I didn’t want to sell myself short': Chandrachur Singh speaks on fame; the actor lives life on his own terms as a devoted single father

If you were a Bollywood fan in the 1990s, you probably remember Chandrachur Singh, the charming actor who lit up the screen alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Tabu. For a few years, he seemed destined for superstardom.

But life had other plans. Once a fixture in hit films and a rising star everyone talked about, Chandrachur suddenly faded from the spotlight in the early 2000s after an unexpected injury changed the course of his career.

A promising start and distinguished roots

Chandrachur comes from a distinguished background. His father, Baldev Singh, served as an MLA from Khair in Uttar Pradesh, while his mother, Krishna Kumari Devi, is the daughter of the Maharaja of Bolangir in Odisha.

Educated at The Doon School in Dehradun and later at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, he initially planned a career in civil service and even began preparing for the UPSC exams. But destiny had a different path in store.He made his acting debut in 1996 with 'Tere Mere Sapne,' a romantic drama produced by Amitabh Bachchan’s ABCL banner. The same year, he earned widespread praise for his powerful performance as a conflicted militant in Gulzar’s 'Maachis,' starring opposite Tabu.

The film showcased his range and earned him critical acclaim. Over the next few years, Chandrachur featured in several successful projects, including 'Daag: The Fire,' 'Kya Kehna' with Preity Zinta, 'Josh' alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, and 'Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa' where he reunited with Tabu.

A setback that changed everything

Just as his career was soaring, Chandrachur suffered a serious injury while skiing in Goa. The accident made it difficult for him to maintain long shooting schedules or train regularly, resulting in missed opportunities and a gradual retreat from films.

Reflecting on that time, he once said he faced disillusionment but eventually found peace and acceptance.In an interview with Mid-Day in 2020, the actor reflected on that difficult chapter of his life. “I went through a phase of disillusionment, but a sense of surrender came along soon after. When you’re inducted into the industry with a film like 'Maachis,' your expectations are higher. But I could showcase my abilities based only on the offers that came my way.

I am happy with the little work I have done. I didn’t want to sell myself short,” he shared.Years later, Chandrachur made a strong comeback on OTT platforms with Ram Madhvani’s crime thriller 'Aarya,' where he starred opposite Sushmita Sen. He followed it with the psychological drama 'Cuttputlli' with Akshay Kumar in 2022. Today, the actor lives life on his own terms as a devoted single father, quietly proud of the legacy he built and the resilience that kept him going.