Career journey in the glamour world.

Too many actors come to "Mumbai" with the idea that they’ll give themselves 6 months, or 1 year, or 5 years, etc, to “make it” in their "Acting" career.

I like to blame the media for perpetuating this frustrating myth of overnight success. Think about it: how many stories have you read about actors who were “Discovered?” Just happened to be in the right place at the right time? Were plucked from obscurity by some powerful casting director who just instinctively noticed the actor’s blinding talent from across a room, hired them on the spot, and transformed them overnight from a Small town boy into a bonafide movie star? The media loves a fairy tale, and the public eats it up.

The real story, however, is almost never as magical. Don’t believe me? Next time you see a talented new actor or actress in a film or tv show…do a quick search for that actor’s credits. More often than not, you’ll find that this “brand new star” has been working steadily for years, cutting their teeth and honing their craft in the relative invisibility of short films or cameos, probably some under-five appearances, a bit part or two in movies of the week…until all of their tenacity and hard work finally pays off (not to mention, the stars coming into alignment with that perfect, undefinable mixture of talent, experience, work, contacts – and, yes, luck) and they land that coveted role that elevates them to a household name.

Now, of course, there are exceptions but they are just that: exceptions. Please expect that your personal career journey will be far from a straight path. Expect that there will be twists, turns, false starts, and even inevitable setbacks – and that you may not see the fruits of your labour until far later than you’d ever imagined.

Does it make sense to get to certain time-related milestones and reevaluate (modifying, if need be, or perhaps changing altogether) your position and your plans? Absolutely! But embarking on this career with false expectations and an unrealistic timeline will do nothing but cause you needless frustration and grief.