It’s two weeks since actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death and these issues refuse to die down. We get 16 celebs to answer questions that trigger a fresh debate everyday
Juhi Chakraborty, Shreya Mukherjee and Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 27, 2020)


CAN BOLLYWOOD BE CALLED ONE BIG FAMILY?
MANOJ BAJPAYEE: No, it is not a big family, I don’t get fooled. We are scattered, fragmented, there are different groups, I don’t belong to any of them. On the first day post Satya (1998), I had decided I will only focus on roles offered to me, work on my terms and conditions. But yes, eventually, the industry will have to come together, if not now, tomorrow. It will have to be democratic. Let’s see.


IS THIS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR OUT-OF-WORK ACTORS TO SEEK HELP?
SAYANI GUPTA: Yes. All actors, and in fact all of us, irrespective of our profession, should seek therapy because life today is much more stressful than it used to be for the previous generation. And the internet/ social media adds to it. We all go through ups and downs in this cut-throat world and speaking to a counsellor helps in getting a fresh perspective. Therapy should be a must, from school and through your work life.


DOES NEPOTISM POSE A THREAT TO ‘OUTSIDERS’?
TAAPSEE PANNU: Yes it does, but so does a threat of being cheated, of being sexually harassed, and the threat of social media trials for sometimes no fault. And all these are equally harmful for a new talent. I have lost films and opportunities to someone under the umbrella of nepotism but I refuse to blame it for every hurdle and not give a strong fight. There are advantages and also disadvantages of being a star kid, and being an outsider.


IS IT TOUGH TO GET INTO CAMPS, POWER TABLES?
DAISY SHAH: This is in all industries. But you’re forgetting many ‘favourites’ have not got a flourishing career. I feel indicating at these ‘camps’ isn’t going to help you be successful. Everyone is working hard. The path they embark upon, on the road to success, is subjective. Some are lucky to have a helping hand. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, we should all make peace with it.


DO TV ACTORS STILL FIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE?
MRUNAL THAKUR: Everybody in Bollywood goes through their share of struggles. When I started, I faced the stereotype that TV actors can’t be a part of the film industry. I realised I can break this if I work on my craft. I also got rid of my Marathi accent… I was also under a lot of pressure to be on social networking sites. If you’re talented, do your job well, people will support you. Struggles I went through made me better.


CAN REJECTIONS MAKE ONE DOUBT THEIR WORTH?
SHREYAS TALPADE: You get your first film and, if it works, you feel you’ve arrived. But when you get rejected soon after, you tend to question your capabilities. Most get wiser with experience. After Iqbal (2005), I auditioned for a film. The director said I don’t fit in comedy as I’ve got a serious image. After Golmaal Returns (2008), he said he misjudged my talent. You can’t make all happy, but can work on your abilities and make yourself happy.


IS THERE A CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING OUT OF THE INDUSTRY IF FILMS FLOP?
AAHANA KUMRA: We’re living in a world where your success is measured by how much money your product makes. That happens in most businesses, not just Bollywood. Having said that, yes outsiders don’t get enough chances. But, a child from the film industry will get chance after chance... We may get one film and if we don’t deliver, we may not be considered for another, so that’s the challenge.


CAN FEAR OF FAILURE PUSH ONE TO GIVE UP ON LIFE?
ADHYAYAN SUMAN: Ending your life isn’t the solution, but the pressure is 10-fold in the Hindi film industry, because there’s not just money involved, but also this delusional thing called ‘fame’. When you don’t achieve that, having people around you is important, but it’s crucial to know this is very temporary. I struggled in the last seven-eight years, and didn’t get the right work. Today, I am building my life back again, slow and steady.


DO PEOPLE SIDELINE NOT-SO-SUCCESSFUL ACTORS?
SIKANDAR KHER: In no way do I think that this a cultural thing. This, the film industry, is a business like any other. If you are doing well, your films are doing well, you are “successful”, then work will come easily to you. But if things aren’t going well with you and your career, then it will be tougher and tougher to get work. You just have to keep your head down and try to get more work. That’s all you can do really.


IS MENTAL HEALTH A KEY YET NEGLECTED SUBJECT?
DIVYA DUTTA: It is not about discussing, it is who to discuss with, how to discuss it. You will be judged instantly. Arre yaar usko toh yeh hai aur firr do jagah aur baat ho jaayegi. It will not help a person with a mental health issue. But are others doing anything? No. We have to look within first. Unless you have strong family and friend support, it’s difficult. We just say hi to one another but beyond that it’s a solo journey.


DO ACTORS HIDE THEIR DEPRESSION AS THEY FEAR BEING JUDGED?
JASMIN BHASIN: As an actor we’ve got a lot of extra pressures. And many do fear about work getting affected if someone comes to know of their mental state. I’ve experienced depression and could deal with it because of my family and friends. Those who matter should know about you. Everything about an actor is not for the public to know.


IS IT TRUE THAT ACTORS ARE QUITE VULNERABLE ?
SHAMA SIKANDER: This is a very difficult place to be in. You are so exposed. It can totally torment you. Yes it absolutely does push you in dark zones because it is the toughest profession ever. There is so much competition. Everybody is ready to do everything and a person who does that is chosen over another who is probably more talented. Whoever survives in the industry is very strong.


CAN REPEATED MOCKING AND RIDICULING BREAK ONE’S CONFIDENCE?
SUNIL GROVER: In my initial days, while doing a show, an actor came up to me and said I should be careful about what I say. I wasn’t known then, so I guess the trust factor was missing. Even now, before any show or award ceremony, I discuss certain jokes with actors in advance. I think one should laugh and not take ourselves so seriously. It’s also important to be sensitive towards another person’s sentiments.


DOES TOXICITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECT ONE’S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING?
ADAH SHARMA: Yes, trolling does affect you emotionally. Even excluding someone can have a worse if not the same effect as trolling. For me, the toxicity hasn’t got out of hand on social media to be honest. I’ve also had practice dealing with enough toxicity in real life, so social media trolls are nothing. I’m also okay with criticism, toxic or constructive, as long as I’m allowed to participate in the race.


SHOULD WE REACH OUT TO AN ACTOR SHOWING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION?
DIVYANKA TRIPATHI DAHIYA: I feel taking lessons from this, the entertainment fraternity must change. All artistes go through a low phase. We should aim to develop empathy for our fellow actors/directors/ writers, instead of spotting competition in them and trying to demean, demoralise or ignore them. We must step into another’s shoes before commenting. Depression doesn’t happen overnight.

DO RELATIONSHIP RUMOURS PUT ONE UNDER MENTAL PRESSURE?
ELLI AVRRAM: It has affected my relationship, whatever I have had in my career so far. Sometimes it ends up destroying your relationship with that person. Many celebs want to get clicked by the paparazzi. You are a person who doesn’t do these things, but your partner might believe you are the one who has called them, and might start doubting that you are doing it as a PR activity. It spoils it, that’s sad.