Say Bollywood and it would not take more than a split second for one to get about a zillion thoughts. Be it an actor, a movie, a song or a favourite scene. Also come associated with it, as a bonus package, are controversies, gossip, casting couch and cat fights. The “right” way to get on the right way in Bollywood might be a cakewalk for a few. But, for others it is no less than “mission impossible”.
Going through scores of rejections, auditions and over fifty small assignments on portfolios, a struggling actor can step into a comfortable space, where they can have a sane and a non-awkward conversation with the biggies in the industry.
Experiencing more or less the same situation is one such 28-year-old actor-turned writer Neeta Shah. In her latest book, “Bollywood Striptease”, Mumbai-based Neeta writes about the “good, bad, odd and the ugly” side of Bollywood. It talks about Nikki, a chartered accountant turned into a struggling actor with Bollywood dreams and how through her journey she realises her silver screen dreams, negotiating the murky world of Bollywood. Apart from the book, the writer has also taken to blogging (missbollyqueen.blogspot.com) to talk about society and events that occur, in a Bollywood way!
“My protagonist Nikki is 70 per cent similar to what I have experienced. But, yet again this is fiction, which has a few facts hidden beneath. Nikki and Neeta are regular girls, with dreams, and their surroundings and experiences influence them and their mindset,” Nikki explains.
She goes on, “I realised that there are over hundreds of such similar actors and make-up artists, who went through what not to live their Bollywood dream and the star-glamour way. I used to sit at coffee shops in Andheri and many other places and just listen to them. Many have received propositions for casting couch. Some take it, some don’t. Different people with different perspectives.” A victim of casting couch herself, Neeta reveals, “I am not trying to be a moral police in my book. If some people are fine with taking the step, it is their choice. For me, it is about reaching there through my acting skills, and I do not want to compromise on it. I did reject some really good acting offers, from really famous directors, because I was asked to sleep with them.” She also adds, “Even if you go ahead and take the step, there is no guaranty that the person will keep his promise. Betrayal is always a part of it. One has to chose to risk it.”
After over four months of the release of the book, ask her, is she was hesitated about writing it because a lot of people in the industry would criticise it? “I never hesitated. Not once. I believed in the book and my honesty. When people read my book, they all seemed to agree with it and also related to it. I have not named anyone, nor have I disrespected the industry. It is a balanced take on Bollywood,” she replies.
Over 20,000 copies of the book have been sold in over three months. Presently, working as the business developer for Irock, a production company Neeta says, she is now in a happy space. “I love Bollywood and everything associated with it. If not acting I wanted to be associated with the industry in some form or the other. I guess, with the launch of my book, new doors have opened up for me.”
The author’s book, is being adapted into a film soon. She will be adding her inputs and will be collaborating with Aditi Mediratta in writing the screenplay. “Aditi has written the screenplay for Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai — both the parts, The Dirty Picture and many more. I am very happy to be working with her,” Neeta says. She is also working on her next writing venture, which is supposedly a Bollywood thriller.
