From doing odd jobs in weddings and exhibitions to bagging her first South film; Jasmine Bhasin gets candid about her struggles, acting journey and more

Jasmine Bhasin is one of the most popular actresses in the Industry. In the recent podcast with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, the Bigg Boss 14 fame got candid about her journey. She opened up about her struggling days, working in South Industry, depression and more. She also shared how she got into acting and managed her personal and professional life:

After completing my schooling, I shifted to Jaipur as I wanted to study ahead. I started studying for hotel management but with my studies, I also started doing odd jobs like how there are hostesses in events and weddings who serve plates and food. Then there were these exhibitions where they wanted people to share pamphlets, hosting the stalls and all, I used to earn Rs 500-1000 per day. I had promised my mother that if I stayed in the hostel, I would pay the rent on my own. I used to even stand as a junior artist in film shoots.

My first job was in ITC Jaipur, that is where I realised what being an adult means. I used to get good opportunities there for photoshoots, Ms Rajasthan and all. Then I shifted to Delhi for the Taj Palace, but I left that in just two days. When I was working in Jaipur, there was a campaign happening for Nokia, I got an offer for the shoot and they told me they would give me Rs 5000, which used to be my whole month's salary in those days so I agreed. That campaign was massive so there were hoards with my pictures and all. That turned my life completely. With that, I started getting more modelling offers in Jaipur and Delhi.

When I came to Delhi, a renowned photographer offered to make my portfolio, I told him that I couldn't afford his charges of Rs 40,000. He didn't take the money and offered me a photoshoot. That photographer used to put the pictures on his site from where a lot of South's casting used to happen. A casting director from there contacted me and asked me to come to Chennai. I was always open to trying different things, but that was the first time when I sat on the flight.

They asked me what I would charge and I still remember that figure, you can't forget your first salary. I was scared, I used to barely earn Rs 3-8000 for the shoots. I just randomly said Rs 27,000 to them and they said 'Ok done'. For some time I couldn't believe that I was going to earn that big amount. I reached there, but it was a nightmare for the team as I had never faced the camera, and didn't know about the lighting. The shoot began at 7 am and we got done by the next day at 2 am. The DOP, Director and the whole team were very good, I can never forget them. They made me shoot like they would do for a kid, do this shot well and will give you a chocolate. The ad was Chennai Diamonds.

That ad changed into a life-changing event for me as it used to get played in Movie Theatres. At that time, there was a huge film in Chennai, they were making the remake of the Telugu film Vedam, which they titled Vaanam. So when the film's director and dialogue writer went to watch Vedam, they saw my ad in the Theatre. The director who had shot my ad was going to shoot the film so they called me from Delhi and took my audition and I bagged my first south film.

I did get films in the South, but I didn't have experience, knowledge or guidance. I ended up being a failure there. Then I didn't get the right projects, I did what people asked me to do. Later I shifted to Mumbai.

My parents didn't support me initially, but they didn't demotivate me either. They were scared but they never stopped me. Coming from a joint family, they were a little concerned about me. They supported me for everything, my mom used to travel with me for the film shoots. She left me alone when she realised that I was doing fine for myself. They had that trust in me that I would not do something wrong as you know, hamari Industry pehle se badnaam hai.

I still remember I had to pay the rent of Rs 26,000 and that month for me was very tight financially. Someone told me there was an ad for Odonil, I went for the ad, got Rs 30,000 and I paid my rent. There was casting for Zee's show Tashn-e-Ishq. Navneet ji guided me and spoke for me in the show and I bagged the show. For me that phase was very tough financially, I used to eat frozen parathas or maggi because my brother was studying, and my father was in rehab, so I needed money and I did the show.

After that, there has been no looking back, I have given my 100% in everything, be it giving pamphlets to working as an actor. Initially, I used to stay in a PG, sharing a room with another girl. Then I stayed alone, but I underwent depression because when you stay alone, the city makes you feel lonely. So at that point, I was depressed, I used to get ready for the audition but I used to question myself and my confidence was extremely low. I started staying with my friends and later things continued.

I was not scared when Papa came, I was in love there was nothing wrong. My papa had taught me that 'It is beautiful to fall in love and never let go of the one.' That situation became misunderstood, not only by Aly but if it had been any guy for that matter my papa would have reacted the same way. See I didn't know what and how it was telecasted so they were tensed about me. They come from small cities, and for them facing society is tough, we don't do that.

After Bigg Boss, Aly made me understand he said, 'Tomorrow, I can also have a daughter and I would also react like this. Give them time, however much they want. I will be the best version of myself, they will be cool about it. Let them take time to accept me." I was deeply in love with him and he actually became the best version of himself and now my whole family is in love with him. Now, we are all good.

It is a minimum of 12 hours working on TV. People connect with us through the TV screens, we don't get 3 to 4 days to prepare for any dance performance for a festival special in the show. We are told to complete those shoots in the lunch break. So, television is a very hard-working process. Unfortunately, we are looked down upon. I feel the artists' level should be the same be it TV, web or films. So when I tried for films, I was looked down upon and asked not to do TV for 2-3 years. How will I pay bills, my house rent, I have to work right? Somehow, we manage through the process and then keep working and trying. Now, I am doing good Punjabi films.

Definitely, I would do TV whenever offered. Today, I am everything about TV, I can never look down upon that, my existence, and my popularity are because of TV. People still recognize me from my TV shows, they call me Teni, Bigg Boss 14, Twinkle and all so TV holds a very special place in my heart. If I ever get offered, I will surely do it.

Punjabi Industry experience is amazing, they have been really good to me. They pamper me like a princess. It never feels like you are going to work there. They are all very good and fun people to work with. Everything there works with a team and they all will call you even if it's not your scene and make you sit with them for the reading. The vibe is like a family, homemade food keeps coming and on the sets, nobody speaks about the scene.