Ameesha Patel reveals Bollywood insiders don’t like her as she doesn’t ‘suck up’ to people: ‘I don’t drink, smoke and maska-lagao…’

Although she has been part of some mega blockbusters such as Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), Badri (2000), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and Gadar 2 (2023), Ameesha Patel’s career has also seen its share of colossal disasters. Having been embroiled in several controversies as well, Ameesha’s name has made headlines even when her career was proceeding towards rock bottom. Meanwhile, although she shares a warm bond with actors such as Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan, her first co-star, she recently revealed that not all industry insiders like her. The Gadar actor maintained that this was due to her no-nonsense attitude.

Stating that she isn’t part of any Bollywood camps, Ameesha also asserted that she has never indulged in sycophancy. She further said that her teetotaler nature has also come at a price. “At the end of the day, the audience needs to love you, no matter what camp you belong to. Yes — because I don’t belong to certain camps, don’t drink, smoke and maska-lagao for work — I get whatever I get on my merit. People do not like me for that reason. I am not going to suck up to you,” she said during a chat with Zoom.

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Mentioning that even in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, which eventually became her debut movie, she wasn’t the first choice, Ameesha said that she received the role only after Kareena Kapoor, who was supposed to be launched alongside Hrithik, exited the project. “After he had Kareena leave the film because of their differences and him being upset with her behaviour that I got the opportunity. Had I come from the film industry, maybe I would’ve been the first choice.”

Opening up about the struggles of surviving alone in the industry, without having a partner for support, she said, “It’s worse when you don’t end up having a boyfriend or a husband from the industry. When you don’t share your other ‘half’ as a power couple, it’s very hard. You don’t have people backing you. There’s no reason to back you, you are an outsider.”