Handholding: How far can it take you?

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Ram Gopal Varma may have hoped that <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Naach </span>would do for his protegee Antara Mali what <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Rangeela</span> did for Urmila Matondkar — catapult her to stardom.<br /><br />However, casting Antara in a character similar to Howard Roark, the protagonist of Ayn Rand''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Fountainhead</span> in its individualistic and uncompromising <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">avatar</span>, failed to do the trick for her.In fact, this is the latest of the seven films that Varma has cast Antara in. Sadly, box office success continues to elude her.<br /><br />While this may indicate that having a mentor doesn''t necessarily spell success, no-one can deny it lends a certain edge — especially in the fiercely competitive entertainment industry.<br /><br />"Professionally, a mentor helps," says actress and singer Rajeshwari Sachdev who considers Shyam Benegal her mentor.<br /><br />"It kickstarts your career and assists in getting one noticed. But, after the initial step, one has to be on one''s own. Benegal will not really ask me to be at the right place at the right time but will definitely offer me a role in his film if I fit the bill."<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />Agrees adman Prahlad Kakar, who has mentored innumerable individuals in advertising. "There is no denying a mentor''s importance but it is important that one understands that it is a mutually beneficial relationship," he explains. "Just as I teach my protegees their craft, they teach me valuable lessons too. For instance, at 50-plus I make some of the youngest ads and the credit goes to them. Their hunger of life and knowledge rubs onto me."<br /><br />Says Antara, "No one person can act as a mentor. Different circumstances and a variety of people play that role. At the end of it, I am responsible for my actions. My success will also depend on me."<br /><br />Just like her, most would agree that no amount of handholding can ensure one reaches the top. "It helps new entrants but fizzles out soon," says distributor and producer Shyam Shroff.<br /><br />For actor Jackie Shroff, it is Lady Luck who pulls you through and not necessarily a mentor. "To a certain extent, Subhash Ghai has definitely been my mentor. He got me the movie Hero and ensured that I got several movies," says Jackie. "As a mentor, one will stand by you for a maximum of three movies at most but that support will go away immediately when a movie flops. Do you think Mr Ghai would have stood by me had my movies not done well?"</div> </div>