It is known fact in Bollywood that most star kids in
the industry dream of pursuing careers in Bollywood. Mega star of
Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan and and Jaya Bachchan are huge stars and well
renowned actors of our industry and even his son Abhishek Bachchan is
also a star in Bollywood.
Then what’s the reason, Amitabh’s daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda decided
to stay away from the industry. In her recent column for a newspaper,
Shweta shared why she decided to choose a different life than her
family.
According to her, firstly, she never had an aptitude
for it and it was not something she could handle. She thinks that “it
takes a lot of talent and tenacity to be an actor. Even more so, if you
come from a line of actors. It is supposed to be in your blood
apparently. How, no one has ever taken the pains to explain!”
“I often visit to films set with mom, at that point
both (Amitabh and Jaya) were busy actors, and the hectic film schedules
of yore had them pulling in multiple shifts for multiple films leaving
precious little time to spend with me!! Therefore obligatory set
visits”.
During my years in school, I did try to audition for
and partake in school plays. Reason being I was not very inclined
towards more physically challenging activities like sports. And to say
my drawing was godawful is being rather kind, considering the mush I
kept churning out. So I thought acting and singing would be easier
options and tried out for a play in junior school, I was cast as a
Hawaiian girl in my class’s performance of It’s A Small World, along
with a bunch of other girls whose only redeeming quality was that we
were all tall!
After a long months of rehearsals, I was ready to
perform but at the climax of the play I had forgotten my one simple
single step! Disaster, I swore never to get on stage again but not
before I took two more turns, one where I auditioned for the part of
Scherezade in A Thousand & One Nights and ended up getting the role
of the Spider in Little Miss Muffet! The other one was my turn as a maid
in Pygmalion and a German hausfrau/flower girl/passer by in my high
school production of O What A Lovely War — a satire on World War I.
Personal experiences aside, it takes a lot of talent
and tenacity to be an actor. Even more so, if you come from a line of
actors. It is supposed to be in your blood apparently. How, no one has
ever taken the pains to explain! I am a keen observer and melodramatic
in disposition and that are about all the traits I have inherited. Then
there is looks and coordination, neither of which I have in required
quantities for the silver screen.
Last but not least, is my crippling fear of the camera
and crowds! There is something about “Start sound, camera, action” that
makes me freeze up and garble my speech like I have a mouth full of
marbles. Being an actor and a successful one at that, is the stuff
fairy-tales are made of, as you reach unimaginable heights. But it is a
tough world and most people do not realise the personal sacrifices made
to get to these lofty positions. A lot of my life has been shaped by
these very sacrifices made by my parents.
Let’s just say I chickened out, learning very early on
what being in the business meant for me, I chose to live away from its
glitter and glamour. This was MY decision, not one thrust on me from any
member of my family because of my gender. I enjoy the movies just as
much as the next person, I owe my existence and privileged life to it.
But I would rather pay for my ticket and watch it in a theater popcorn
and cold drink in my hand than swim in the giant fishbowl that is the
life of an actor.
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