3 hours agoAuthor: Kiran Jain
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This time's struggle story is the story of TV actress Ratan Rajput. Ratan is known for TV shows like Santoshi Maa and Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo. Ratan's father died due to cancer in 2018, after which she went into depression. After this, she also struggled with autoimmune disorder, which affected her eyesight.
Ratan is telling us this story while sitting in her house in Goregaon West, Mumbai. Ratan told that he had never dreamed of becoming an actress. Everything kept happening, but after joining this industry, he never thought of turning back. Whatever struggle came his way, he faced it boldly.
Read the story of Ratan Rajput's struggle, in his own words…
When did you dream of becoming an actress?
Born in Patna, Ratan never dreamed of becoming an actress. Regarding this journey he said, 'I had never dreamed of becoming an actor. Yes, I loved acting in front of the mirror and looking at myself. When I went from Patna to Delhi, I didn't know what to do? I came here to find myself.
I had taken admission in Shriram Bharatiya Kala Center for dance in Delhi. I was not in a position to take admission in NSD (National School of Drama). Didn't know that for admission it is necessary to have a background in drama and 10 different certificates.
Then I started watching theatre. The first drama I saw was of casting director Mukesh Chhabra, who used to act at that time. After that the trend of watching the drama increased. I found my way. I decided that I would make my career in acting and from there my acting career started.
Ratan was born in a middle class family in Patna district of Bihar. His education was also done in Patna.
When did you get your first break?
Ratan laughingly replied, 'I first got work in Doordarshan's show 'How's That'. I played the sister of the lead role in this show. Although I was very scared while doing this show. I didn't have many shots, but I didn't know anything about the industry at that time.
The news of working in this show had reached home. The entire family watched the first episode, but I was nowhere to be seen. Now I am not the lead or will be seen in the first episode. Got a call from home that we had told everyone, but you were nowhere to be seen. Then explained to them that I will be seen in the third episode.
Then they waited till the third episode in which I appeared only in a passing shot. Even if it was for a few seconds, Papa was very happy when he saw me on the screen. He said- Raso, you were looking very nice. After that show, she got the lead role in 'Radha Ki Betiyaan'. Never looked back after that.
Why did you put a break on your career for some time?
In response, Ratan said, 'Many producers and directors feel that I have left this industry. At the same time, some think that I have taken this break deliberately. Although there is no truth in this. It was a game of luck that the break happened unwillingly. I just wanted to keep moving forward through work. Papa died on 5 January 2018.
Actually, father had cancer. The doctor had given us only one month's time. It was very shocking for me. As soon as I was diagnosed with the disease, I brought him from Patna to Mumbai. Took care of him for 3 months with the help of Naturopathy treatment. Then he passed away. I couldn't understand how all this happened so quickly. I had spent my whole life in building a career. Couldn't spend much time with dad. I just celebrated those last three months with him.
After father's death my whole life changed. Due to his departure, my health became very bad. I became a victim of depression. I didn't even realize when the disease of the mind touched the body. Along with depression, I also became a victim of auto immune disorder. There is no cure for this disease, but I could not spend my entire life under it. In such a situation, I started working on myself, took a break from work and traveled a lot. Thanks to this I got a lot of benefits.
In 2013, Ratan participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 7 and was eliminated on the 28th day.
When did you find out you had an autoimmune disorder?
Ratan says, 'My first setback was when I came to know that my father had cancer. She took too much stress due to this and started falling ill. Slowly my eyes started turning red. The light also started decreasing.
When I consulted the doctors, initially they too could not find the reason. Much later I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, which could only be treated with steroids. I went through counseling for several months. I had decided that I would not go on steroids so I started Ayurvedic and homeopathic treatment. As a result, today I am free from that disease.
During this time I met an Indian psychology teacher. He treated my depression. First I was his patient, then I became his student. I have been assisting him for 5 years now. Apart from acting, now most of my interest is in psychology.
Ratan started the YouTube channel during Covid. He has 496K followers on this channel. During the time of Covid, along with daily updates, he also uploaded videos of food dishes on this channel.
Has the character in the show ever overshadowed your real life character?
Regarding this, Ratan said, 'I did not study acting. Because of this, I did not know how to switch from reel to real character after shooting. Whenever I got into any character, I remained like that character. Couldn't get myself out of it.
When we used to do TV shows, there were no 12-hour shifts. In fact, I have worked shifts ranging from 18 to 42 hours. After playing the same character for 18 hours, that character would remain with me.
There came a time when I used to cry after the shooting of 'Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo' was over. She used to ask for time from her director in her sleep. When my sister saw this, she also got scared. She took me to the doctor. Then the doctor told that the character of the show remains active in my mind even while sleeping. On the advice of the doctor, I started taking sleeping pills. I used to take sleeping pills and sleep so that my mind could rest.
I repeated the same mistake during the shooting of 'Santoshi Maa'. Was shooting back-to-back. Due to which my stress level increased a lot. It's not at all that I don't want to do TV. TV will always be my first love, but this time when I return, I will not repeat my old mistake. I have learned how to switch on or switch off the character.
Ratna with close friend Supriya Pilgaonkar (in green saree).
Which friend supported you the most in bad times?
Ratan says, 'Our industry is very practical. This is the reason why I did not talk much about my illness. Due to misunderstanding, distance comes in many relationships. Well, the truth is that at one time I used to have many friends, but when bad times came, many of them took their steps back.
During this period, only Supriya Pilgaonkar supported me a lot. I did my first show 'Radha Ki Betiyaan' with him. I will always be grateful to him for the way he understood me. Even today we eat food together and share things with each other. Her husband Sachin Pilgaonkar sir and daughter Shriya are also very close to her. They are like my family in Mumbai.
You have done Swayamvar, tell about it?
Ratan said, 'I have very good memories of my Swayamvar. Although I was a little naive at that time. If she had done the show after a few years, maybe something good would have happened. To be honest, my life at that time was no less than a fairy tale. Although my engagement was broken with a very nice boy. Abhinav was a good boy. I was a little silly.
Ratan had committed suicide in the year 2011. In this swayamvar, she had chosen Abhinav Sharma as her life partner. Both of them dated for some time, but later their relationship did not work out.
People comment that you are hiding it despite having a boyfriend. Many think that I am hiding my marriage. Their suspicion is on who I hang out with? Who shoots my videos? Why would I do this? I tried to explain to these people in every way that I have a team for shooting, but no one is ready to understand. I am not married. I am single and very happy too.
A lot has changed after father left. Everyone in the family wants me to get married and settle down. They think that my life will be complete only after marriage, but it is not so. I am happy even without a partner.
