Bhoomika’s Opinions Expressed
Once there was a woman who believed that getting married and taking care of her family is her sole responsibility. Fortunately, she did not settle for that. Today she is a journalist, an actress, a model, a theatre artist, a weight loss coach, and yes she is amazing. Amazing not because she has played several roles in her life, but because she excelled in them, because she fought for herself, and made her way. Meet this amazing woman and read her inspiring story here.
Thanks to Bhoomika for your brave answers and inspiration to others.
How long have you been in the industry of journalism, modeling, and acting? And how will you define your status here?
I just completed Journalism and Mass communication last year. It was after a gap. I started modeling maybe 4–5 years ago. I just started it as normal stuff and competition and it then continued to be a career. But acting was long before. I started my acting in the 5th grade. I was a theatre artist basically. It started unexpectedly as neither my parents nor I were not into it. My principal in my primary school supported it. She forced me into it. My school gave importance to culture and arts. They believed that more than education exposure into society as important as they thought that gives students more confidence. That is how it started. It was a forceful thing, but I never thought it would be one of my professions.
I recently got diverted into cinemas. I was not fit enough. I was obese. In Indian Cinemas, obsessed people are meant to be comedians and side artists. I don’t want to be in a side role. I always had an intention of being recognized and wanted to be the top one, I wanted to be recognized. So I diverted into journalism. But fortunately or unfortunately, I had a weight loss transformation and that helped me out with many opportunities and led me to this film industry. My status here is as a beginner. It was tough, but now it is going well.
What was your inspiration to become a journalist who turned to be a model and actor and even a weight loss coach? It would have been a pretty long journey I suppose.
Yes, very much. There was no inspiration to become a journalist. Actually, I did not want to be a journalist. I was born and brought up in an orthodox family. I believed that at a certain age I would get married, have kids, and take care of them. I thought that was my responsibility. I never thought about my career and passion. I was in Qatar for some time. There was a lady who is a representative from India representing our culture. She was the only lady there. Many other countries had their men delegates. For every national festival, she was the only lady there with several men. She used to get applauded, representing a country alongside 40 men was inspirational. She was very inspirational to me. I always dreamt that one day I wanted to be like her. Who stands out of all the men. I was really happy that you asked me for this interview and said that I am the first woman whom you interviewed.
Journalism is selected because I am very confident in that. Engineering, medicine, accounting, are something that I was not interested in. If I’m not interested I can’t give my best. Journalism was my interest. Modeling was totally unexpected. It began just like taking part in fashion shows and competitions and then turned out to be a model by profession. My weight loss transformation is the major turning point in my life. It supported me in my acting career. It helped me in modeling, acting, and now I am coaching too. I had many opportunities after that. It was a long journey. Both physically and mentally it was difficult. I had trouble with family and friends. I had zero support literally. I took the decision, and the sole responsibility, even if it is a success or failure. So it was hard.
At what age and how did you recognize that you should focus your career in journalism?
At the age, after 25 I realized that I have to do something. It was very late. I never thought I would have to make my career in journalism. I was born and brought up in an orthodox family. I never thought of building up my career. I used to work as an accountant. But I thought I was meant to be married and settle along with that. People around me say that women’s life is this much. Taking care of your husband, kids and family is all your responsibility. Everyone said the same thing to me and even I thought that was true. I was completely dependent on my family. I always wondered don’t I had any life. I was surviving with their money, for financial needs, and I was not capable of doing anything. So I decided I should also do something in my life that was different. Your parents take our educational-related financial needs, you study, then go for a job, then get married and everything is normal. I wanted to be different and break the chain. While I was normal both physically and mentally, why shouldn’t I?. When there are people with disabilities doing things on their own why can’t I that is how I chose journalism.
Describe the best and worst experiences you have faced in your professional life.
It is not just with the film industry. In any industry, you take women to have to get through bad phases more than the good ones. Even if she is a housewife, she has to take several responsibilities and she has to get through many bad experiences. It seems simple. But it is not that simple. She has to struggle and get back, that is the fact.
Coming into movies is not easy unless you have someone here to support like my family being here or any influential people who can support me or I have to be financially on top so that I can produce my own movie. Even though I was basically a theatre artist it was difficult. Every industry is male-dominated. We say we have equal rights but it doesn’t work like that. I feel bad to share that I have faced direct questions like you have to cooperate in every way to survive here. It is not that everyone is that bad. There were some very good people also whom I met. But still, I had more bad experiences. I was lucky that I got saved from such bad experiences.
I even thought of giving up this career. But finally, I made up my mind because to do something great you have to face obstacles and the roads are not easy. You will have stories to share by the end of your journey. If everything is easy and smooth it is fine. But facing difficulty and breaking the norms is where people recognize you more. That’s what I wanted.
There are really good people. I met several youngsters, who were supportive and had no expectations more than us providing our best self for the role they provide.
How did you headstart your career life? Who inspires you the most? And why?
As I told you already I was not inspired by anybody. But the lady I saw in Qatar wasn’t an inspiration for my career. She was the inspiration for me just to think that I should do something. In my field, there was nobody to inspire. My family was different. The inspiration started for me with self ideas. I posted my transformation pics and people started commenting well with me. It was a compliment in the beginning. Later it became as I have motivated them. They felt that they were inspired because of me. I did write articles, I used to do anchoring, I used to handle event organization, I used to teach dance for kids, I used to participate in many events, and even took care of my family. I did several things altogether.
I left my wealthy life for a healthy life and to become successful. I was living a royal life, but when my family did not support my decisions, I struggled. I was a top student, even after a break from education. I had family pressures and tortures and no support but did many things, so my friends were inspired by seeing me handling multiple duties concurrently. Some of my friends who discontinued their studies after marriage, started their education, saying that I inspired them. They stepped out of their comfort zone and continued to study.
So I felt I wanted to be a public figure and reach more audiences and inspire more people. That is the reason why I chose the film industry. And journalism because the media is very powerful everywhere in the world. When I was said to be an inspiration, I wanted to inspire more.
Modeling and acting industries are too glamorous according to many. What do you say about it?
Yes, it is too glamorous, it is colorful, as it has colorful costumes and makeup. Every industry has its own glamorous word. But this industry is more colorful because it is directly related to the media. For instance, the IT industry has its own glamorous side, but it is not as public as the film industry is.
When nepotism is a big talk, how do you express your opinion on it?
Nepotism is big talk. Richer continues to be richer and the poorer continues to be poorer. It is what happens even though it is just a saying. It is really hard to face someone who is already a superstar or in a position where they are influential. They and their kids find it easy. But for newcomers, it is extremely difficult. Freshers are not entertained here unless they make their name here. For me also I had faced experiences like waiting for hours to do my shoot. My director while I was acting in a serial asked me to get ready for the shoot for which I needed to wake up early in the morning and wait for hours and finally they would come and say that I don’t have a shoot that day. It happens for more than 2 days continuously, and then when I confronted him regarding this why he says I am a beginner and so I have no right to ask why. He says we have to adjust as I am a beginner. Maybe such experiences happen in other industries too. But in the film industry, it is too much I should say.
Who is your favorite star/model? And why?
No, as I said, my inspiration is just the woman I saw in Qatar who was standing alone with 40 other men. But when a favorite is considered my favorite ones are Amir Khan and Akshay Kumar. In every language, I have different favorites. In Malayalam it is Mohanlal, Dulqer Salman, and Prithviraj. In Tamil, it is Vijay, Telugu Allu Arjun and Kannada it is Sudeep.
In India, there are chances for women to get pulled back with sayings like” you cannot do it” or “you are just a woman, why do you want to become a journalist”, etc. Have you ever faced such situations and if yes how have you overcome them?
Yes, it is true, very much true. I have faced it a lot. They say that a woman’s responsibility is to take care of her family. They consider it a duty and so it is unpaid work. If we are not earning we are always meant to listen and even they say we should not spend so much. Most men make such comments. Either I am an ego person who earns for herself and achieves her dreams or a servant because we don’t earn much.
I have heard others saying that I am not capable of acting in a movie or handling the pressures of a journalist. Even in Indian movies, the norm is that a woman entering the film industry must be below 20. So that you can be a lead role till the age of 25 or 26. By the age of 26, you are supposed to do roles other than lead roles because they assume you are not eligible. This is specifically in India. In Hollywood for example Angelina Jolie is not in her 20s or 30s. Still, she is doing lead roles. Why is this not possible in India, if we are suiting the character and if you are 50+ but you don’t look so then what matters here? Male actors have the privilege to play lead roles even at the age of 60s.
Even today when we say that people and their mindset have changed, women have to fight more for their financial equality and dignity and even for the freedom to wear what they actually want to. Have you felt the same?
Yes, that is really true. They always say that equality has been achieved. It is just the case of 1%. Even though men are broad-minded and educated, they still don’t know how to treat a woman with equality. I am saying this based on my own experience. I should say that there is no equality at all. I am sorry about that. My answers are my personal experiences so they are my perspectives. I had many restrictions. If I wanted to become a model it doesn’t indicate that I am always in a bikini. Even if I wanted to wear a bikini or wanted to go nude for a shoot, it is a personal choice to make. It is my body and it is my choice to make what I should wear and how I portray myself. But it does not go that way. Parents and spouses take a role in that. Being a parent doesn’t mean that they can control you in every manner. Just because they have given birth to us, it does not mean that they have the right to rule us. Whatever I am today is just because of me. I had no support and I am proudly saying that I am responsible for whatever I have achieved. Financial, mental, and physical support I never received any of it from my families and friends. It was literally zero. This is the case for me. But some people support it. Some of my colleagues had their parents supporting them, but it is very rare.
Everyone who has achieved a milestone in their personal or professional life will have a story that could inspire others. What is yours?
I can say that I am an inspiration to myself. I was born and brought up in a conservative family. I changed myself because I had family pressures. My family used to treat me like a servant when I was not earning anything. I think I should use the word Shit. That is how they treated me. So one day I decided and realized I should do something that I can do. A lady who is good at cooking, or good at technology may know it. But it is important to take the next step. Everyone has some skills and we know that but we don’t take that step. However, I am proud that I was able to take the next step. I am happy that I have inspired many. Even my director once said that I am an inspiration, he didn’t know anything about me earlier. But once while in a conversation, he knew what I have been through. Actually a bit of it. He said that I can do something in my life. Not every time others say that. We should realize that by ourselves.
Adding to the conclusion, what is your message to society or you can also say something you always wanted to.
My message is that women are human. They have dreams and visions. Just because she is with her parents or husband does not mean that she is supposed to leave her dreams and adjust to someone else’s thoughts. You can let her go so that she can live her life. If she makes a mistake, she can take responsibility. It does not mean that every woman who wants to be independent is making a mistake. There are many talented homemakers and girls with their husbands and parents living under restrictions. A woman has a life too. She gives birth, she has her life let her live that.
I have many male friends whom I respect. They are extremely supportive and understand what a woman needs. When a married a-woman is a working lady, her husband says that they gave her permission to work, who is he to give her permission? It is explained well in Dil Dhadakne Do. I am not against any men, and I support the right one. Some women control men, what I said is applicable as vice versa also. But that ratio is too low. I don’t say that women should be career-oriented only, they can take care of the family too. But she has the equal right to concentrate on her career too.