When artists of AR Rahman or Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ stature talk about politics, bullying and camps in Bollywood, it is reassuring for the newcomers that an open environment can be achieved to air one's feelings and frank opinions. Somy Ali feels that celebs speaking up gives hope to new and aspiring artists to speak up for themselves and try their attempt to bring forth a change.
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“Priyanka is larger-than-life when it comes to being an actor and so is Deepika
Somy explains that it is difficult in any field for someone who is a newcomer and unfortunately bullying and taking advantage of people is not just a new and recent phenomenon.
“It has been there for generations and cruel people are a harsh reality of every realm in life. We have to take a stand for ourselves and find solace or seek advice from someone who is genuinely good-hearted because not everyone is malicious or else our world would fall apart. Keep in mind that no matter how talented one is, fate and destiny play a pivotal role in one's success with the inclusion of pure luck. We have seen many superstars and how their children or siblings were unable to obtain the same kind of success. There has to be a point in life when that realization should hit an individual and they must move on to doing something else in the same field. They can become directors, scriptwriters, producers, and even assistant directors to hone brand-new craft. Again, we have examples of those who entered the Hindi film industry to pursue acting but ended up becoming big-shot directors or producers. There are and always will be other options if an individual is keen enough to stick in the field of movie making,” she says.
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“It's a very harsh and difficult profession and being a good actor is no joke. It takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice as Shah Rukh
“We all must always have a plan B because we see people come and go in this field of acting and as harsh as it may sound every individual is dispersible. No one is exempt from that fact whether you have immense talent or come from a film background. All of us are easily dispersed and there is always someone else to take your place, therefore, yes, delving into production is an excellent way to safeguard your future financially,” she adds.
Once a star has moved on from Bollywood, it can be both easy and difficult for them to make a comeback in the future. And, Somy feels that it all depends on how that actor left the industry.
“Here I am speaking of whether or not they continued to maintain certain relationships with producers, directors, and even their co-stars. All of this comes into play if one wants to make a comeback to the Hindi film industry. It's not feasible or helpful to burn bridges if one wants to return, but not at the cost of one's self-respect and dignity, which is where someone as powerful and successful as Priyanka comes to mind because no one has been able to accomplish what she has attained. She is a strong role model for women universally and decided that she will not tolerate being mistreated or bullied, thus, made a choice of starting from scratch which in itself is beyond commendable. For an actor as successful as Priyanka, going for auditions in New York is a core example of her humility and also being a badass. I salute her for her courage for several reasons including for her work with Unicef. Above all, for not putting up with being bullied and harassed in Bollywood. Similarly, I have the same amount of respect for actors like Deepika who raised her voice on mental health and initiated her own foundation to help many suffering from what she herself endured. Then we have stars like Shah Rukh who even at this level of success and stardom do not depict an iota of ego. That too is a rarity and I have tremendous respect for anyone who leaves their egos out of the door when they enter any field of work. It is key to always remember that we are going to end up leaving all the materialism we are running after behind, thus humility is all that matters. Nothing lasts forever. Cherish the time we have on this planet and keep reminding yourself that there will always be someone better than you and more successful than you. This thought and understanding will always help bring stability in your life and keep you grounded,” she signs off.