From Bollywood to Persian Poetry : Ashwin Afraad on Rumi , Sufism , Urdu, & Omar Khayyam

In this episode of Left, Right, Centre, we sit down with Ashwin Afraad — writer, poet, translator, and former child actor — for a conversation that moves from Bollywood sets to the world of Persian Poetry , Sufism , and language. Known to many for films like Shwaas, India’s official entry to the Oscars, as well as Taxi No. 9211 and Aashayein, Ashwin reflects on his journey from cinema to literature and poetry. We talk about the timeless influence of Rumi on his life and writing, his deep love for the Persian language, and how Persian and Urdu Poetry became a way of understanding identity, spirituality, and the self. The discussion also explores Mirza Ghalib, Kabir, Omar Khayyam , Rudaki and the larger tradition of Persian and Urdu literature that continues to shape culture across generations. Ashwin also speaks candidly about how his command over Urdu and Persian often leads people to make assumptions about his religious identity, and what that reveals about language, culture, and society today. 00:00 - Montage 01:57 - Introduction 02:57 - Why did Ashwin Chitale become Afraad? 06:00 - Working as a child artist in the Oscar-nominated film Shwaas 09:09 - Receiving a National Award from APJ Abdul Kalam 10:34 - Taking the road less travelled 12:29 - Choosing to learn Persian 16:02 - Bringing Rumi to today’s generation 21:27 - “Main Ghulam Hoon Uss Chand Ka” 24:27 - Why do we need Rumi in today’s time? 31:52 - Similarities between Rumi and Kabir 33:27 - “Ae dil, tu usi ke paas jaake baith…” 35:14 - Aashwin Heritage 38:23 - Getting trolled for knowing Urdu and Persian 42:18 - Love for Sindh and Sindhi, and what’s next for Ashwin 46:11 - Working on Omar Khayyam 51:04 - Conclusion From profound conversations to explosive discussions, uncover stories that matter. Be part of ideas that could potentially change the way you think and perceive the world around you. Welcome to Basic Funde Clear, the home of Dialogue, Discussions & Discourse! Follow us on:- Instagram:-   / basicfundeclear   Facebook:-   / basicfundeclear   Twitter:-   / basicfundeclear   Subscribe now for a diverse mix of engaging content: Left Right Centre Smart, witty, and downright fun—conversations with Nitin Sukhija are always a blast!    • Left Right Centre (LRC)   Batkahi On Batkahi, meet the people who have shaped Lucknow into what it is today, and celebrate the city’s adab and tehzeeb.    • Batkahi   Qisson Ki Kitab Embark on a journey of captivating stories and life lessons.    • Qisson Ki Kitab   Janhit Mein Jaari Explore pressing social issues and their impact on society.    • Janhit Mein Jaari