Unsolicited Advice for any youngster who dreams of being a 'Bollywood Star', from a technician who has been here since 1995. ONLY venture here if you can take constant rejection, backstabbing, unfair practices. You wont find this everywhere (unless you are THAT unlucky!) 1/n

2/n BUT- be prepared for this. Remember, NOTHING IS PERSONAL. You may get rejected for reasons UNRELATED to any of the following: your looks, talent, attitude, people who've recommended you or bitched you out. Most of it is Luck by Chance.

3/n Give yourself a deadline. It may be a flexi one. But have one, nonetheless. Have a backup career option. Inside or outside of Bollywood. Can you write, sing, compose, teach, direct, shoot, design, fund, produce, make tea, cater...?! Teach yourself more skills. Feel confident.

4/n Keep in touch with whomever you consider Family. Share daily plans, speak to them at night, take their blessings, cry on their shoulder, hear their faith in you, listen to their hard talk, trust them. And lastly. Don't be ashamed to quit the dream when you feel it's time.

5/n Don't make excuses forever for not 'making it'. Face the reality & go to Plan B. Be ready for this from Day One. You are not struggling alone. There are countless dreamers here, like you. But, yes, for your loved ones, there is Just One You. God bless.

6/n Some people are taking the view that films shouldn't be considered a career option at all. Let me point out, for some of us, being storytellers is all we can do, all we love, all we find joy as. I call it an uncontrollable Curse, but when we do a good job, it's a HUGE high.

7/n BUT, if I can't make films I can write a book. My advice was more for those actors who have dreams of stardom. You really need a Plan B or be okay with being known as a damn good 'character actor' even if you don't get lead roles.

8/n Also because of the visibility of success & failure here, it's all in public domain, everyone has an opinion, think they know everything about Bollywood's inside working. They don't. A lot of the same stuff goes on in the 'Corporate' world, service industries, politics, etc.

9/n Those are just better-hidden cos they aren't as glamourous, their personnel are not stars. By associating with film stars, a business person or politician or sportsperson may suddenly become famous/notorious. Our own obsession with actors, etc. is what we need to reduce.

I commented this on another tweet but realise it's important to remember these histories of the film industry. #NoGutsNoGlory