Actor Kushwant Walia, widely recognised for his role as Rubel Deewan in Star Plus’ Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara, has opened up about the hard truths of the entertainment industry.
With a 14-year career spanning popular TV shows like Kismat Ki Lakiro Se, Naagin, Sasural Simar Ka, Ishq Ka Rang Safed, Gustakh Dil, Mere Rang Mein Rangne Waali and Woh Toh Hai Albelaa, Walia has more recently been seen in Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile, Mangal Lakshmi, and micro-drama Dil Wali Deal, Baap Baap Hota Hai, My Handsome Bodyguard, The Second Life, Machine Aur Mohabbat, Dhurandhar Delivery Boy, among others.
Speaking candidly about breaking into the industry, Walia cautioned newcomers against relying on verbal promises made on set.
“To all the newcomers that come in and get into this field, I would like to tell them that if somebody tells you on set, ‘You are fantastic and we will work with you again’, then you should never depend on that,” Walia said. “Getting you on board is not just in the hands of the producer. Channels have their say, your kundli is checked, what you’ve done in the past is checked, there are a lot of hoops.”
He stressed the importance of self-reliance over waiting for opportunities. “If you are waiting for somebody to give you work, and if you think that that person will, then that is wrong. You have to make your own work.”
Networking, he added, still matters, but with realistic expectations. “Yes, you should stay in touch, you should wish them well, and it does not matter whether you are doing that project or not. You should stay in touch. But just keep working. If you are waiting for somebody to give you work, then you will be waiting forever.”
The actor pointed out that even with digital verticals and short-format projects, the same uncertainty applies. “Your producer likes your work and says, ‘We will repeat you next week’, but it does not happen. It’s not their fault. The channels will say, ‘She has just done a similar role for us, we don’t want her right now’. So there are many factors.”
Walia, who has been working for the last 14 years, said kindness and sincerity are what truly sustain a career.
“The one thing I would like to tell all the newcomers is — be sincere with your work, be kind, and be humble,” he said. “Directors can get performances out of anybody; they are very capable. But the one thing that will take you forward is kindness. Be kind to people, be humble, and be sincere with your work. If you are sincere with your work, then work will be sincere with you.”
