When one of the “Chak De India” girls, Shubhi Mehta told students in the Doon valley this morning that she had left the film industry despite being offered many good roles, the audience found it difficult to believe. However, she convinced them when she explained that her personality was not suited to working in films. “I did not feel comfortable with the heavy make-up and jewellery and the long hours of waiting before a shot. It was taking away from my personality. I was not happy,” she said while talking at the two-day career carnival that began at Saint Joseph’s Academy on Friday. She played the role of Gunjan lakhani in the film.
The Dehradun Career Conclave has been organised by SJA Alumni Association and its theme is “Career by choice, not by Chance”. This theme was reiterated by Shubhi, now a well-known career counsellor(experiential educator), when she said that she realised that she was not cut-out for acting and thus changed her path. “I have dabbled in many things but have finally found my calling,” said Shubhi Mehta who also participated in the Roadies show in 2005. “I came to St Joseph’s for an episode of Roadies in 2005,” she said. It was after this that she was selected for Chak de India.
A student got up and asked her how her experience of working with the great Shah Rukh Khan had been. “He was and is simply too good. He helped me with my role as well as gave me a lot of guidance about life. Even today, I am in touch with him and we talk often,” answered Shubhi whose “mausa ji” is Avi Nanda who has been working in the field of theatre in the Doon valley for the past many decades. So the Doon connection brings her back.
She stressed upon the need for students to think of taking up only that career which was close to their heart. “If you are not happy doing what you will be doing all your life, what is the pointIJ”
By sharing her journey so far, she inspired the students at the carnival which is bringing experts from many fields to students and their parents to help them go in for the career the youngsters are best suited for.
Mukesh Tyagi, a well known lawyer who has worked with many renowned companies and dabbled in acting, spoke at the session and urged the students to “follow their heart” and choose the career they would love working at. He said that the legal profession was very rewarding. Just like all other professions, the first ten years in this profession too were difficult. “Into each profession, a lot of hard work must go to bring dividends and satisfaction,” he said. He also stressed the need for acquiring public speaking skills that would help students in interviews and also later in life.
In an earlier session, students could get to know in detail about the F & B entrepreneurship from Ravish Arora. Other sessions of the event include prospects of computer science, merchant navy, defence forces, media and journalism, start-up India, careers in management, civil services, sports and “The Reel World” (featuring Madhur Bhandarkar).
The career conclave is proving very useful to students, especially of classes 11 and 12. Stalls providing detailed information about various educational and coaching institutions are adding great value to the event. life and career experiences shared by expert professionals is widening the mental and emotional horizons of youngsters attending the carnival.