Dream, but think practical, too

Neha Sharma interviews Amrita Rao.

Wise counsel

An uncle of mine had a strong belief that I had the talent to make it big on the silver screen. He pushed me to start in advertising, from where I took the big leap.

My father, Deepak Rao, an exceptional mind reader, set out a road map for me — he taught me to work towards realising my dreams in a practical manner. I wanted an expensive car during my college days, since most of my peers drove ritzy cars, but my parents instilled in me the concept of ‘value for money’. They said that I could have such a car the day I became somebody in my own right.

Till date, I have bought expensive items only with my own hard-earned money. My parents still keep an eye on my accounts, thinking it is their duty to guide me.

Driving force

Hope keeps all of us ticking. Unhappiness is just a temporary phase and your mind should be positive enough to shrug it off. My favourite relaxation techniques are yoga, meditation and dance.

Finding bliss

Happiness is the quest of life for all humankind. But when you pursue happiness, it eludes you. However, if you recognise that happiness is the soul’s natural state, all you need to do is eliminate all that comes between you and your happiness.

Happiness is a state of being only you can create. In the pursuit of happiness, people get greedy and forget to enjoy the smaller pleasures of life.

Professional life

By God’s grace, my professional journey has been a smooth sailing one, with support from noted film directors. Work gives you a sense of achievement and security. Be an opportunist at work and strike the iron when it’s red hot.

High points

The success of Ishq Vishq (by Ken Ghosh) earned me a certain position — I will always be considered a youth icon. Another film I am glad to have done is Welcome To Sajjanpur with Shyam (Benegal) sir where I could explore my creativity and reach out to a larger audience. With Vivaah, I had a memorable time with Shahid Kapur.

I am also fortunate to have friends who stand by me because I am a good person, not because I am famous.

Setting goals

To attain goals, we need to be focused and practical. You never know what it feels like to be a winner if you do not fall and learn from your mistakes. Any opportunity must be explored to its fullest. I believe that whatever (vibes) you emanate materialises in some form when there is perseverance and effort.

My success mantra

Success for me is not defined by the ‘Friday Box Office Syndrome’, but by the balance between hard work and respect. As an actress, success is about being able to influence fans in a constructive, intelligent way. Follow your dreams, since each of us has a gift.

Author: HT Horizons

Date: 13th Jan., 2010

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