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Bollywood: The hidden cost of stardom

What are the positives and the pitfalls that aspiring actors endure in one of the world's largest film industries?

India’s film industry is among the largest in the world. It releases around 2,000 films every year and attracts a steady band of actors hoping to make their fortune. Most of them head to Mumbai where the hugely popular Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood, is based.

But it’s an uphill battle. On the surface, glamour, fame, and pomp form its biggest appeal, but underneath, harsh prejudices, fierce competition, and toxic rivalry run deep.

So, what are the positives and the pitfalls that aspiring actors endure? And how has the journey been like for those who’ve earned name and fame? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss Bollywood and its hidden cost for stardom.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Adil Hussain, Bollywood actor; Anupama Chopra, film critic; Sahiba Bali, actor

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Aug 2020 16:06GMT

Image credit

Dancer Tanusree Shankar and dance troupe perform during the inauguration of the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival in Kolkata on November 8, 2019 (Credit: Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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  • Fri 21 Aug 2020 14:32GMT
  • Sun 23 Aug 2020 16:06GMT

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