Never Give Up | Prakriti Pavani | TEDxSSCBS | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

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Summary

The speaker shares their personal journey from a family of lawyers to pursuing acting as a career. They talk about facing rejection, criticism, and competition, and how to use these challenges as fuel for personal and professional growth. They emphasize the importance of acceptance, consistency, and self-motivation in achieving success.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the speaker describe the phrase "tip of the iceberg"?

The speaker describes the phrase as a situation where only a small portion of what is visible on the surface represents what goes on underneath. They mention that it is estimated that only 10% of an iceberg is visible, while the rest remains hidden.

Q: Can you tell me about the speaker's background and upbringing?

The speaker was born into a family of lawyers, with a grandfather who was one of the topmost lawyers in the country. Both parents and their brother are also lawyers. They briefly mention studying in a boarding school in Dehradun, which helped them develop a sense of individuality and responsibility.

Q: How did the speaker decide to pursue acting as a career?

Despite coming from a family of lawyers, the speaker had a passion for acting and always dreamed of being in front of the camera. Although their family tried to manipulate and convince them to choose law as their calling, the speaker ignored the advice and decided to pursue their passion for acting. They mention a book that inspired them to ignore others' opinions and follow their own dreams.

Q: What did the speaker do to develop their acting skills?

After deciding to pursue acting, the speaker knew they had to start from scratch and work their way up. They invested all their time and energy into learning the craft at a prestigious institute founded by a legendary filmmaker. They later moved to Mumbai, the heart of Indian cinema, and joined college to further enhance their acting skills.

Q: How did personal tragedy affect the speaker's life?

The speaker experienced the loss of both their grandparents, who played a significant role in their life. This loss broke the speaker and caused them to go into acute anxiety and develop anorexia. They describe losing a sense of themselves and feeling their support system was taken away. However, they eventually found motivation to come out of this period, dedicating their actions to their late grandparents.

Q: How did the speaker handle rejection and criticism?

The speaker shares that they faced rejection and criticism on a daily basis in their pursuit of acting. They emphasize the importance of taking these challenges with a stride and using them as fuel to improve oneself both as an actor and as an individual. They mention personal growth and continually striving to be better than the previous day.

Q: Can you elaborate on the experience of facing rejection in the acting industry?

The speaker shares their personal experience of facing rejection, particularly in auditions. They describe the feeling of disappointment when facing rejection and how easy it would be to give up. However, they express gratitude for not giving up because it eventually led to their first role in a music video. They emphasize the importance of perseverance and staying on the radar of casting directors.

Q: How did the speaker handle criticism during auditions?

The speaker narrates an incident where they received criticism from a director during an audition. They compared the director's belly to their own stomach and were told to undergo liposuction if they wanted the role. Initially distraught, the speaker sought comfort from their mother and eventually took the criticism with a pinch of salt. They challenged themselves, lost weight through rigorous training, and re-auditioned, even though the project had been dropped by then.

Q: Besides acting, how did the speaker promote themselves and cultivate an audience?

During the lockdown, the speaker shifted their focus to Instagram and worked on cultivating an audience. While focusing on acting and auditioning, they also sent their profile to casting directors and stayed active on social media. They also engaged in brand collaborations and attended events. Additionally, they found traveling to be insightful and an avenue for personal growth.

Q: What is the speaker's perspective on acceptance and self-improvement?

The speaker believes that acceptance is the beauty of life, and accepting oneself is crucial for personal growth. They encourage repeating positive affirmations to oneself and emphasize that each day should be approached with the belief of being better than the previous day. They mention that baby steps are a byproduct of consistency and emphasize the importance of pushing oneself forward, even when no one else is clapping.

Takeaways

The speaker's journey highlights the importance of perseverance, self-motivation, and personal growth in achieving success. They encourage embracing rejection, criticism, and competition as opportunities for improvement and fuel for progress. Acceptance of oneself and consistency in personal development are key factors in overcoming challenges and reaching one's goals.