Kamal Ghorui
Actor and model Nauheed Cyrusi has opened up about why she has been less visible in films and television in recent years. Nauheed is now also an influencer and gained immense popularity in social media. In a candid video shared on her Instagram, she spoke about her experiences in the industry and explained why she has chosen to be selective about the roles she takes on.Nauheed, who first gained popularity with the song Piya Basanti and later earned recognition for her role in Anwar, revealed that certain expectations within the industry made her uneasy. She said reacting to being asked about not acting in movies, “Hmm, let’s kill two flies with one slap, shall we? This is possibly the most asked question. While it’s a great time to be in the film world and all, but one of the things they make you sign in your contract is that you have to be very comfortable making out and kissing.”She went on to express her discomfort with the increasing use of such scenes. “And I just feel like, abhi toh faaltoon me bhi they just keep adding kissing scenes and all. And I’m sorry to say, but I just don’t think we look good on screen kissing. I don’t know what it is. Either they just don’t know how to shoot it well, I don’t know.”According to her, this stance has often cost her work. “Before I can say yes or no on me, I get rejected because I say, no, I’m not comfortable with the kissing part,” she said.Nauheed also spoke about financial issues she encountered, alleging that payments were sometimes withheld. “Now imagine I finish shooting, okay? And like the producer holds on to about 25 percent of your payment. A lot of times I never got that payment. Like it just never came. They would say, arre picture acchi nahi hui, chali nahi, falani nahi, bhi nahi nahi. And I’m just like, but I did my part. You know, there’s a contract and who am I to sue them, right? I’m not going to be able to do that.”Looking back, she admitted that staying away from industry networking circles may have also impacted her career trajectory. “I just wasn’t somebody who’d roam around in the clique of actors, producers, etc. So I had my whole life outside of acting. And because of which I would end up getting like the sad end of the stick. Somebody’s sister, somebody’s bhabhi, somebody’s… I was just like, no, I’m not interested in doing that. I’d rather not than do this.”Nauheed had made her return with Bombay Begums and was recently seen in Jab Khuli Kitaab, directed by Saurabh Shukla, which is currently streaming on ZEE5.
