There are ups and downs in every field and the film industry is no exception. It's an open fact that in the movie world, fame and money comes quickly if you are from a star family and it is not that easy for outsiders to achieve success. There are many instances of outsiders achieving success too, but it is nothing compared to how many among them simply come, do a few films and move into oblivion.
Mental health is a sensitive issue and it is unfortunate that in our country, we still don't talk much about it. Particularly in the film industry, scores of young boys and girls come from different parts of Telugu states to find their dreams. They work hard for years to simply get noticed, forget the offers that may or may not come in later.
The immense pressure to succeed and look good is taking a toll on many youngsters. To be among a social circle, where it becomes too easy to mingle with the film fraternity, the challenge begins. The desire to look good requires a lot of physical effort as well as financial back up so that men and women remain fit, attractive and appealing to the camera and the film makers. Right from Shobha to Bhargavi, we have seen the struggles of women and right from Harnath to Uday Kiran, we have seen how many succumb to pressures and either die due to ill health or commit suicide.
The recent instance of a young actor Sudhir Varma of 'Kundanapu Bomma' fame consuming poison and passing away shows how the youngsters are left high and dry. They may get one or two offers in their lifetime and after investing a lot of effort and time, they can neither take up normal jobs nor go back to their towns and villages. They also struggle to maintain their lifestyle and, in the process, end up in debts or mental depression before ending their life.
There has to be a dedicated helpline and professional advice offered to youngsters in Tollywood, that not everyone can succeed here and if they manage to do a few films, stardom is not guaranteed. They need to be counselled and prepared accordingly with a backup plan if they don't succeed. The pressure to either make it or break down miserably has to end somewhere before we count more and more bodies out from the mortuaries.
