Tina Philip on facing rejections: People in West found my colour exotic, but here I faced harsh comments like 'aap bahut dark ho, inko chamka do'

Tina Philip, who recently returned to TV with Aye Mere Humsafar, joined ETimes TV for an exclusive conversation. The actress opened about her decision of quitting her job and secured life for her passion, acting and her family's reaction to her decision. Tina also went on to talk about her struggle down South and how she wanted to do films but TV happened and she has no complaints about it and says she feels blessed. The actress shared about the harsh comments she had to face for her skin colour and said that she got comments like, 'Aap bahut kaale ho, inko chamka do.' She also spoke about nepotism, her personal life. (Photo: Instagram) By: Vijaya Tiwari

I always wanted to become an actor as far as I remember. Ever since I was 6 or 7 year old I wanted to become an actor. I did theatre as well apart from my graduation and all. I think my passion for acting was the driving force and I know parents always want their kids to do a secure job, but I feel when you wake up in the morning it is really important to be excited about work. With this job I am very excited. I really like my job and when you have a will to do something and have the driving force everything else falls into place. (Photo: Instagram)

Not really like any Indian household, they weren't really fine with my decision. My mom was not really comfortable letting me do this as we don't really know anybody in Mumbai. And it's not like they live in this country. They live in the UK in Manchester. There were apprehensions but I told them now I've finished my studies, so let me just try atleast once. It took me two years to get my first show on Star Plus. I come from a very educated background, all my cousins, brother and uncles, aunts, my parents all are very highly educated. All have done IIT, IAM passout. I am the only one who has done Chartered Accountancy joh kum he hai humari family mein. But somewhere I was very honest, I wanted to do acting as I love the profession. I didn't want to be a part of this profession because of money or fame. They saw that honesty because I used to do theatre as well and they agreed. (Photo: Instagram)

The journey has been very fantastic and I feel really blessed that I got the opportunity to follow my passion and make it my profession. But yes, it has been a real struggle as well. First I had to convince my parents, then I had an agent in Manchester who would send me to auditions where I had to play a refugee, terrorist, or a typical Indian person. I wanted to challenge myself and do something different and which is why I moved down South for a year. I always thought I had this strategy in mind that all of these actors have started from South and moved to Bollywood so maybe that's the route. I was there for a year but nothing really worked out. I couldn't speak the language very well fluently. (Photo: Instagram)

Then I had a friend, who advised me to move to Mumbai. She was my friend from Manchester. We studied there together. So, I stayed with her family for six months and it took me a year and a half to find myself my first TV project. I wasn't too happy in the beginning because I wanted to do a film and not necessarily TV. But now I feel blessed to be a part of the TV industry because people here work really hard and we do a varied number of scenes every day. That's been my journey. (Photo: Instagram)

I was told stuff like 'arre aap bahut kaale ho, inko chamko do'. And I always thought my skin tone was absolutely fine. Everybody back home in the west told me it was very exotic, they used to really like it. So, I never never thought in that way until I moved in here. This is something I constantly faced throughout while I was getting rejected and in fact even till now I face it sometimes.(Photo: Instagram)

I am a very positive and determined. I don't really take things to heart that much and so that kept me going. My love for acting and prayers kept me going. (Photo: Instagram)

As far as nepotism and this insider vs outsider debate is concerned, yes the people from film background definitely get a step ahead. But I don't really feel that we as people should be harsh to them just because they come from film backgrounds. They belong to a film family so even they have to prove themselves as well. I don't know how it feels when your parents are from the film background and you get successful, and we can very proudly say that this journey has been without any contacts without any help from anybody within the industry. It is just because of my hard work and determination. I can really own that. I am not really against nepotism, I think it is a part of Indian culture to promote your own kids, to promote whether it is in business, politics or films. I see it as people loving their kids and their family. I feel if you really work hard and if you are meant to be here nobody can stop it. (Photo: Instagram)

Yes, I was to get married this year. The wedding invites were sent out and everything was ready and booked. In fact, the hotels still have our money. Hopefully, next year we are thinking of tying the knot. On that day the particular date (April 4) I was really disappointed as I was really looking forward to meeting my friends and family and being there together. We were meant to have two weddings, a catholic one and a as per Hindu tradition. So, it was a double disappointment. I was looking forward to getting married. But I've gotten over it now. I think we will now have an even bigger, better wedding now. I always thought of getting married while working and I think this can happen next year now hopefully. (Photo: Instagram)