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Journalism of Courage
Career disappointments can be deeply discouraging, especially when individuals feel their efforts go unrecognised or undervalued. Actor Rajat Bedi, who made his comeback in Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood, recently shared his experience of reaching a breaking point in his career, which ultimately led him to move to Canada.
In conversation with Mukesh Khanna, he reflected, “Mera Canada jaane ka yeh reason tha ki main bada maayus ho gaya tha, ek point aa gaya tha mere career mein jahan par mujhe aisa lag raha tha ki ‘kya kar raha hoon main?’ Kyuki frustration aane lag gayi… (I went to Canada at a point where I was feeling frustrated with my work in the industry…).”
When Mukesh quipped whether the reason behind him feeling like this was his films not performing well at the box office, Rajat replied, “Filmein chali, ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ se badi hit kya ho sakti hai? But uska faida nahi mila kyuki usme kaafi tha mera track Preity Zinta ke saath, aur Hrithik ka track Preity ke saath. Jab final edit hua tab obviously track kat gayi. But mera sabse bada disappointment yeh tha ke jab ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’ release hui, toh mujhe publicity se completely out kar diya. So I was very disappointed, kyuki as an actor aap bhi ummeed rakhte ho ki… bahut kharab lagta hai. (Films worked; there was no bigger hit than ‘Koi… Mil Gaya’, but it did not benefit me. Because even though I had done a lot of work in that film, my track with Preity Zinta, and Hrithik’s track with her, but when the final edit appeared, my track was cut. My biggest disappointment was that when the film was released, I was completely cut out from the promotions of the film… I was very disappointed because as an actor you have certain expectations.)”
Psychologist Rasshi Gurnani tells indianexpress.com, “Repeated professional disappointments often trigger emotions like helplessness, shame or inadequacy. The first step in coping is recognising that these responses are natural rather than personal failures. Building emotional regulation through practices like cognitive reframing helps individuals separate their self-worth from external outcomes.”
She adds that speaking to a therapist or even a trusted mentor can interrupt the cycle of negative self-talk and prevent isolation. Maintaining small, achievable routines helps strengthen a sense of control and restore personal agency. Peer support, journaling and naming the frustration also reduce its psychological intensity.
Gurnani suggests that self-evaluation in such moments “works best through reflective clarity rather than impulsive decisions.” Individuals can benefit from mapping their strengths, motivations and life priorities to understand what still serves them and what doesn’t.
Therapy, vocational counselling, or structured goal-setting tools enable individuals to determine whether a geographical change, industry shift, or role redesign aligns with their emotional and professional needs. Making a major move becomes easier when it stems from an informed choice rather than an escape from discomfort.
To stay motivated, Gurnani recommends anchoring progress in intrinsic satisfaction rather than relying solely on external validation. “Setting short-term goals, celebrating incremental achievements and diversifying one’s identity beyond a single role protect against despair. Psychological resilience builds when individuals practise adaptive thinking, accepting setbacks while still seeing future possibilities. Some also regain confidence by widening their network, seeking collaborative work or upskilling to feel prepared for new opportunities,” concludes Gurnani.
