He had come to Mumbai with stars in his eyes hoping to make it big in Bollywood. With superstar Rekha for an aunt and armed with acting lessons from Hollywood veterans like Sean Penn and Annette Bening, Naveed Ozman, 27, was hoping for a dream debut. A year later with no project in hand, the young guy is packing his bags to go off to San Francisco, California. The young lad is going back with a bitter truth — his superstar aunt, was of no help.
Speaking with HT City from Karachi, where he is busy with Eid celebrations, a disappointed Naveed says, “My maasi (Rekha) was not very helpful (in meeting filmmakers). I had been there (in Mumbai) for too long and I just needed a film to prove myself. Without my family backing me, it was tough to meet any filmmakers regarding work.”
Probe him further about his maasi’s role in getting him a project and the young guy says rather sarcastically. “My maasi was kind enough to take me to a few events with her where she did make a ‘cameo’ and for that I am thankful, but the industry is a relationship business. It comes with give and take.” A disappointed Naveed has now given up hope of becoming an actor. “I think I have had enough of the industry. I am too ‘seedha’ to be an actor and I just want simple things in life. From what I saw of ‘those people close to me’, I never wanted to be anything like them.... and I lost that desire. Unfortunately, I wasn’t willing to keep struggling and wasting my whole life away.”
Failed attempts and a tedious struggle to make the cut has left the lad bitter. “It’s not an industry where hard work, acting skills, dancing skills, necessary translates into success. It’s a big gamble,” says Naveed and adds, “I had
a front seat view of the industry destroying people’s lives.”
Failed attempts and a tedious struggle to make the cut has left the lad bitter. “It’s not an industry where hard work, acting skills, dancing skills, necessary translates into success. It’s a big gamble,” says Naveed and adds, “I had
a front seat view of the industry destroying people’s lives.”
Today, Naveed’s Facebook status message reads, “Has decided that he’s (Naveed) done with his stint in Mumbai… SF (San Francisco) peeps will see you in a few weeks time. Any jobs in tech bus (sic) dev (sic) or finance firm related work, please keep me posted.”