Latest news with #Raees
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Silent Strain of Stardom: Adil Hussain, Bhagyashree, Anant Mahadevan, Sohaila Kapur and others speak out on burnout, pressure and pain in Bollywood
In a country where stardom is worshipped and celebrity lives are dissected frame by frame, Bollywood stars seem to float in a world of glitz, admiration, and affluence. But beneath the perfectly-contoured smiles, the crafted Instagram reels, and the impeccably-timed red carpet appearances lies a reality that is far more fragile and human. This ETimes feature dives deep into the undercurrent of emotional distress that runs through India's film industry — exploring how public performance, relentless comparisons, social media scrutiny, and suppressed vulnerability have made mental health a serious, yet silent, crisis in showbiz. The pressure to be 'on' — always Veteran actor Adil Hussain believes that mental burnout is avoidable if you're grounded — but even he admits to physical fatigue from back-to-back shoots and international travel. 'There is not a pressure unless you want to take the pressure on yourself,' he says, before adding that actors must often perform pleasantness, if not joy. 'Even when I'm tired, I take it as an opportunity... and say, 'I will now smile.' It is not an artificial smile but a genuine smile. ' His coping mechanism lies in a spiritual discipline passed down from a mentor, which he's practiced for 25 years. Yet, Hussain is clear-eyed about the stigma that still clouds Bollywood: 'It has just become a little more acceptable... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Поза во сне может многое рассказать о вашем характере! Удивительные Новости Undo not necessarily normalized. I just hope people are more empathetic — not just to actors, but from the spot boy to the crew.' He makes a crucial point — that the entire ecosystem of cinema, not just its glamorous faces, needs emotional care. Workshops and mental health education for the cast and crew could be a sustainable way forward, he suggests. The emotional cost of power games Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia is blunt: 'We don't have jobs many times a year — there's no monthly paycheck... If the film doesn't work, forget about it. Our lives are pushed away.' But the real damage, he says, comes from egos and power dynamics on sets. 'The stress of handling cast, crew, producers, and stars is just another ball game.' Dholakia's health suffered repeatedly. 'I had diabetes after one film, blood pressure after another, a heart attack after one more.' Even while shooting Raees, his mother was in the ICU and he was in chronic pain, yet he didn't — or couldn't — stop. 'You can't bring your problems on set.' His advice to others: 'Don't let anyone take your life away from you. If you feel low, don't feel shy to take help.' Looking back, he wishes he had resisted substances and faced problems head-on. 'Face the problems. Deal with them.' Performance anxiety, driven by perception Actress Bhagyashree highlights a subtler battle — the battle within. 'The expectations of society, the industry, peers, and PR machinery can often feel like a relentless noise—dominating and overwhelming. To stay grounded, it's essential to filter out that noise and reconnect with your inner self. Your goals are not the same as your identity. Successes and failures are outcomes, not measures of your worth as a person.' She suggests a barometer: "Is this advice or criticism helping me refine my path toward my goals? If yes, embrace it. But if it begins to compromise your core values—the very principles that define who you are—it's time to walk away." Preity Zinta to Sonam Kapoor: Bollywood Divas Take Over London & Wimbledon in Style The stigma of self-worth in an unforgiving industry For director Anant Mahadevan , the struggle has often been about surviving targeted exclusion. 'Being deliberately sidelined was... demoralizing,' he admits, especially when his refusal to play the networking game was held against him. His critically acclaimed The Storyteller was met with strategic silence. One critic even traveled to the Kerala Film Festival just to run down his film. Mahadevan draws strength from his craft. 'Reinforcing the faith in oneself... shields your mind from damage. The years of such rigmarole have taught me to be a survivor.' Therapy, bonsais, and bikerides: New-age coping tools Actor-filmmaker Kabir Sadanand lays bare the emotional debris of endless 18-hour shoots. 'I began to feel the impact... emotionally fatigued. It started affecting my relationships.' He links much of the distress to social media's performative joy: 'There's an unspoken expectation that we must always appear upbeat. Mental health remains taboo.' His solutions? Regular therapy, long bike rides, bonsai gardening, and letting emotions out instead of bottling them. 'Like a shaken champagne bottle — if you don't release the pressure, it will eventually explode.' When fame is a choice — but the fallout isn't Veteran actress Sohaila Kapur takes a pragmatic stance. 'You know what you're in for, so you should be prepared. There is a flip side to fame.' But she too has needed to ground herself through travel, silence, meditation, and theatre. 'You can't ask someone to treat you with kid gloves... self-help is the best. Or see a good therapist.' Her mantra: Upgrade your sense of self-worth. 'Tell yourself you're your best when you're yourself. Don't be afraid of criticism.' The burden of comparisons Actor-anchor Karan Singh Chhabra speaks of a daily battle — the battle of being measured. 'In this industry, you are compared all the time... with every post, every appearance, you are judged.' The release of his film, where he played the antagonist, brought anxiety. His self-talk became his anchor: 'You have come this far and that is a success... This is a dream for many.' His escape? Turf cricket games, solo travel, gym sessions, and Zumba classes. 'Between action and cut, the actor has to switch... work diverts your mind from the sadness.' He issues a reminder to media and paparazzi: 'That actress you scoff at today could be the next big star tomorrow. Please keep your thoughts to yourself.' What needs to change While several public figures now speak freely about seeing therapists or seeking spiritual grounding, the industry's machinery is still largely unsympathetic. There's fear — of being replaced, of looking weak, of being dropped from projects. Whether it's Rahul Dholakia silently enduring chronic pain on set, Adil Hussain turning to meditation, or Kabir Sadanand finding solace in a bonsai garden, their stories converge on one point: the importance of acknowledging and addressing mental health in Bollywood. But the industry has a long way to go. While some speak up, many still fear judgment, dismissal, or losing work. The pressure to look perfect, the obsession with relevance, and the machinery of fame make it hard to just "be." The answer may not be one-size-fits-all. For some, it is therapy. For others, it's silence, laughter, travel, or simply being heard without being fixed. As Kabir Sadanand said, 'Many are silently struggling, while their online personas tell a very different story.' Until those personas are reconciled with reality, and vulnerability is accepted as part of the job — not a weakness — the cost of fame may remain heavier than the applause it brings. If you or someone you know is dealing with emotional distress, don't hesitate to reach out. Mental health is not a weakness — it's a journey, and it deserves as much care as any blockbuster script or red carpet gown.
Wall Street Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Now You Can Travel for Less by Buying Someone Else's Vacation
Samina Ahmed admits she's obsessed with travel. The 46-year-old single mother, who recently left her job as an IT engineer in Leeds, England, said she's taken her toddler, Raees, on 'more holidays than most people have in a lifetime.' What keeps Ahmed both on the road and in the black? She books almost every trip on SpareFare. Founded in 2016, this eBay-like marketplace pairs unfortunate travelers looking to sell nonrefundable trips, flights and hotel nights they can't use to bargain hunters like Ahmed who take over the reservation. For one vacation, that meant paying around $1,200 for an all-inclusive trip to Thailand that originally cost around $4,700. 'It was a week—I wish that had been longer,' Ahmed said.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kanwar Yatra: 222 liquor shops in Noida & Ghaziabad to be covered; hotels & dhabas directed to display food licences
'You can't kiss me' - When Pakistani actress Mahira Khan told Shah Rukh Khan while shooting for 'Zaalima' song from 'Raees' Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who has worked with Shah Rukh Khan in 'Raees', recently recalled filming the popular song 'Zaalima'. During her recent interview, Mahira revealed that she repeatedly told SRK that he can't kiss her because she was scared, 'ki kahin kuch zyada na ho jaye'. She added, 'He used to be like, 'Kya ho gaya hai'. He, obviously, used to get a kick out of it as well.' Talking about the 'nose-to-nose kissing' scene being included as the hook step of the song, Mahira said, 'We didn't know what to do on the hook in the song, so it became a joke that since nothing else can happen, let's make the noses kiss. The whole song if you look at it, he just does a little nose thing. He was just like, 'Will this be okay? Is this okay for you?' In my heart, I would be like, 'What do you know?' Watch the video for more news and updates, stay tuned to ETimes. Times Of India
Pink Villa
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Maalik Trailer HONEST REVIEW: Rajkummar Rao's 2.0 version will thrill you – unexpected pairing with Manushi Chhillar might just work
Rajkummar Rao in a never-seen-before avatar is here to rule the screens and how! The badass Maalik is here to prove he can do anything, and watch out for what seems like one of his most powerful performances on the big screen. A combination of Ranbir Kapoor' s Animal and Shah Rukh Khan's Raees, a new hero has arrived and we ain't complaining a bit. That swag walk, those dialogue deliveries, and the body language, Rao is sure to send chills down your spines. Maalik's trailer The teaser begins with a powerful dialogue from Rajkummar Rao, where he is talking to his on-screen father. He tells him, "Majboor baap ka beta hai, kismat thi humari. Par aapko majboot beta ka baap banna padega, kismat hai aapki." (I am the son of a helpless father; it was my fate. But you will have to become the father of a strong son; it is your fate.) It is the confidence and the ease with which he holds the gun, shoots, and walks away in the scene that is going to make him a winner. The full-grown beard and moustache suit him perfectly, and we have to admit that we might be falling in love with his new rugged avatar. Manushi Chhillar and Rajkummar Rao's chemistry Bollywood films often surprise us with fresh pairings, and Maalik also introduces us to a brand new pair of Manushi Chhillar and Rajkummar Rao. These two look like a breath of fresh air, and we bet fans cannot wait to watch what they have got in store for us. Not to miss out, the actress can be seen in a desi avatar and looks gorgeous. We have seen Rajkummar excel in his comic timing, romance, the thriller genre, and emotional roles, too, but now it's time to see him unleash his inner beast in a full-fledged action film. Set in Allahabad, it follows a gangster who rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld and establishes his dominance. His thick beard has added a touch of reality to his daring role, and his transformation has wowed netizens. Backed by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, the movie is slated to hit the big screen on July 11, 2025. Besides Rajkummar and Manushi Chhillar, it also stars Prosenjit Chatterjee. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more such updates!
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Acting alone didn't make Shah Rukh Khan what he is today. Secret reason of SRK's stardom, revealed by Jaideep Ahlawat
Shah Rukh Khan 's rise to superstardom has long been a subject of intrigue and admiration within the film industry. But according to actor Jaideep Ahlawat , the legendary actor's success cannot be credited to acting talent alone. In a recent interview, Ahlawat highlighted a crucial factor that he believes played a pivotal role in shaping Khan's unmatched status — his profound connection with the audience. Stardom Is More Than Talent Speaking in a candid conversation with The Lallantop, Jaideep Ahlawat distinguished between acting brilliance and lasting stardom. While he praised Ranbir Kapoor as an exceptionally talented performer, he suggested that the kind of mass appeal Shah Rukh Khan commands is rare and not solely a product of acting prowess. Ahlawat stated that popularity and stardom are fundamentally different entities — one can be a phenomenal actor and still not achieve the kind of iconic stature that Shah Rukh enjoys. He explained that Shah Rukh Khan's journey is a prime example of how emotional resonance with audiences contributes significantly to an actor's rise. It's this ability to connect deeply with viewers, he suggested, that makes the difference between a celebrated actor and a generational superstar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta CFD de BCP está en los titulares — y está haciendo ganar dinero a la gente. TradeMind Haz clic aquí Undo Ranbir Kapoor's Journey Draws a Comparison Having worked alongside both stars, Ahlawat offered insights based on personal experience. He played Ranbir Kapoor's elder brother in Rockstar (2011) and later appeared with Shah Rukh in Raees (2017). Reflecting on his time with the two, Ahlawat noted that while Ranbir continues to deliver powerful performances, his trajectory may not reach the same magnitude as Shah Rukh's. Jaideep candidly admitted that he felt overwhelmed sharing screen space with Shah Rukh during Raees, revealing that he momentarily forgot his lines in their first scene together. The awe he felt wasn't just admiration for a co-star's skill — it stemmed from the larger-than-life presence Khan has cultivated over decades. 'King' Brings a Reunion Ahlawat is now set to reunite with Shah Rukh Khan in the much-awaited film King, directed by Siddharth Anand. This project is drawing attention not only because of Khan's return but also because it marks the on-screen debut of his daughter, Suhana Khan. The film's ensemble cast includes several noted actors, adding further excitement to its release. In the same interview, Jaideep disclosed that he had to decline a role in Ranbir Kapoor's upcoming Ramayana, citing scheduling conflicts. Though offered the role of Vibhishan, he shared that the timing didn't work out. His statement reflected both humility and practical challenges in managing a growing career. While talent lays the foundation, Jaideep Ahlawat believes it's the intangible — the charisma, the emotional engagement, and the ability to resonate across demographics — that truly defines a star like Shah Rukh Khan. His comments reinforce a broader understanding that enduring stardom in Bollywood is not just about what's delivered on screen, but also about the invisible thread that binds a star to the people. As Ahlawat continues to build his own path in the industry, his perspective offers a rare insider look into what makes someone not just an actor, but a phenomenon.
