Page 35 - August 2020 Digital

STARS REVEAL

Ishaan Khatter Divya Dutta
August is India’s Independence Month

August is also

Independence from Hunger Month!

COVID-19 has made the hunger situation

in North Texas to go from bad to worse.

You have the power to make a difference; an
At just 24, Ishaan Khatter has managed to create his Divya Dutta opened up about being dropped from
own space in the film industry with projects such as Majid several films in the past. She said that she was initially
Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds and the latest being Mira hurt but she eventually learned to deal with it and make opportunity to impact the lives of food challenged
Nair’s series A Suitable Boy. While Khatter has come so the best of the opportunities she had.
far in such less time, Bollywood itself is seen as a place In an interview with The Times of India, Divya said, “It children, seniors, veterans, and needy families by
where there aren’t equal opportunities for everyone, and used to feel like a huge sense of loss, coming and being
talent maybe isn’t the only thing required to make it big. rejected or being told on the phone that someone else participating in
Not mincing any words, the actor also agrees. “There has been roped in. I’ve been dropped out of many
are so many factors and things that weigh into your movies at the last minute so that hurts because you feel
success, or your positioning or recognition, whatever it sheer helplessness because you know how good you “2020 HungerMitao Month –
is that people define success by,” says Khatter. could’ve been in that role.”
“Sometimes, people are given opportunities before their Divya said that her mother helped her take the rejections
time, or above their capabilities, and they’re not able to in her stride. “My mother used to ask ‘Why are you Funds for Food Drive”, benefiting
make much of it. Sometimes, people get opportunities upset?’ then I would say, mom, ‘I’ve been thrown out of
that they feel, or it could be a true and universal fact the film, why? I don’t know.’ So she says ‘Does that stop
that they deserve more than, and they make their place your life? Life never stops and tomorrow’s another day.’
through their hard work and consistency,” says the In fact, it’s strange that the people who have dropped North Texas Food Bank
24-year-old. me, I have worked with them a few years later with better
Adding that it’s no one’s business to mull and cry too roles,” she said.
much about opportunities, the Dhadak actor tells us, Though rejections can affect one’s morale, Divya said Visit NTFB.ORG/IAC for details
“Anyone could do that, and could be like ‘mujhe yeh nahi that it was important to make the best of the opportunities
mila, woh nahi mila’, but I feel what’s more important is one got. “It’s your life and so you have to take what
to make the most of what you get. And eventually yes, if comes your way and there’s no other way. So I think I (Youth can earn up to 10 volunteer hours!)
you really have the legs, you’ll get your space and light, have been that way, wanting to leave all these rejections
your moment. That’s what I believe. But no, I don’t think and get the best of what I had.”
it’s all about talent, there are many other factors.” Divya made her Bollywood debut in 1994 with Ishq

Elaborating more on these factors, the actor says, “I Mein Jeena Ishq Mein Marna. She went on to star
know of people who’re talented but didn’t quite develop in films such as Veer-Zaara, Aaja Nachle, Delhi-6,
it into a skill. So yes, it depends. While there’s a lot of Heroine, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. In 2018, she won
judgment outside, I don’t think people fully understand the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for
how things work. It’s really an amalgam of so many the social drama Irada. Her next release is the same-sex
factors — hard work, luck, being at the right place at love story, Sheer Qorma, directed by Faraz Arif Ansari,
the right time, preparation — that result in you getting co-starring Swara Bhasker and Shabana Azmi.
your space.”

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