Being an actor more about courage than glamour, feels Adaa

Money, fame, adulation — the positives to being an actor are many. But rarely does anyone talk about the drawbacks of this profession. Adaa Khan, who has been a part of showbiz for more than a decade now, says there’s a lot that public figures go through.

“The toughest part is the competition,” she says, adding, “Sometimes, it’s healthy. [But] what I feel sad about is a lot of people can’t tolerate it — I’m not saying success, but competition. We should, as actors, know this competition will always be there.”

She also believes that as one might have to face multiple rejections, they need to be mentally strong. “You have to have jigar, it’s not an easy job. People think it’s very glamorous and we make a lot of money, but trust me, we’ve to go through many things. We’ve to keep a high standard of living, too. Every actor has a shelf life, so you need courage to face the world. Some get depressed and end their lives, which is sad. People can tell you hundreds of [negative] things, but you have to keep a smile on your face, no one can know what’s happening in your life,” adds the 31-year-old.

The pressure to always be available for their fans on social media is also something that weighs down on celebs, Khan opines. “One doesn’t want to be on social media sometimes, but you have to. There are a lot of pressures in an actor’s life, even if the positives are more than the negatives,” she ends.

Rishabh Suri

ADAA KHAN