After impressing audiences with his work on Indian television, talented actor Priyansh Jora is now ready to set foot in Bollywood. He is making his silver screen debut with T-Series Films’ Khandaani Shafakhana which hits the marquee on 2nd August. The young actor is paired opposite Sonakshi Sinha in the comic-caper.
Talking about his Bollywood ambitions, Priyansh Jora says that working in good films was always on his mind. He also reveals that he had been offered several films while he was busy doing shows on television. However, nothing came his way that was really exciting for him, so he decided to wait patiently.
“I came to Mumbai in 2012 from Delhi and 24 was my first work on television. When I was doing Tu Mera Hero, I remember the show opened with the highest TRP of 3.4. My other show Bade Bhaiya Ki Dulhaniya has also given me a lot of satisfaction. Working in good films was always on my mind and I have willingly waited for the right role. In between, I have got a couple of offers but I couldn’t see a great opportunity in them,” says the actor.
Did he feel restless while waiting for the right opportunities to knock at his doors? “Certainly. But, I am very patient when it comes to doing the right work! I have believed in my talent and got the right support and motivation from my family, especially my father who has always had my back and told me that do what you think is right!”
About working with Sonakshi Sinha in his first film itself, Priyansh says that she is a very chilled-out person. “She is a senior actress, but she was very chilled-out on the set. That helped me relax, too, and work better.”
Talking about the message that Khandaani Shafakhana tries to deliver, the actor says, “I feel that the subject is extremely relevant. In India, most men refrain from talking about sexual problems because of the male ego. On the other hand, most women are too shy to open up, as they have been told from childhood that it is a taboo subject. It is important that we have normal conversations about sex. Our children shouldn’t grow up thinking that it’s something that shouldn’t be spoken or discussed. During my growing-up years, when we would crack jokes on sex, the grown-up women in our families would tag us ‘non-veg guys’. The point is, when somebody cracks jokes on sex or discusses it, nobody understands that the more open one is about it, the easier it is to solve problems around.”
Directed by Shilpi Dasgupta, Khandaani Shafakhana releases on 2nd August, 2019.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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