Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri is best known for playing Heer Kaul in Rockstar opposite Ranbir Kapoor. After Imtiaz Ali's directorial she appeared in a handful of Bollywood movies. Recently, in an interview, she recalled her early days in Bollywood, facing depression due to constant work and taking a break from showbiz
Nargis Fakhri hails from the USA and she has carved her way to Bollywood. In a recent interview, she spoke about working and settling down in a place with cultural differences and language barriers was difficult. You have to interact with people though you are not comfortable.
She was quoted saying to Masala, “ I didn’t know how to manoeuvre in a new culture. I was told that because I was so authentic and honest in my feelings it wasn’t a good thing. You have to interact with people even if you’re not comfortable with them. You have to put on a game face, which I couldn’t. I was said to be immature. Today, I have come to understand that in actuality there are three faces – a business face, a creative face and then your own personal face.”
The ‘Mein Tera Hero’ actress further mentioned taking a break from showbiz as she faced mental health issues due to constant work for eight years. The actress asserted, “I’d worked every single day for eight years and I hardly got to be with my family. I felt unwell due to stress. Consequently, I developed health issues. Was I depressed? I guess you can use the word. I was unhappy in my situation and was questioning myself as to why I was still there.”
She continued, “I took two years off to get healthy. I did Vipassana meditation in the US. I did a kind of fasting, where you only have water and no food for certain days. Fasting is said to sharpen your senses. Rumi was quoted saying that fasting opens the eyes of the soul. You connect to the Universe.”
The ‘Madras Cafe’ actress gave an insight into Bollywood and said that it is not an easy trick but she enjoys her work and can not imagine her life without acting or modelling. She elaborated, “ This job is not that everyone can have. My job as a model and actor is glamorized. It’s not as glamorous behind the scenes. I walked away because I listened to my body. For some, fame, adulation, and appreciation… are an addiction. They seek validation and approval from people in that way. I am not addicted to it. But honestly, I can’t imagine not modelling or acting. I have done it for so many years. It’s part of me.”
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