The Wonder Years...and how to live them!

 

 

Mandira Bedi

actor, model and tv anchor

“The youngsters today have so much more exposure, which has opened up so many career opportunities for them that too from a very early point in their lives. The drift towards media-related jobs is visible. Earlier only the arty-farty kind of people would get into creative fields but now some very interesting and unique options are available. It also gets you closer to Bollywood and cricket, which drive the teenagers today. Again with the Internet, the whole world is in front of you that too at the click of a button, and it opens you up to so much of information and to experiences. It totally affects the maturity of a person and makes you the person you are. This clearly explains why teenagers today are so much more matured than I was during my teens.”

Amrita Rao

actor

“As a teenager, I did modelling just for fun and then got selected for a whole series of ads, which got me noticed by a lot of filmmakers. Ishq Vishq had a very young cast. I was so naïve and had no idea about things like box office, reviews, critics, camera angles, publicity, media attention and all the other frills attached to this profession. All that I would be bothered about was my character and performance. And I am glad it was like that. We all put in our heart and soul into it, and I feel that has given this film a rare soul and an unbelievable repeat value. Compared to the way things were for me, the newcomers who are now entering films are so much more groomed and are driven by not only acting but also the glitz and glamour that comes along.” Kangana Ranaut

actor

“As a teenager, I was a bit confused about what I wanted to do. I used to live in a dream world but then my parents brought my attention back to the practical aspects of life, and that was when I started thinking seriously about my career. Becoming a doctor or an engineer never attracted me, so I decided to do something on my own because I was always driven by the dream to make it big in whatever I take up in life, and to do something very significant. There was not a moment where I felt weak; rather I always wanted to do something extraordinary. I always wanted to push myself a step further even when it came to studies; given an option between securing passing marks and passing with 90%, I would always strive for a 100%.” Shaan Mukherjee

playback singer and tv anchor

“I think more than teenagers being driven by things, it is the teenagers who drive the nation today. With the average age of the working class going down to about 23-24 years, we can clearly see the focus that youngsters have towards their career and life from a very young age. The teenagers and youngsters today influence a lot of decision making, even at the national level because of their awareness and involvement in various fields. In the reality shows where I have interacted with young talented singers, I have noticed their zeal and attraction towards their chosen field. I think they get attracted to the entire package that comes with being a part of entertainment industry.” Tisca Chopra

actor

“As someone who has crossed that threshold in life, what I find very exciting is that the youngsters today are opting for some very different and challenging careers. Thankfully, they are out of the 'babu way' of thinking and are looking for out-of-the-box opportunities in life. They have actually come up with some niche careers like that of being a DJ, a tattoo designer, joining rock bands, window display and also some very difficult options like Astral dust or Space dust studies, which I am sure is going to greatly contribute to the domain of science and technology. This kind of fusion in career choices and explosion of knowledge never existed during my time and I am glad that teenagers today have this kind of a vision." Subhash Ghai

film maker

“I am in touch with teenagers because of Whistling Woods International. I have noticed that the new generation has more exposure, are more aggressive, impatient and are techno savvy. What they lack is respect for poetry and the soul of a concept. They’ve been enamoured by technology and commerce to such an extent, that the artist in them is blocked deep within. This has become the era of cut and paste and most want success at any cost.”