Exclusive - Anupama Solanki: My struggles taught me how to handle people in the industry

Actress Anupama Solanki says that while getting her first show was easy, she did have her fair share of struggles and more, in the initial years of becoming an actress. She says that she has learnt a lot from this period.
“When I came to Mumbai, within 3 months I got the Yeh hai Mohabbatein. So I did not face any struggle in the initial days and I thought, ‘Wow it was so easy to become an actress!’ But after two years, I faced too many hurdles and struggles.It was an unimaginable problem. I was too immature to handle the problems. There was too much family pressure and I had to face severe financial problems. I also had to handle being with people in the industry who were not genuine. When you come to Mumbai, you don’t know who is a genuine person or a fake person. You have to go very slowly and smartly otherwise you can be in trouble. My struggles taught me how to handle people in the industry,” she says.
Ask her what is the best thing about being a public figure, and what she would like to change, and she says, “The best thing about being a public figure is people treat you like a VIP and their eyes give huge respect and that is very touching. You get high-profile treatment, and who doesn’t enjoy that. I always wanted to be an actress and I feel that I am blessed to be able to do something that I love. So I don’t want to change anything about being a public figure.”


In the last 5 years, I have done successful TV shows such as Balaji Telefilms' "Dayan," reality show "Juzzbaat," "Vighnaharta Ganesha" portraying Mohini, "Maddam Sir","Bindiya Sarkar," and my most recent venture, was "Nath Krishna aur Gauri ki Kahani." Currently, I am working on a new show titled "Kuch Reet Jagat ki Aisi Hai,".
Ask her for tips for newcomers to make it here, and she says, “Well I can’t give any advice to newcomers because I am also a newcomer. I just completed 5years in Mumbai and 5 years are nothing in Mumbai. A minimum of 10 years is required to understand the entertainment industry. But, yes, whatever I have learned in 5 years, I will share that. Do not come to Mumbai blindly. Do research about Mumbai and the entertainment industry. First, you should understand why you want to become an actor/actress. Do you really want to become an actor or did somebody tell you that you have a good look so go to Mumbai and become a super star. Do theatre in your home town for at least two to three years. Complete your qualifications, have a back up plan, and then come here.”