BOLLYWOOD IS A VOLATILE INDUSTRY: DIANA

Actor Diana Penty says it’s tough to survive in Bollywood when you don’t belong to a film family

Diana, who has been part of big banner productions, has done few films since her debut movie, Cocktail (2012). “It took me a while to find my groove and understand what I wanted to do. At that point of time, I was a little confused and lost, as I was not from the industry and I didn’t have anyone to guide me or mentor me. I was still reading scripts, but people assumed that I was not doing films. Eventually, I found my footing. I can do more than just play the quiet, shy girl, which was the category everyone kind of put me in after Cocktail,” says the actor.

So, before she got the hang of things, did she get a lot of advice from different people in the industry? “That happens all the time and will continue to happen. You’ve a bunch of people giving you advice and everyone says different things. When there are opposing suggestions, you’re left confused (laughs). So, instead of listening to what 500 people are suggesting, I have always followed my intuition. Therefore, I have never regretted anything,” says the Lucknow Central (2017) actor.

Diana is excited about her latest outing, which is an action film. After hearing the narration for her part, the actor intuitively knew she had to play this role irrespective of the length of the role. “For me, it’s all about the story. Performances come after the story is in place,” she says.

Diana admits that Bollywood is not an easy place to be in. Talking about her journey so far and what does it take to survive in this industry, the actor adds, “I’d be lying if I said it was a cakewalk. Some days can feel like a struggle and some days are easier… things change every day. It’s kind of a volatile industry. So, ironically it has got to do with luck, and it’s also about being at the right place at the right time. A lot of factors

It took me a while to find my groove and understand what I wanted to do. At that point of time, I was a little confused and lost, as I was not from the industry. DIANA PENTY, ACTOR

come to play. So, it is tough especially when you are not from a film family. I feel that now I am a part of the industry, but I can’t say that my roots are here. So, you have to shout a little louder to be heard. Having said that, I feel now there is space for everyone. I guess you just have to work harder, and make sure eventually the roles you choose and your performances reach out to people.”