actress anjali patil struggle story in bollywood | When I chose acting, my father did not talk to me for a year: Actress Anjali Patil said, when I could not understand the ways of the film industry, I went into depression

‘Every morning when I wake up, I feel that today is a different struggle. The struggle never ends’ says Anjali Patil, an actress who has given a National Award winning film.

Anjali Patil has worked in Bollywood films like ‘Delhi in a Day’, ‘Chakravyuh’, ‘Newton’, ‘Shri’, ‘Mirza’, ‘Malhar’ etc. as well as films in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi etc. languages.

Due to not having any connection with the entertainment world, Anjali could not understand the system here and also suffered from depression. Not only this, she has also faced discrimination on the basis of colour and looks here.

When I expressed my desire to act, my father got very upset

I was born in a middle class Marathi family in Nashik, Maharashtra. I grew up here. No one in the family ever thought of becoming an actor. This profession was not even considered respectable. When I expressed my desire to act, my father got very upset. He was so angry that when I went to drama school, he did not talk to me for a year. Well, I somehow convinced my father.

She used to spend the day eating tea and bread

After completing 11th-12th, I came to know that there is a school where you can learn acting, dancing and singing instead of bookish studies. Here graduation is also in dramatics. To get admission in Pune University, I secretly went to meet the HOD. I must have been 16 years old at that time. I went to Pune University and met the HOD Satish Alekar, then he told me to come for the routine audition. I gave the audition and got selected. It was a three-day trip. These three days were the toughest days of my life.

At that time, tea and bread-butter were available for five rupees, I used to spend the day eating this. This continued for three days. After returning, I told at home that I have been selected. From here, I started studying art. I did a three-year course. These were very important years of my life.

I could not understand the ways of the industry and went into depression

When I came into the industry, it took me five-six years to understand the industry. Thankfully, my first film ‘Delhi in a Day’ was released and it was a big hit at film festivals. I did ‘Chakravyuh’ with Arjun Rampal and Abhay Deol, it was a completely commercial film.

The time after ‘Chakravyuh’ was very lonely and sad for me because I was not able to understand the ways of the industry and the lifestyle that one has to portray. Perhaps this also led to a lot of depression. During that time, the National Award for my Telugu film was declared. At the same time, I also received the IFFI Best Actor Award for the Sri Lankan film. But all these things were on one side and the training to become a heroine in Bollywood was on the other side, which no one had given.

After this, I went into depression for many years because I am an artist and I have come here to show my art. I was not able to do all this.

I was only offered roles of lower middle class girls

In the early days, it was very difficult to give auditions and get roles. Now people say how beautiful you are, but 8-10 years ago they did not like my complexion that much. I used to get roles of village girl, chawl girl, tribal girl or low-middle class girl. I used to have a lot of trouble with that too, thinking whether my complexion will decide whether I look rich or not. I used to be called for only one type of role in auditions, then it took time to get out of it. After a point, I stopped giving auditions because I was taking things too personally.

I didn’t have money for food

Even after ‘Chakravyuh’, I was waiting for good work for a long time because there was nothing to do in the name of work. On one hand I was refusing work and on the other hand I had no money. I did not even ask for money from my family members. For some time I did not have money even for food and drink. There was a time when I had no money. During that time I had a lot of problem regarding food and drink. I remember that in those days I used to schedule meetings between one and two o’clock so that when I went there I could get something to eat. This must happen in people’s life. Most of the actors must have seen these days. I have suffered and lived a lot.

There was no talk of compromise with me

There are many people around who ask me to compromise, but people have never approached me in that way. Luckily, no such incident happened to me. But I know that I have probably lost a lot of work because I have not entertained a lot of people at all.

I have been shooting non-stop for the last 18 months

I have been shooting non-stop for the last 18 months, which is a very good thing. I have just returned from Lucknow after shooting for the film ‘Jagriti’. I am playing the role of a lawyer in it. After this, I will go to Purulia, West Bengal to shoot for a film produced by Sudipto Sen. I have also produced and acted in the short film ‘Naam’. It is being shown in many festivals. Recently, a Marathi short film ‘Benny Bread’ has had its world premiere in Tokyo.