Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor made headlines on Women’s Day this year when she shared her egg-freezing journey on social media and revealed that fear of running out of time drove her to the decision. She wastes no time recounting the highs and lows of the process, from self-injections and bloating to mood swings, medications, and finally the surgery itself. Through it all, she found herself in awe of what the female body can endure, calling it “extraordinary.” Now, the conversation has spilled over into her professional life as well, with Akanksha admitting that Bollywood’s ageist culture has affected her a lot. “I always feel like I’m missing out on time,” she admits, even as she gears up for the release of “Gram Chikitsalay 2.”
Akansha ranjan Kapoor on age pressure in Bollywood
Reflecting on how fast time has passed since she first stepped into the industry, Akanksha spoke candidly about the pressures that come with getting older in Bollywood. “At 18, when you first start out, you feel like you have a whole life ahead of you. After five or six years, you feel like zindagi khatam go gayi hai. You think, yeh kya ho raha hai! Young people come in and ADs call you ‘ma’am.’ A few years ago, I used to be the youngest person on the set. These changes happen so quickly. You have to understand that everyone has a different journey. If you haven’t become a superstar by the time you turn 18, it doesn’t mean you’ll never succeed. People think you need to start at 18 because you’ll eventually get married at 28,” she said.
Akansha Ranjan Kapoor says she can shine at 45
Akansha said that while the pressure initially got to her, she came to a realization that changed the way she looked at things. “Yes, my career didn’t start at 18. Of course, I didn’t have to end at 28. I could start at 35 and blossom at 45. That’s something I had to convince myself of, and it involves a lot of wrestling. You have to keep your feet on the ground,” the actor said. This shift in perspective also helped her figure out what was truly important to her. She now believes that ambition doesn’t always have to come at a personal cost and that a fulfilling life outside of work is just as important as her career. “I told myself that I can’t stop my life. Zindagi toh jeeni hai. I want it all my life. I can’t be that person who says main actor karungi aur phir mar jaaungi,” she shared.
Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor says women should be allowed to have a life outside of acting
Akanksha further added, “Not wanting to get married or have kids is not the right thing to do either. I feel like you can live a grounded, well-rounded life with the people around you and still keep trying to conquer the world. I think it’s time for women to have a life other than being actors. I shouldn’t have to prove it. I shouldn’t have to give up everything to be a trailblazer.”
