In the vibrant landscape of modern India, the allure of the entertainment industry, the pervasive presence of OTT platforms, the captivating drama of reality shows and the undeniable craze of commercialized cricket have collectively cast a powerful spell over millions of teenagers and young adults. While these sectors offer dreams of fame, fortune and an escape from the mundane, they often hide a harsh truth: the path to success is incredibly narrow and the vast majority face profound disappointment.
The Irresistible Pull: A Multifaceted Infatuation:
For decades, Bollywood has been the ultimate fantasy factory for Indian youth. The larger-than-life portrayals of actors, the glitzy award ceremonies and the perceived glamour of film sets continue to draw countless aspiring artists.
Youngsters, often fuelled by parental aspirations and personal dreams, flock to Mumbai with stars in their eyes, hoping to be the next Shah Rukh Khan or Deepika Padukone. While exact statistics on daily migration specifically for Bollywood careers are hard to pinpoint, Mumbai consistently sees a significant influx of internal migrants, a substantial portion of whom are likely seeking opportunities in the vast media and entertainment sector. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 indicates that "employment/better employment opportunities" is a key reason for male migration to urban areas.
The OTT Revolution:
The explosion of Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar has democratized content consumption and, in turn, intensified the fascination with acting, directing and content creation. The sheer volume of original series and films makes a career in this field seem more accessible than ever. However, this accessibility often masks the fierce competition and the struggle for genuine breakthroughs.
Research indicates that OTT platforms, while offering educational content, can also lead to addiction, exposure to inappropriate content, the normalization of unhealthy behaviours and the fostering of unrealistic expectations regarding lifestyles and careers.
Reality: TV's Deceptive Promise:
Reality shows, with their rags-to-riches narratives and instant celebrity status, present an especially potent illusion.
Whether it's singing competitions, dance-offs or entrepreneurial challenges, these shows dangle the carrot of overnight success, often encouraging participants to believe that talent alone is sufficient for a thriving career.
The dramatic narratives and competitive formats are highly addictive, but the reality for most contestants once the cameras stop rolling is far less glamorous. Many quickly fade into obscurity, leaving behind a trail of unfulfilled expectations.
Cricket's Commercialized Charm:
Beyond the entertainment industry, cricket holds an almost religious significance in India. The commercialization of the sport, particularly through leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), has transformed cricketers into national icons, enjoying immense wealth and adoration. This has fuelled dreams of becoming the next Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni for countless young boys and even girls.
Academies proliferate and parents invest heavily, but the pyramid of professional cricket is incredibly steep, with only a minuscule fraction making it to the big leagues. The industry analysis forecasts that India's sports economy is expected to nearly double by 2027, highlighting the immense commercial opportunities, but also intensifying the competition.
The Bitter Pill: Disappointment And Its Ramifications:
The relentless pursuit of these illusory careers often culminates in significant disappointment. The stark reality is that the demand for talent far outstrips the supply of viable opportunities.
1. Financial Strain:Many youths and their families invest heavily in training, auditions and living expenses in metropolitan cities, only to find themselves in a precarious financial situation with little to show for it.
2. Mental Health Challenges:The constant rejection, fierce competition and the pressure to conform to industry standards can take a severe toll on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression and a sense of failure.
3. Lost Opportunities: Time spent chasing these dreams often comes at the cost of pursuing conventional education or skill development, leaving individuals ill-equipped for alternative career paths if their primary pursuit fails.
4. Unrealistic Expectations:The highly curated and often exaggerated portrayals of success in media create an environment where young individuals develop unrealistic expectations about fame, wealth and effortless achievement, making the eventual let-down even more crushing.
Giving A Reality Check: Early Intervention Is Key:
To safeguard Indian teenagers and youth from the potential pitfalls of these illusionary pursuits, a concerted effort is needed from families, educational institutions and society at large. The glamour of the entertainment industry and the allure of commercialized sports are undeniably powerful.
However, by providing a timely reality check and equipping our youth with a broader perspective, diverse skills and robust backup plans, we can help them navigate these illusionary pursuits and build lives grounded in sustainable aspirations and genuine fulfilment.
1. Promote Holistic Development And Diverse Skills:
Emphasize broad education: Encourage students to explore various academic and vocational fields, fostering a well-rounded skill set that extends beyond creative arts or sports.
Develop "soft skills": Focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, resilience and adaptability - skills crucial for navigating any career path, including the unpredictable entertainment and sports sectors.
Highlight alternative career paths: Showcase successful individuals in diverse fields beyond entertainment and sports, demonstrating that fulfilment and financial stability can be achieved through various avenues.
2. Educate On Industry Realities:
Transparency about competition: Openly discuss the low probability of success in the entertainment and professional sports industries. Provide realistic statistics about the number of aspiring individuals versus the few who achieve widespread recognition.
Deconstruct media portrayals: Teach media literacy to help teenagers understand that on-screen glamour is often a manufactured illusion, far removed from the hard work, sacrifices and rejections that typically precede any success.
Guest lectures and mentorship: Invite individuals who have experienced the industry both successes and those who have pivoted, to share their journeys, offering a more nuanced and honest perspective.
3. Encourage Practical Experience and Backup Plans:
Internships & apprenticeships: Promote opportunities for practical experience in various fields, helping youth discover their true interests and aptitudes.
Develop strong "Plan B" options: Guide teenagers to always have alternative career plans and to continuously develop skills that can be leveraged across different sectors.
Foster entrepreneurial thinking: Encourage young people to think about creating their own opportunities rather than solely relying on established industries.
4. Strengthen Parental Guidance:
Manage parental aspirations: Parents need to temper their own aspirations for their children's fame and encourage pursuits based on genuine passion and realistic potential.
Open communication: Foster an environment where teenagers feel comfortable discussing their dreams and fears without judgment, allowing parents to offer grounded advice.
Support mental well-being: Prioritize the mental health of young individuals, ensuring they have coping mechanisms for setbacks and access to support if needed.
The article above is AI-generated
How to decide whether you have Potential or Fantasy?
Dear Gen Z,
We are surrounded by a lot of media that dazzle us. A score of movies are released every Friday. New reality TV shows are launched in bulk on so many OTT platforms and even such platforms keep popping up. TV shows are fighting for our attention for hours, seasons and years together. We can watch all these on our various devices- mobile, laptop, TVs and also visit theatres, malls, restaurants for all. We spend our (or even worse, our parents’) hard earned money after all these. And even more expensive and irretrievable is the time and life we spend after all these.
That’s not all. We are almost hypnotised by all this glamour and glitz. Stars - heroes, heroines, romance, stunts, action, drama, dances, trailers, costumes, special effects, music and so many other things.
All these seem so fascinating and alluring, we feel tantalised. We also want to be like them and want to be on screen. Millions of youths today want to be actors, dancers, musicians, cricketers and so on, mesmerised by the screens of all types. A very small percentage of these youths have the talent and potential to actually shine there and make a career out of it. The rest of the majority simply get disillusioned and disheartened for the rest of their life.
Here are some questions that all such aspirants must ask themselves before gambling their prime years on such glamorous careers:
1. Labour, Not Glamour:However adorable the screen looks, behind it is mostly lot of labour- hard work, sweat and blood, boredom and struggles. Years and decades of it. Excellence in any area is not served on platter. You will have to fight and earn everything inch by inch. Are you game?
2. Financial Tests:It’s not a job that you get after some degree. Art and Sports are based purely on performance. It may take many, many years before you can really and reasonably earn. To survive till then, are you prepared to do humble jobs, put in 15-16 hours a day of hard work and stay financially independent enough to stay afloat?
3. Opinions That Matter:Who has told you that you have talent? Your friends or teacher and even coach might have told you but remember, they themselves have no experience of achieving what you aim to. Find out a person who has, someone who is successfully doing it for years and decades, and seek their opinion. Listen to them.
4. Willingness To Go Alone:Almost all artists are rejected sometimes in their lives. Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Shah Rukh Khan, A R Rahman, R K Narayan, M S Dhoni…. all these faced rejection multiple times in their career. However, their conviction was deep, their self-knowledge of their talent was sound, they were real and wise- then perseverance helped them. Are you ready to walk on this path alone, with criticism and discouragement from all sides?
5. Never To Regret: And lastly, whatever time that you invest, the years of struggles and not reaching anywhere- assume you will ultimately fail and you may have to go on some alternative career path, take some job somewhere as otherwise you can not survive any more. Would you ever regret those years of struggles?
You may ask several such questions to give yourselves a reality check. Please understand that the world of glamour itself is an illusion. It’s also a different story that most of it is not even a positive impact on human beings and society. All the violence, filmy romance and weirdness has a detrimental effect on young generation. See around how crimes are increasing and mental health issues are skyrocketing.
Please, for the sake of your precious life, pause and think.
Sanjiv Shah Mentor & Author
Founder Member, Oasis Movement
જીવનનો ફાંદો ન બને ગ્લેમરની ઘેલછા
ઉપરોક્ત લેખના સંદર્ભમાં ગુજરાતી ભાષામાં પુસ્તિકા ઉપલબ્ધ છે.
Alive Newsletter/ Magazine26 October 2025
Year 18, Issue 25
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