Mumbai, March 17 Actress Donal Bisht has opened up about losing a major opportunity to work with acclaimed director Imtiaz Ali, due to the misguided advice she received from a friend at the time.
Donal shared that she had been shortlisted for a project by the filmmaker and had even reached the final rounds of meetings with him and his team.
The actress revealed that she was extremely excited when she received the call for the meeting and had shared the news with people close to her at that time.
Speaking about the experience, Donal said, "I never said no, but the situation became confusing and uncertain."
She explained that when people around her learned about her selection and the meeting with the filmmaker, they advised her on how to respond during the meeting and told her what to say and what not to say.
They told her that it was for her own good, and that by doing so, she would definitely secure the project.
The actress added that because of this particular advice, she became hesitant during the meeting and ended up sounding unsure about certain aspects.
This led to confusion for the team and Imtiaz Ali himself. The team apparently even asked if she was okay and why she was thinking like that!
Donal further revealed that later she also received a call from the casting team and industry people who expressed concern and asked if she was fine or under some kind of stress, and whether someone was misguiding her.
Clarifying the situation now, the actress said, "I couldn't understand all that time, as I just couldn't understand people some years back."
"But now I have realized that sometimes some people are so bad that they don't want you to grow in your career. They just stay around to observe and reap the benefits, and they cut you down when they are done using you for their own gains."
Reflecting on the incident, Donal shared that the experience became an important lesson for her life.
The actress added that over time, she understood that in the entertainment industry, one has to trust their own instincts.
She said, "One should be able to make their own decisions, both professionally and personally."
Concluding on a positive note, she said, "I feel that maybe everything happens for a reason to help you evolve as a person and to better understand the world and the people around you."
On the professional front, Donal Bisht has received immense love from audiences for her performances in the web series Tu Zakhm Hai and the television show Ek Deewaana Tha.
She has also gained massive popularity after appearing on the reality show Bigg Boss 15.