Taapsee Pannu

'My biggest takeaway of the year was to value the present, to live every moment that has been gifted to us, rather than make plans for the future because no matter how much you plan, there is no guarantee about the future.'

As the year comes to an end, Taapsee Pannu analyses it, while looking forward to 2021. While Thappad's success was the high point of her year, the most dif icult part was the passing of her Mulk co-star Rishi Kapoor as well as Irrfan.

“When the news of Rishi sir's (Kapoor) passing came, it wouldn't sink in. It felt unreal. I felt when I will come out of my home, I will meet him,”

How did 2020 treat you?

There's no doubt that 2020 was one of the worst years we've seen. Other than that, the very fact that we've survived 2020 is enough reason to feel positive. So much worse could have happened, but it didn't. I'd rather look at the half-full glass.

Your biggest takeaway of 2020?

My biggest takeaway of the year was to value the present, to live every moment that has been gifted to us, rather than make plans for the future because no matter how much you plan, there is no guarantee about the future. So just live your life to the fullest in this moment. Do not invest too much in the future. I always believed too much planning about one's life and goals is very frustrating.

This year reinstated my belief of living in the present.

So no plans for 2021?

Nothing that is not my hands. I'd like to make sure that I make the best of every moment I have, in my professional and personal life. I don't think planning ahead helps.

Having said that, I would want to inish my pending assignments before I move on to signing new projects.

I am getting some really interesting roles in some wonderful projects. They are all so good that I don't feel like saying no to any of them. Even though I will be seen in a variety of ilms, none of them will be repetitive. I am just trying to accommodate as much as I can in my diary. I know when I look back at my career, I will be proud of it.

Thappad proved quite a triumph for you.

Yes, Thappad was good start to the year for me. I was very happy as I had really good projects to follow up as well. The pandemic cut short all my plans.

The theatrical run of Thappad was also cut short. Nonetheless, I feel proud to be part of a ilm that will be

remembered for years. It was one of the most talked-about ilms of the year. Movies come and go. Very few are talked about longer than their lifespan on screen. Thappad is one of them.

For me, the quality of my ilmography is more important than the quantity.

What is your main focus for the coming year?

That my selection of ilms and the quality of my performances should get better every year. That's what I'm striving to do.

I hope the audience feels the same way.

Every year I try to push the envelope a little more.

I learn something new from all my ilms and I try to implement that knowledge in my subsequent ilms.

This has helped me grow as an actor. I want the audiences' faith in the ilms that I select to grow stronger. I want the audience to have faith in my choices as an actor. They should feel that whatever I take up, is worth their time attention and money.

What do you feel about the growth of the OTT platform in 2020?

There is a de inite shift in the pro ile of the audience.

The audience that goes to watch ilms in theatres is different from those who watch ilms at home.

Films made for B and C centres for theatres when released on OTT would obviously not get the same response.

The focus on OTT is on content-driven ilms.

It's an interesting shift.

A new star-hierarchy will emerge if OTT continues to dominate.

Do you like watching ilms on your phone?

I'd like to get back to the theatre as soon as possible.

I am waiting to get back to the old normal and leave behind this new normal. But I must say that OTT has given a chance to so many talented actors whom we would not have seen so much of.

OTT is helping new talent to grow.

Which are your favourite performances of 2020?

Like every year, there is a bunch of outstanding performances.

I really cried while watching Irrfan sir in Angrezi Medium. The fact that I will not see more of him hit me hard.

Abrupt departures are always shocking.

When the news of Rishi sir's (Kapoor) passing came, it wouldn't sink in. It felt unreal. I felt when I will come out of my home, I will meet him. As it is, I was not meeting anyone. Everyone existed virtually. So it felt like he was out there. I had worked in two ilms with Rishi sir (Mulk and Chashme Baddoor). I had never met Sushant Singh Rajput nor have I worked with Irrfan sir.

If you had a wish, what would it be?

To live a normal life, not just the life of an actor.

I want to have a personal life that is as satisfying as my career. I do take out time for family, friends or holidays.

So far, I've been able to strike the right balance between my professional and personal life.

I keep them so far apart that they can never interfere with one another.

Fardeen Khan is all set to make a comeback to Bollywood.The actor, who was last seen in the 2010 film Dulha Mil Gaya, was recently spotted at casting director Mukesh Chhabra's office

"I never thought I'd be away for so long."

You've been completely off the radar, and now you planning a comeback?

Yes, I've been away.

And yes, I am planning to return to cinema.

This is such an exciting time to be working again, don't you think? Indian cinema has evolved so much. I guess it was long overdue. Technological advancement is a part of that growing process. Whatever the reason, the maturity and diversity in the kind of films being made is definitely something to be happy about.

What kept you away for so long?

It wasn't planned.

I never thought I'd be away for so long.

But it happened.

Initially, my wife Natasha and I had to move to London because we were having challenges in having children.

In 2013, we finally had our daughter.

Four years later, our son was born. Each time there was a bundle of joy in the house, it just took over our lives.

I didn't even know how time flew by.

Because we had chosen the IVF route, it wasn't easy for Natasha. I had to be by her side.

So time just flew by?

Initially, we thought we'd be away from Mumbai for two or three years. If only life were that simple!

Being away wasn't planned, I was dealing with circumstances.

Now I am blessed with two beautiful children.

And the time I've spent with them away from work has been so beautiful.

My children and I share an amazing bond.

I count my blessings every day.

Now I see the children a little more settled, so I feel it's time for me to get back to work.

Having returned, I find the entire landscape of the film industry has changed.

Are you back for good now?

I have always been going back and forth between Mumbai and London. This time, I'm back with a purpose. I want to do meaningful work.

This is the new golden age of cinema. It's encouraging to see such a diversity of cinema happening. Recently there was some publicity over a picture that someone clicked.

You mean the body-shaming over your weight?

That's a closed chapter in my life. It happened when it had to happen. I was never aggressively active on social media.

That was a shocking introduction. Social media is a whole new reality. Everyone is learning how useful or damaging it can be.

I think we're all on the learning curve regarding social media. We just have to be responsible with it.

Is your family with you in Mumbai?

No, my children have school in London. My daughter is seven, so all our decisions have to be according to her school calendar.

The move to Mumbai will have to be next June.

I am heading back to London for the holidays and will be back in January.

I've been in Mumbai for a month now. The response has been very encouraging. It's heartwarming that people still remember me after 10 years. I'm looking forward to working again. I am exploring the new landscape in our film industry. The old landscape is being re-defined. Work ethics have transformed.

People are far more professional.

With all these new movie-making platforms, it's all very exciting and new to me.

Have you been in touch with friends like Ram Gopal Varma?

I have had a few interactions on the phone.

With COVID-19, I have to be careful because I've my mother living next door to me in Mumbai.

So you are determined to return? I am up for all challenges.

Of course, I've years of experience behind me, and the older you grow the wiser you get.

But my mindset is that of a newcomer. I feel I am just starting out.

I am excited.

I am not coming back with any assumptions or any sense of entitlement.

I just want to do good work.

The new platforms have made our cinema relevant and progressive. We are such a rich country.

India and the US are the two biggest experimental democracies of the world. There is so many stories to tell in these two countries.

I can see your father (actor-filmmaker Feroz Khan) smiling down on your enthusiasm?

Well, yes. I have his blessings and hopefully some of his experience.

NEPOTISM IN THE WORKPLACE

Nepotism is a form of discrimination in which family members are hired for reasons that do not necessarily have anything to do with their experience, knowledge, or skills. It creates a situation where those that are quali ied for opportunities don't get them. People often imagine that working with their loved ones will be utter joy and contentment, which is the driving idea behind nepotism; apart from monopolizing the income to one's family and friends. However, history attests to the fact that all nepotism does is to create con licts and inhibit progress.

It does create rifts in the workforce, breeds resentment, penalizes hardworking team members, and gives an unfair advantage to the undeserving and unquali ied. It also causes major workplace disruptions, which can reduce overall productivity and negatively impact the unit's morale. Predominantly, nepotism becomes troublesome because of overfamiliarity between family members and friends. Close relationships commonly give rise to favouritism in the workplace; or in part some suspicions of it. It becomes dif icult to draw the lines when familiar individuals ind themselves in a superiorsubordinate relationship.

Ordinarily, the subordinate family member may take advantage of this situation by not working as hard as others or not following organizational rules or orders from the superior family member. "Usually, the family member at the helm of affairs cannot or will not control the subordinate's activities or administer discipline when necessary. It is nepotism when relatives are not disciplined for evading the responsibilities that come with their positions. It's a red lag when they behave unprofessionally at work and get away with it," ilmmaker Pankaj Purohit said. Nepotism brings about mediocrity in the workplace because selections aren't based on merit. Unfortunately, nepotists don't care. This is why many talents can never work their way up. They come so far with their dreams only to realize that they don't have the necessary contacts to advance in their careers. Consequently, a smalltown talent with merit remains unsuccessful. This is gross injustice.

BOLLYWOOD AS A CASE STUDY

What often transpires in Bollywood is a classic example of nepotism. Millions of people come from small towns and villages to the tinsel town, hoping to make it big in Bollywood. Most of the aspirants initially have preconceived notions that India's inancial capital and hub of the ilm industry will welcome them with open arms if they have the talent.Sadly, reality soon dawns on them. They live from hand to mouth, and struggle to survive in Mumbai. They ind that their projections were wrong, and they've built castles in the air, all the while. Most end up not being able to ind a place to call home or even have a decent living. Wandering from one production house to another and not being able to make ends meet, they face the brunt of harsh reality. Within the irst month, most of these talents return to their respective small towns and villages. "These young artists who came to the city, ebullient men with zeal and hunger to become stars. Unfortunately, many can't even land the role of a junior artist. The overoptimistic ones drag on for approximately another six months, living in slums or chawls near western railway tracks. Under severely distressed circumstances, another group of thousands go back, with their dreams shattered," the ilmmaker expressed. Many struggling actors wind up doing odd jobs as auto-rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers, salesmen, security guards and labourers at construction sites just to make ends meet while they struggle. The few who manage to get any close to "success" are those

that end up working as junior artists or other crew members in the ilm unit. Purohit revealed, "A minuscule fraction get noticed due to their exceptional talent and land up character roles. But the numbers are far too few, and the odds far too slim. The mainstream narrative declares that 'if you have talent, you reach the audience.' However, nothing could be farther from the truth, which is, 'the nepotistic gatekeepers won't let you shine." "Girls who are new to the ilm industry are often promised the moon and the stars by the so-called casting coordinators. They simply intend to trap these upcoming starlets and serve them as prey to the lecherous men waiting to net them. There are many cases of talented actors who were initially supposed to be cast, but at last, get replaced by the 'star kids' from the infamous Bollywood camps. These purported 'hotshots' block other actors and stars, and hinder with their visibility.

Their modus operandi is - stay relevant by blocking other talents. Does the audience really want to watch the star kids? Is it the result of collusion between the proté gé and the decision-maker?" the ilmmaker said.A small-town girl named Pushpa who idolised Madhuri Dixit, was often ridiculed for impersonating her style and mannerisms.

During her audition, she was offered roles in return for pleasures of the lesh, which she would blatantly turn down. With tears in her eyes, every next day, with new and rejuvenated fervour, she would go back to the production houses.

The ilmmaker disclosed, "Real talent doesn't even get inance. Actually 'the powers that be' are in the process to destroy the talent, they put up a front that they strive to provide opportunities for the very people that they intend to destroy. At the most what they do to pacify these talented aspirants - give them insigni icant roles. However, as soon as they see their potential to break the glass ceiling, they cut their roles and stop their chances of getting noticed.

Despite the obstacles, if a talent still manages to reach the top, they would spread lies; that the actor chanced upon a good opportunity but didn't have the spark to make it big. They make these talents feel worthless about themselves.

After demoralizing the artists and obliterating their con idence, they send them back home in despair."

EXPOSING NEPOTISM IN THE WORKPLACE

If your accomplishments are not recognized, you're being disciplined too harshly, or you're not getting a chance for opportunities, you are most likely facing discrimination. Such practices hinder your ability to climb the career ladder in your workplace and can stunt your career growth. There are ways to call out nepotism in the workplace. Here are a couple of tips to follow.

• Gather your co-worker's experiences and impressions: It's best to intertwine other cases of nepotism in the workplace into the conversation and ask probing questions regarding workplace happiness, workload, and treatment from superiors.

• Prepare for a possible backlash: Remember that this would make you a whistleblower, which could make you a target for extra scrutiny. And so, you must ensure that there are no loose ends on your part.

"As tough as it may be in Bollywood, it's very important to call out nepotism in the workplace. You are calling out discrimination, which negatively impacts morale, work performance, and relationships amongst the fraternity. It may not be an easy step to take, but it will make you a braver and more con ident person for standing up for what's right and ighting for others," the ilmmaker concluded

Priyanka Chopra Jonas never shies away from talking about her family on social media. She has often said that she was very close to her late father Ashok Chopra, and still is close to her mother Madhu, and how they have been a great support for her. In a recent interview, the actress opened up on how her mother's advice had an impact on her life.

She shared that it was her mother who told her that at the 'ripe old age' of 30, Priyanka might not have a career, which led to her opening her production house Purple Pebble Pictures in 2015. Priyanka said, "When I joined the ilm industry (and that goes for both, in America and in India), there is always an opportunity for the big guns, who have been established. It takes a really long time for writing, directing, production, acting talent to be able to get through the doors. My company was all about giving opportunities to smaller, more quaint stories and that's how the regional cinema thing started."

"And also my mother told me that when I turn 30, at the ripe old age of 30, I might not have a career very soon. So I was like,

'You're right'. We started the company and today in both countries, multiple languages, across multiple mediums," she added.

Talking about the future of cinema, she said

"In India, we tend to think that streaming services are second best to theatres when it comes to storytelling. I disagree with that.

There is, of course, a romance and charm to having a theatrical release, but there is an absolute necessity to having streaming services."Priyanka has often talked about the in luence her parents have had on her personal and professional life. A few months back, in an interview, the Don 2 actress had revealed that her father had asked her to refrain from wearing tight clothes and the two went on to have a "big clash of egos". She said,

"I'd left as a 12-year-old lat-chested, curlyhaired kid and I came back as a 16-year-old almost-woman. I think my dad was really shaken up by that. He didn't know what to do with me for the irst couple of weeks." Priyanka also spoke about how boys started following her from school, which made her father put bars on her windows. However, the two shared a deep bond and were "best of friends." Recalling his words, she said,

"No matter what you do, good, bad, or ugly, you can come and tell me. I will help you ix it. I won't

judge you, I will always be in your corner. I'll always be on your team."On the professional front, Priyanka Chopra was last seen opposite Farhan Akhtar in The

Sky Is Pink. She will be next seen in The White Tiger with Rajkummar Rao. Apart from them, the ilm will also feature debutante Adarsh Gourav. On the personal front, she married American actor-singer Nick Jonas in 2018. The couple married in two elaborate ceremonies at Jodhpur's Umaid Bhawan Palace -- as per Christian tradition and Hindu rituals. Last week, Nick celebrated two years of his wedding by sharing throwback pictures on his Instagram handle. While one of the pictures captured the then newly married couple embracing as Nick is seen kissing Priyanka's hands, the other one captures the royal attire of the husband-wife duo. Another one captured Priyanka's beautiful bridal look as she holds the veil after getting ready for the grand event. Jonas penned down a short and sweet caption about getting married to the 'Baywatch' star in "her home country" in the traditional "Hindu wedding". "Two days, two weddings now two years. I was so honoured to get to marry @priyankachopra in her home country, in a traditional Hindu wedding," he wrote.