Actor Sushmita Sen says winning a beauty pageant made it easier for her in Bollywood, feels she’s still relevant thanks to her fans
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 28, 2020)

A rank outsider in the film industry, Sushmita Sen managed to earn herself a spot in Bollywood with unforgettable performances in films such as Main Hoon Na (2004) and Chingaari (2006). And referring to the outsider-insider debate highlighted after actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Sen admits that winning the Miss Universe title made things easier for her. But, she’s quick to add that wading through was difficult.

“A lot of young people come from smaller cities, who live, breathe and eat cinema. They want to be actors, directors or follow some creative pursuit here. The hunger in them is fantastic, but it often gets seen as desperation,” she points out.

She warns newbies to not look too desperate. “Given the competition in the industry, this desperation becomes too much of a pressure. So, instead of performance, one is judged by the number of followers on social media. It’s like if we can market it well, we can sell anything,” explains the 44-year-old. Sen, however, never had that mindset. She clarifies, “I’m an outsider but I was approached to be a part of films because of the pageant I won. I never thought of being an actor, but when I took it up, I felt I could learn and grow here,” says the actor, who recently made her web debut.

At one point Sen thought of pursuing something else. “But I always knew whatever I do, I’ll do it with integrity and respect. You could be the biggest filmmaker or hero, but you must show respect,” she says.

The actor believes many newcomers lose themselves in this industry due to the pressure. “By God’s grace, the industry invested in me. But I can continue to work and stay relevant because of my fans. I am in no rush, I’ll live on my own terms,” she says, adding it wasn’t easy to deal with the life-threatening Addison’s disease she recently recovered from.

Sen shares there were tough moments, but other things made her stand up. “Even during the Coronavirus lockdown, at times, I couldn’t take this closed atmosphere. But, I feel good to have this balanced approach given the people (her daughters Renee and Aliseh, beau Rohman Shawl and her family) I have around. Having patience is key. There’s a lot of gratitude,” she adds.