Zareen Khan: How will I get work if people keep recommending their friends in Bollywood?

Actor Zareen Khan had a big Bollywood debut with Veer in 2010, but she feels that despite being around for 12 years, her potential hasn’t been tapped well.

The actor reveals that she keeps getting asked why she hasn’t done a lot of work but feels that it is not in her hands at the end of the day.

“There are too many factors,” she elaborates, “First of all, the most important thing to be a part of this industry is to be very social, attend all the parties and connecting to people. Somehow in the beginning of my career, I didn’t know how to network and being seen at these parties is so important for your job.”

The 34-year-old says since she does not come from a film family, she didn’t know people from the industry and a lot of people didn’t know her personally.

“Since I did not make that much effort to kind of becoming friends with people from the business, I lacked opportunities. The major trend right now is that everybody is everybody’s friend and they are working with their friends. How will people like me get work if people keep recommending their friends in Bollywood?” she asks.

Khan adds that filmmakers didn’t explore her talent as an actor all these years and refused to look at her beyond the roles that she has done.

“People do not to know me on a one on one level and that’s why they don’t know my potential. They have judged me on what they have seen on screen. Those again have been very limited because I really didn’t get enough opportunities. They are not really open to giving me a chance and that look at me beyond just a hot, eye candy,” she says.

The actor, whose last release Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele was direct-to-digital, says she has been in Bollywood for more than a decade yet people don’t come to her with meaty roles.

“Just audition me, give me that chance. I am glad that Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele gave me that chance to do a character-driven role. I didn’t have to focus on looking pretty and hot, and I could actually show what I can bring to the table,” she ends.