OPINION: Bollywood superstars overcome the challenge

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Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Bhai Amrit in Australia. Picture: SUPPLIED.

Bula readers, I got an overwhelming positive response from last week’s article on inspirational figures and the trials and tribulations they suffered though their lives, so I thought to continue with the same theme this week.

Today we look briefly at two artists from the juggernaut entertainment industry of Bollywood. I will delve for the first-time into their struggles to overcome their individual hurdles to achieve success, not a very glamorous tale, but the story has to be told.

Our first subject needs no introduction to fans of the film industry as he is a mega star in the sub continent and now globally.

I introduce to you, Shah Rukh Khan, a  global icon. This individual is certainly a true rags to riches success story. Shah Rukh Khan is by all accounts one of the highest paid entertainers globally and has billions of adoring fans on every continent, but it wasn’t always this way.

During his early life he was just an ordinary child from a relatively poor family who where just having enough to live a meager and simple lifestyle. Tragedy struck when Shah Rukh’s father past away after suffering from cancer in 1981 when Shah Rukh was just 16 years old. Everyone knows the death of a loved one is very traumatic, but to lose your father, mentor and friend at such a tender age is indeed tragic.

This deeply affected him and to try and sustain his family Shah Rukh tried various ways to keep the family going and acting was one of them. Tragedy ultimately struck again when his beloved mother past away in 1991 due to complications from diabetes. This again was a severe blow to the young Shah Rukh Khan.

Neither of his parents lived long enough to see his stratospheric rise to success over the following years, which was a painful reality for Shah Rukh.

To add insult to injury, Shah Rukh’s older sister fell into a very bad depression after the death of her parents and Shah Rukh had to step-up and look after her. Regardless of his sister’s mental health issues, she continues to live with her brother even today.

In reality the global superstar hasn’t had it easy, but through perseverance has managed to overcome all hurdles.

On a final note, during one of our interviews we spent the evening at his hotel suite and it was there he opened up and confessed the gaping hole he has in his heart as he longed for his parents to, just for one day, return to earth and see what he has achieved and take their blessings.

Shah Rukh’s parting words to me were “always tell those you care for you love them as they can be gone in the blink of an eyelid”.

Profound and meaningful words indeed as Shah Rukh is a living example of the sad reality of losing loved ones all too quickly.

 

Lisa Ray

This accomplished actress may not be a mainstream star, but she is a respected and serious actress.

Lisa Ray was born in Canada to a Bengali father and Polish mother. She excelled in her studies and even completed her schooling ahead of time which is a great feat in itself.

She is fluent in Polish, English and now Hindi after learning the language while on her filming trips to Mumbai. At the age of 16 Lisa was spotted by a modeling agent and thus her modeling career began.

Lisa went on to do modeling assignments for the large multinational companies. She was a sensational hit which led to countless work assignments.

Subsequently she joined the film industry and starred in films like Kasoor. She was then cast in the Oscar nominated film Water which was critically acclaimed.

At the height of her career Lisa started feeling very unwell and just could not manage to get better, in fact as the days and months went by she felt very sick indeed.

After seeing the doctor then specialists Lisa was tragically diagnosed with multiple myeloma which is a very rare and incurable form of cancer.

Following sustained bouts of treatment and even a stem cell transplant Lisa finally showed signs of recovery. Slowly and surely she managed to recover and fell in love with her soul mate Jason Dehni.

Once again tragedy struck just before her marriage as she relapsed and needed to start medication again. She explained the dire situation to her husband, but he was fully supportive her and was determined to go through this together.

They have been on this healing journey together now for eight years and recently introduced beautiful twin daughters into their family in 2018.

The threat of the cancer is always there, but Lisa’s special fighting spirit continues to defy the odds and after I interviewed her in Toronto recently, I can tell you first-hand, she is a fighter and her kind and gentle spirit inspired me.

Good luck Lisa, and may you enjoy your life journey ahead of you. Readers, once again if you can be positive and persevere through these uncertain times, there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel.

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