Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 5, 2020)

Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise has put the spotlight back on mental health, as it’s being alleged that the actor was “clinically depressed and bipolar”. While it’s good that such conversations are happening, actor Shama Sikandar feels that these discussions are getting “shallow”.

“People are making a joke out of mental illness. Everyone is talking about Sushant’s mental health. But did you know him personally? I didn’t, so I can only talk about the issue,” says Sikandar, who battled depression and spoke about being a bipolar.

She is surprised how those who don’t know much about it are openly expressing their opinions. “Everyone is talking about it, but what do you know about it? Ask me, I’ve been through it,” she says, adding, “Don’t mix mental health with what you think is a murder or suicide. If Sushant is being wronged, I also want a CBI enquiry. But why speculate before investigation is done?”

Referring to the theory that Rajput didn’t leave a suicide note and that’s why a foul play is being suspected, Sikandar says, “I also didn’t when I tried to commit suicide. I told my mother I wanted to rest, went to my room, took sleeping pills and went to bed. When I didn’t wake up for hours, my family found out. I’m not saying Sushant took his life. I’m saying you don’t know how someone who’s suffering behaves.”

Urging people to not make fun of such ailments, she adds, “Hum mazak mein bolte hai, tujhe depression hai kya!? It does affect the other person. Not everyone wants or knows how to talk about it.”

She adds, “Those claiming to be Sushant’s friends, where were they when he needed them? Why is someone understood only after his death? Extend this love when the person is alive. Hope these discussions would make people more aware about such things.”

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.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 22, 2020)

Preparations for Shama Sikander’s wedding with her fiancé James Milliron, a US businessman, would have been in full swing had the world not come to a standstill owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. The actress, who was all set to walk down the aisle in September this year, has now been forced to push her wedding to a later date.

Shama had got engaged to James in 2016, following a courtship of one year. She tells us, “We had planned a destination wedding in September-end and almost everything, including the venue, was finalised. We were all set to zero in on a date when the pandemic hit. Both our families had started preparing for the big day. James’ family doesn’t travel and so, his parents don’t even have a passport. We had asked them to initiate the paperwork and get their passports made. However, the plan is on hold for now, as I don’t think it will be safe to travel around that time.”

She adds, “Also, COVID-19 has changed our ideas about everything in life. We are just trying to help those around us to get through this tough time. And, that has definitely brought more joy to us. The wedding will happen whenever it has to.”

The couple is worried about James’ parents, as the situation is particularly grim in the US. “James is with me in Mumbai, and his parents are alone there. We are worried about them, as they are old and his father was unwell around four months ago. We are constantly in touch with them.”

Shama feels fortunate that James is with her during the lockdown. “I can imagine how difficult the situation can get for those who are living alone. It can take a toll on you emotionally. I am glad that James is with me during this crisis. Besides spending quality time with each other, I am also learning to adapt to a different and a new way of life. I have started meditating more and also valuing things, which we otherwise tend to take for granted.”

HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 4, 2020)

A few years ago, Shama Sikander opened up about battling depression and bipolar disorder. With reports that cases surrounding mental disorders have shot up recently due to social distancing and self-isolation, the actor believes that meditation is the only way out. “Times are very difficult and unimaginable. We were not prepared for it. So, it has hit us harder. One thing that helps me through this is meditation. I’m trying to spread awareness on social media and live interviews as much as I can,” she says.

Sikander says that keeping oneself busy by doing household chores is very important. She elaborates, “Right now, all you need is to live in the moment and use it for your benefit. Do house chores and start being grateful for whatever you’ve as it would make you feel better. We’ve been running behind such big dreams that we’ve forgotten to be normal human beings. We need to learn that again and start enjoying being normal. This situation is trying to teach us that you don’t have to be extraordinary to be happy. ”

The Bypass Road (2019) actor wishes that pollution levels continue to remain under control even after the Coronavirus lockdown is lifted. “The weather is beautiful outside. There is no pollution. Humans have ruined the earth for the longest time. I hope people start being more aware of the nuisance that they’ve been creating — loud music, noise, honking and loud religious noises. We need to stop disturbing others’ peace. I hope that we become really conscious now,” she says.

She adds that social responsibility should be on everyone’s priority list. Sikander is doing her bit, providing food and essential supplies to daily wage earners across Mumbai. “Along with a bunch of my friends, I’m helping a lot of daily wagers in Bandra, Andheri, Virar and places where they are stuck and don’t have supplies. I’ve also teamed up with my friends to help the needy through an NGO and the Mumbai police,” she signs off.

Shama Sikander, who got engaged to her US businessman beau two years ago, says marriage is not high on her agenda and how she has always lived life on her terms
Seema Mattoo (BOMBAY TIMES; June 2, 2018)

It’s been two years since Shama Sikander announced her engagement to US businessman James Milliron, and going by their social media posts and pictures, the couple looks very much in love. However, the one question that the actress and her fiancé frequently encounter these days is when they will finally tie the knot.

“We keep trying to plan our wedding, but fail to decide on anything since both James and I are not staunch believers of the institution of marriage. Also, we already feel that we are married. We celebrate life like one big party, so our wedding will also be just another bash with our loved ones. I have a feeling that one day, we might go on a holiday and surprise everyone with a sudden wedding. I would love to do something like that since I don’t believe in inviting the entire world,” says Shama.

Elaborating on her dream wedding, the actress adds, “Whenever we get married, it will be a white wedding somewhere abroad. And it will be a close-knit affair with just friends and family in attendance.”

Fiercely unconventional, Shama says that she wants to live life on her own terms. “I don’t need to get married to have a baby. I will proudly call it my love child,” she states.

Recalling how she met James, she says, “We met at a common friend’s house and I felt an instant and strong attraction towards him. It was as if we shared some past-life connection. I was surprised, because I had just come out of another relationship and was trying to avoid getting close to anyone.”

The feelings were mutual. “After our first meeting, we started talking to each other every day. We were in Dubai when he proposed to me in January 2015. A year, later we got engaged, again in Dubai,” she recalls.

The couple has kept the romance alive in their relationship and tries to spend as much time as possible, together. “Both of us are romantic and we love writing poems for each other; he also sends me flowers from wherever he is. These are small gestures that every girl will love,” Shama says.

James, she says, has also stood by her in tough times. “I have bipolar disorder, but I started feeling better after meeting James. His love calms me down and he makes me feel safe and secure. He made me believe in myself by just being there for me,” she signs off.

Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; December 27, 2016)

Vikram Bhatt kickstarts his own web channel with an adult love story that centres around fake aliases and BDSM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 25, 2016)

Not another web series! They are being made by the dozen with few finding takers or getting hits. So what makes Vikram Bhatt's Maaya different? For one, it will kickstart his own web channel, VB on the Web, in October. And two, it is an adult love story about two people who come together using aliases and experimenting with BDSM. It's as close to E L James's erotic romance, Fifty Shades of Grey, as our desi audience will get, considering the film it inspired never made it to the theatres here.

"In the ongoing censorship debate filmmakers today are clueless about what will be retained. In this worrying scenario, self-censorship is beginning to creep in with writers and directors editing stuff out, convinced it would never pass muster, and that bothers me. Maaya was an idea I've had for a while but in a country where even James Bond is not allowed to kiss, I didn't think BDSM would curry favour," points out Vikram who is known for his bold content, explaining his reasons for going on the web. Pointing out that it'd be near impossible for any country to censor the world wide web even if they do block out YouTube or Facebook, he plans to take his erotic fantasy to audiences across the globe with English subtitles. He is convinced that his story which grew from Yahoo chatrooms with netizens living out sexual fantasies with fake identities, will connect with youngsters between 15 and 30 who, disillusioned with Indian TV which caters mostly to ladies and the heartland, have turned to American TV. "Maaya is one of us and all of us are two people—one we present to the world, the other so private not even our family or friends know about them," he says.

It's a revolutionary concept even for Bhatt as is the idea behind the channel which will be free to viewers. He hopes to recover costs from advertisers. "In India since TV is mostly free, I didn't think people would subscribe to a new channel unless assured of a flow of interesting stuff worth paying for," he argues, having joined hands with Samir Pitalwala's Culture Machine which will co-produce, market, monetise and distribute the content that he creates. "Vikram used to write a story a day on his Facebook page that was read and liked by a cross-section of people. We wondered if there was any way to do something around them and that's how the idea of a digital platform came about," Samir says. Apart from Maaya which features Shama Sikander, Veer Aryan and Vipul Gupta among others and is being directed by Vikram himself, he is also producing a comedy, Apun Ka Naam Sailesh, and a romcom, Ek Plate Zindagi, which he hopes will give our viewers something interesting to chew on!

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 7, 2016)

"You know I can't give you names,“ says Shailendra Singh. He may not be talking, but his short film just might say it all. Sexoholic is the second short film released under Shailendra Singh's banner ­ Long Story Short Films. The film has generated a mindblowing 2,000,000++ views in the first 100 hours since release, and sparked passionate discussions in the comment section.

The story revolves around Rhea Malhotra, a Mumbai Suburban housewife, played by the talented Shama Sikander, star of Yeh Meri Life Hai. Many fans online are praising Shama's intense performance and commenting that “she looks like Priyanka Chopra!!“ While her husband ­ played by debut actor Vishal Kharwal is frequently traveling on work, Rhea embarks upon a reluctant journey of sexual self-discovery. When her husband finds out, her private adventure becomes a very public disaster. The film is both written and directed by Shailendra Singh.

“Yes, it's true,“ admits Shailendra. “The film is inspired by a story I heard from a friend of a friend, about a certain woman about town. I was intrigued when I heard it. It's so typical in our society that a man who sleeps around is honoured as a 'stud', but a woman who does the exact same thing, is called 'slut', and other names I can't repeat here. Even though 70% of actual, diagnosed sex addicts are men.“

Through Long Story Short Films, Shailendra is on a mission to get the new, young India talking. He points to the 600 million under the age of 25, and that India has the world's most mobile phones, to explain why he has shifted from Producing over 72 feature films in Bollywood, to writing and directing short format cinema.

“No one has the time anymore,“ he says. “Everyone is always running to be late somewhere. But always with a phone in their hand. I'm making short, smart cinema to entertain, but also to get people talking. 1.3 billion people ­ we are certainly having sex, we just don't talk about it. Sexoholic should raise some very interesting questions, and I can't wait to see the discussions that happen on social media.“