Pooveli’ because he found the role boring. To support his family, he learned how to work on bikes. He became a bike mechanic and also rode bikes for money in New Zealand.
He talked about the small things that showed how much his life had changed. He couldn’t use the toilets at construction sites. Instead, he would go to petrol pumps, buy something small, and use their facilities. People would often stare, shocked to see him. Sometimes, he would tell them, “I am Abbas.” Their surprise was clear.
Even in his new life, Abbas found a way to connect. He wanted to help people who were also going through hard times. He used Zoom to reach out to his fans. His goal was to offer comfort and support to those who needed it.
Abbas lived with very little for many years. He did make a brief comeback to the screen about ten years ago. He appeared in an advertisement for a toilet cleaning product. He admitted that this small job helped him keep his household running. It was his last appearance on screen.
