‘What are you wearing?’: Saiyaara director Mohit Suri recalls Aneet Padda’s audition mishap; expert shares strategies to overcome setbacks

What changed? Suri shared that following Panday’s advice, he called Aneet up, and said, “‘You guys have a problem, thinking I like something — please come in what you think you are.’ She came in wearing a white shirt and jeans the next day, and I said, this is it, if you see the trailer, this is a jeans and kurta kind of a look, which is her lost and clumsy, and that’s what she is,” he revealed.

Like Padda, many face rejection at the workplace on a frequent basis, and have to pick themselves up again. Navigating rejection and failure can be hard, but the first step is to recognise that rejection is basically redirection.

According to Dr Divya Shree K R, Consultant – Psychiatrist, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, persistence is a mindset that allows you to show yourself, in your actions, that you are deserving of the position you want. “These psychological signals to yourself can be a buffer to the unpleasant emotions that come with rejection. After multiple rejections, one is susceptible to lowering their self esteem in the context of their professional life,” said.

Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday star in Saiyaara (Source: Instagram/@aneetpadda_)

How can you navigate rejection in a professional setting?

Dr Shree shared some key strategies to help you cope with professional setbacks and bounce back:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: It’s okay to feel hurt, angry, or disappointed. Bottling up emotions can hinder healing. Allow yourself to process your feelings in a healthy way, like journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or engaging in a creative outlet.

2. Reframe the Narrative: Don’t view rejection as a personal failure. Instead, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Maybe your skills need some honing, or perhaps the timing wasn’t right.

3. Analyse the Situation: If the opportunity allows, try to understand the reasons for rejection. Did they provide any feedback? This can be valuable information to help you improve for next time. However, avoid excessive self-criticism.

4. Focus on the Positive: Rejection doesn’t erase your strengths and accomplishments. Take a moment to appreciate your past successes, and remind yourself of your skills and value.

5. Learn and Adapt: Use the experience as a learning opportunity. Did you discover a new skill gap you need to address? Perhaps your approach needs some tweaking. Growth comes from adapting to challenges.

6. Build Resilience: Rejection can be tough, but it also helps build resilience. Each time you overcome a setback, you become better equipped to handle future challenges.

7. Celebrate Small Wins: Don’t get discouraged by aiming for giant leaps. Celebrate small victories along the way. This keeps you motivated and reminds you of your progress.

8. Keep Moving Forward: Don’t dwell on the rejection. Use it as motivation to keep striving towards your goals. There are many paths to success, so explore new opportunities and keep putting yourself out there.