Akshaye Khanna on the challenges newcomers today face

Having debuted in 1997, Akshaye Khanna has seen how the Indian Film Industry has grown and become the powerhouse it is today. In the midst of promoting his upcoming film ‘Sab Kushal Mangal’, the actor spoke to the media about how it has now become more difficult for newcomers to establish themselves than ever before.

“It takes a tremendous amount of courage when a person – whether a kid or not – decides to step into public life, especially as an artist,” Asian Age reports the actor stating, when referring to social media.

He went on to add, “When I was starting out, I would be scared whether I would be accepted? Today, it’s gone to a different level. Not that the result to you is immediate, but it also becomes very brutal.”

With the industry growing at a much faster pace than ever before, Khanna addressed how with more films coming out, there a lot more new faces that are being introduced. In the past where there only used to be one or two new faces, competition is now increasing, “Ranbir Kapoor did ‘Saawariya’ in 2007, even then you would have one jodi a year. Now, it’s becoming much more competitive, and chances of being accepted are becoming lesser.”

In the actor’s last stint ‘Section 375’ (2019) Khanna played a lawyer representing a director charged with rape. Taking about the film, he explained, “There were no songs, no actions, only dialogues in one courtroom. So, an actor’s craft is challenged. The role showed me how dialogues alone can hold the audience. First of all, it is difficult to remember that kind of dialogues and present it effectively as a lawyer.”

Set to hit the silver screens on 3rd January, ‘Sab Kushal Mangal’ will also star fresh faces Riva Kishan and Priyaank Sharma.