Ekta Jain: Earlier, to bag roles, you were asked to compromise

After acting in films and TV serials for a few years, actor Ekta Jain called it quits in 2004 to join an airline as a cabin crew only to continue in the aviation industry for nearly 10 years.

“The circumstances at that time were really tough for television actors. To bag roles, you were asked to compromise which had put me off. But, after being away for so long I realised once an actor always an actor, so I resigned and decided to make a comeback in the industry,” says the Naina and Shagun actor.

Jain adds, “Today, the industry has drastically transformed. People are looking for talent and to reduce cost of production now makers are looking for good artistes than stars! Tables have turned and better options are available for performers.”

Having started her career as a model Jain has also dabbled into theatre. “I have been a ramp model since I was in college. Hailing from Kutch (Gujarat), born in Calicut and brought up in Jamshedpur. I have done plays in Hindi, English, Gujarati, Sanskrit and Hinglish languages. My first show was Naina which was also the debut show of known actor Smita Bansal. Then, I did Inspector Vijay, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Kahin Diya Jale…, but my best role was in Shagun.” Jain was also seen in films Taal and Nayak: The Real Hero.

After her long break, she waited for a year to restart. “In that period, I worked on myself and re-polished my skills. This time, I started with anchoring projects and was doing live shows that were well received during the lockdown and led me to become a social media influencer.”

Soon acting projects too started happening for her. “I have completed shoot for a horror-comedy Khali Bali that was shot in Lucknow, before pandemic. I am playing Rajneesh Duggal’s partner in it. Then, I am essaying the role of a cop in Dushyan Pratap Singh’s directorial Shatranj. I have also shot for Trahimaam which is a courtroom drama and I play a lawyer. I will be next shooting for an Indo-Chinese film and all I can reveal is that I’ll be seen in the role of a Chemistry teacher,” she concludes.