KALKI ON BOLLYWOOD'S CULTURE OF APPEARANCES

The industry can be a punishing world for actors trying to keep up and remain visible

- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor

Being a Bollywood star might look dazzling from the outside — red carpets, designer gowns, and Insta-perfect airport looks — but behind the glam lies a brutal reality.

If you aren’t a star kid or part of a legacy family or born into privilege, the cost of staying relevant in the Indian film industry can be crippling.

In a rare moment of raw honesty, actor Kalki Koechlin of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani fame recently revealed just how punishing the industry can be for outsiders trying to keep up.

SNUBBED AT AWARDS

Speaking on the YouTube channel Aleena Dissects, Kalki recalled her years attending awards shows in her humble budget-friendly Swift car, only to be stopped at the entrance. “They wouldn’t let my car go inside the venue and they would stop it, and then I would have to show my invite and tell them, ‘It’s me,” she said, with characteristic grace.