The second day of the Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest and India Entertainment Awards opened in Mumbai with continued discussions around performance, stardom and the changing landscape of digital entertainment. On Wednesday, the first day of the two-day event, a wide lineup of artistes, including Milind Soman, Prajakta Koli, Aditi Rao Hydari, Vaani Kapoor, Kabir Khan, Rasika Dugal, Pratik Gandhi, Sayani Gupta and more.
Among the many conversations on Day 1 was “The Trailblazing Stars: Straddling Fame, Art, Stardom On Their Own Terms,” featuring Nushrratt Bharuccha and Kriti Kharbanda. During the panel, Kharbanda spoke candidly about her learning curve in the industry, the shift in how visibility works today, and the pressures of comparison.
When asked whether she wishes she had approached certain career decisions differently earlier on, she said, “No, I wouldn’t wish I knew better at all. When I made my debut, the line was jo dikhta hai woh bikta hai, and now it is jo bikta hai woh dikhta hai. I’m happy about that. Now it’s about investing time in being seen in the right places at the right time.”
She acknowledged the role of visibility and public relations, but stressed that it is part of the job. “PR is very important, not just in our business. Acting is our business. It’s how we pay our bills, so we have to treat it like a business. Every business requires structure,” she explained.
Kharbanda emphasised that she does not want to be treated as a decorative presence. “I don’t want to be a showpiece. If I’m contributing and I go back home feeling proud of myself, that matters. I think I found my focus along the way.”
Discussing the impact of constant comparisons, she said, “People are comparing us, so we are comparing ourselves. But the truth is, comparison destroys personality, and I refuse to destroy mine. We’ve become so used to being compared that you feel you’re not relevant when you’re not being compared.”
Kharbanda also outlined the kinds of roles she wants to explore next. “I’d love to do something like Mughal-E-Azam, Bajirao Mastani or Ram Leela. That’s the canvas I want to explore. I already got a taste of it in Housefull 4 and I thought I looked nice, but I want to play a full-fledged character in that zone.”
Her interest extends to sports films as well. “I’d love to play a sportsperson because I’m inclined towards sports. I played tennis for a major part of my life. I would actually love to play Sania Mirza on screen. A sports biopic for sure, and outside of that, an epic saga.”
The Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest and India Entertainment Awards is presented by SleepZ by Raymond, co-powered by Fima, Carlo Frattini, and Amante in association with Helios, Style Partner Rare Rabbit, Lovestory Patner Truly Madly, Stylish Furniture Partner Uraban Ladder, with healthcare partner HCG, skincare partner Fixderma, Spirituality partner Satvik, conversation partner Bevzilla, gourmet dessert partner Smoor, nutrition partner The Naturik Co., radio partner Radio City and celebration partner Heineken Silver.
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