Tara Sutaria, who debuted in Bollywood with Student of the Year 2 in 2019, has recently opened up about her experiences as an outsider in the Hindi film industry. Reflecting on her eight-year journey, she reveals the challenges, loneliness, and eventual self-discovery that have marked her path.
Sutaria candidly admits that navigating Bollywood without prior connections or a "filmi background" has been a difficult and isolating experience. She recalls feeling lost and overwhelmed when she first entered the industry, struggling to understand its inner workings. "When I began my career in films, I didn't know a lot of people in the industry, and I was new to a lot of this whole world of filmmaking," she explains. "So, it took many years to get used to a lot of things, to understand how the industry functions and works".
The actress emphasizes that those with industry connections often possess inside information about upcoming projects and film tracking, a significant advantage she lacked. "A lot of people who are known to the industry know a lot of inside information about films, what's being made, how films get tracked and they're privy to a lot more information," she says. "That is a very big part of this business. It's something I didn't realize when I first entered this line of work".
Despite these hurdles, Sutaria acknowledges the valuable friendships and relationships she has formed. However, she notes the unique challenge of maneuvering the industry without a support system to offer advice or guidance. "It has also been a very difficult and a very lonely task to manoeuvre and navigate so many things because when you're not from the inside, you don't have anybody to really discuss things with, seek advice from," she shares.
Over time, Sutaria has learned to trust her intuition and make decisions aligned with her values, even if they contradict industry norms. "In my experience, it's best to listen to your gut and intuition for your own career," she states. She recounts instances where she declined projects, trusting her instincts despite potential repercussions. "It may have gone against me with certain producers and directors when I've said no to working with them, but honestly, I today feel very proud of myself for having done that because it has been the right decision for me personally and professionally because I wouldn't have been happy doing those films," she explains.
While acknowledging the difficulties, Sutaria expresses gratitude for her supportive family, with whom she can openly discuss her experiences. "So, while it has been difficult, I wouldn't say it's been lonely because I've been able to talk about it," she says. She recognizes that many young actors lack this support system, making their journey even more challenging.
Sutaria is now prioritizing quality work and focusing on her musical talents. "I'm very happy focusing on quality work rather than quantity," she affirms. "Earlier I used to shoot like three films a year. I've stopped doing that. I'm focused on the other skill set that I have, which is my music and my singing". Tara started her career as a singer in Disney India's reality show Big Bada Boom (2010) and transitioned to acting with the channel's sitcoms The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir (2012) and Oye Jassie (2013).
Tara Sutaria's journey highlights the challenges faced by outsiders in Bollywood, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance, intuition, and a strong support system. Despite the difficulties, she has carved her own niche, focusing on her strengths and staying true to herself. Her upcoming film is Awarapan 2, which is a sequel to Emraan Hashmi's 2007 hit film.
