In a series of shocking incidents, the television industry has witnessed some of its promising actors end their lives over the past few months. Like the rest of us, these sudden demise have left actress Aditi Sanwal, who plays Kuki Bajaj in ‘Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2’, deeply saddened.
While the actress says that the past few months have been tough for everyone, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, she points out that an actor’s life is always like a roller-coaster ride, with exhilarating highs and devastating lows. Also read: Aadat Se Majboor Actor Manmeet Grewal Found Dead- EXCLUSIVE
She says, “An actor’s life is not easy. We’re always under the scanner, subjected to people’s criticism and comments, some of which are outright derogatory. Also, acting is one of the most uncertain professions in the world — sometimes, you’ll be flooded with good work, and then, there will be phases where you get no offers at all; even if you receive some, they may not do justice to your talent. So, it’s important for an actor to be patient and content. If there’s no contentment, it’s impossible to stay positive. One has to be mentally prepared before entering the industry. No matter how your career pans out, you should never lose faith in yourself and your abilities. Given the nature of this field, financial planning is also crucial. Most importantly, since we have hectic work schedules, one should pay a lot of attention to health.” Also read: Preksha Mehta Suicide: Actor Karan Kundra Mourns Her Death Says 'You Were Too Young And Had Entire Life Ahead'
Ask Aditi how she maintains her health, and she replies, “With erratic work hours and long commutes, it’s not easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, I never allow it to take a backseat and follow simple steps — drinking a lot of water, ensuring that my blood sugar doesn’t dip, and following a healthy, balanced diet. Going for regular health check-ups is also very important. Above all, I make sure to exercise. If I don’t get enough time to hit the gym, I do a bit of warm-up and stretching every morning. Meditation is also very beneficial, along with sound sleep, which is most essential to stay healthy.”
Apart from focussing on physical health, she also makes it a point to stay positive at all times. “Even if I don’t have a project in hand, I don’t become desperate. Of course, I give auditions, but I don’t stress over their outcome. Also, I always keep myself occupied with productive and constructive activities, and learning new skills. For example, during the lockdown, I tried to learn Marathi, because I want to converse with people in the local language. I have a strong support system in my family and friends as well. Above everything, like I said, I never underestimate myself or doubt my talent,” she explains.
While the actress says that she stays connected with her family and friends, a common complaint against the millennials is that they find it difficult to open up to people — another reason why many of them choose suicide as the way out. As a youngster, does Aditi feel so, too?
“To a great extent, it’s true that this generation finds it tough to bare their hearts open. That’s probably because we are all addicted to our phones now, and have grown apart from our loved ones… drifted away from our families. Even teenagers as young as 15 and 16 are ending their lives. Why is it that at such a young age, they can’t find anything that’s worth living for? I think it’s very important to teach our youngsters that failures are also a part of life. They shouldn’t put too much pressure on themselves. Also, if there’s any mental health issue like depression or anxiety, it’s important to seek help and not live in denial,” she says.
Aditi also feels that friends and followers on social media cannot be a solution for your loneliness; nor can they be a substitute for real relationships. “On social media, people show what they want to show. Nobody discusses their life’s problems on these platforms,” she signs off.
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