‘Archana and I sat in our Maruti 800…’: Parmeet Sethi recalls moment he finally landed Kuljeet in DDLJ after initial rejection; how persistence and mindset shape success

He recalled how fate seemed to intervene at just the right moment. “A few days later, at a common friend’s house, Kirron Kher said that she had given this title to Yash ji’s film, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. And then, she mentioned that Adi was looking for a boy like Bittoo, for a second lead kind of a thing. I was shocked, and I said, ‘What do you mean by like me? He knows me. Does he not know I am an actor?’ Exactly at that moment, I got a call from a Juhu number, and Kirron ji said that this was Yash ji’s number. I immediately called back, and Adi asked me to meet him. I met Adi in his sitting room. I showed my VHS tape recording and everything (sic).”

But things didn’t go as he expected. “Ten days passed by, and suddenly I saw in the newspaper that Adi chose another actor to play Kuljeet. I was completely devastated. He told me that your vibes are very positive, I don’t think you’ll suit a negative role. I knew that he wouldn’t give it to me (sic),” Parmeet said. 

Eventually, his persistence paid off. “I asked him to give me a screen test once. He smiled and called me to his office again. He gave me four main scenes of the film. I had so much guts, I changed the lines a bit to give it more of a Punjabi essence. Archana also contributed and helped me with a few phrases… After a long pause, he said, ‘You are my Kuljeet.’ I jumped and hugged him. Archana and I sat in our Maruti 800, went to the main road, and I screamed at the top of my voice (sic).”

When faced with rejection despite a strong belief in one’s abilities, how can people manage the emotional setback?

Gurleen Baruah, organisational psychologist and leadership coach at That Culture Thing, tells indianexpress.com, “Acknowledge the disappointment before rushing to make sense of it. Once the emotion settles, it helps to remind yourself that your talent or worth hasn’t changed because someone didn’t see it. Rejection often reflects circumstance, timing, or fit, not your entire ability. This shift from external validation to internal steadiness is what allows people to get back up and try again.”

Psychological traits that help individuals turn professional disappointment into persistence

Baruah mentions, “Some people spiral into self-doubt after rejection, while others use the same energy to push forward. What separates the two isn’t just personality but also psychological skills like emotional regulation, resilience, and the ways early experiences have shaped their sense of self. For instance, people high in neuroticism may be more likely to internalise rejection, but with self-awareness and a strong inner narrative, that same energy can be redirected toward action.”

A growth mindset also helps: focusing on improving rather than constantly proving yourself. Even small, deliberate steps after a setback create momentum and keep you from getting stuck in the emotional residue of rejection.