MUMBAI: "Phulwa" fame Ajay Singh Chaudhary was born and raised in an army background as his father, Retd. Captain Virender Singh, was in the Army, but he was never too keen on joining the forces. However, he asserted that his parents were perfectly ok with it and encouraged him when he told them that he wants to become an actor.

"I never thought of joining the Army, though it did cross my mind a couple of times, it was not something that I had set my mind to. However, my brother was always interested in this and that's why he joined the forces. But when I told my parents that I wanted to become an actor, they were very supportive of my career choice," he said. 

"In 2000-2001, we did not have the internet, and neither so much exposure to the outside world. The only career choices we had were medical, engineering, or banking. So when I told them that I wanted to be an actor, they were ok with it. Then I searched for courses and found one in Mumbai and I did my post-graduation in theaters. My parents were not sure about what I am going to do, but they never hesitated in encouraging me," Ajay added.

Talking about the environment he was raised in, the "Uttaran" actor said, "There was a lot of discipline in the house, but I did not follow much, I was sort of a rebel and broke rules. My elder brother and I both were like that, my second brother, who is in the army, was very disciplined and he used to follow all the rules."

Well, lucky for him that he was able to see a lot of places during his father's tenure but unfortunately with every new posting, he had to make new friends too.

"We have moved all over India because my father's profession was such. The sad part was that I could only stay with my friends for two or two-and-a-half-year, and then we used to move. So we spent our childhood making new friends and shifting schools, but I am in touch with my friends whom I met in and after ninth grade," he said.

But does he agree that Army kids are a breed apart? "I agree that Army kids are a breed apart, the same goes for Navy and Airforce too because the environment in which we grow up it's a completely different world. We see things much closer, we learn to respect all religions and how to live together without any discrimination," Ajay signed off.