The Illusions of Stardom: Why I Dread a Career in Acting
The Illusions of Stardom: Why I Dread a Career in Acting
Hold your breath, my friends. I am going to tell you that I hate a career for which you aspire and dream, and my dislike for it. I am sure it will compel you to hate me and dub me a stoic. These fears do not frighten me from saying that I hate the idea of being a film actor. You will surely say that there is much glamour in it. There is good money in this profession and, above all, it can even help you win elections. You might try to silence me by quoting examples like M.G. Ramachandran, Jayalalitha, Lata, Amitabh Bachchan, Vyjayanthimala, Sunil Dutt, N.T. Rama Rao, and above all, Ronald Reagan.
Now, before you get me all wrong, let me add that I have my own reasons to dislike it. I dislike glamour; I consider it nothing but hypocrisy and a façade. Big money does not fascinate me because it brings trouble, mental tension, baseless arrogance, and what not. Only honest and hard-earned money can bring real satisfaction. Similarly, a fast-paced, jet-set life does not appeal to me. I prefer a quiet, tranquil life, reconciled to a simpler existence.
I do not like the working conditions of actors. The arc lights, the stale smell of studios, and the layers of makeup one has to put on repel me. I dislike fan mail, and I see no logic in going around appending my signature to everybody’s autograph book. I shudder at the thought of being mobbed should I go out shopping. I would be most unhappy to have gossip writers spreading scurrilous news about my private life.
I honestly feel that actors lead a miserable life. They spend one half of it trying to get a break and climb the ladder of success, and the other half coping with the onset of age and the inevitable downhill journey. Indeed, there could be nothing more pathetic in life than to be a faded film actor.