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Every opportunity takes you closer to your desitnation | Rajeshwari Sachdev | TEDxMICA


this is about the time when the Ola uber

this is about the time when the Ola uber and share a cab did not exist this is

and share a cab did not exist this is

and share a cab did not exist this is also about the time when the metro and

also about the time when the metro and

also about the time when the metro and the tube were not even a part of our

the tube were not even a part of our

the tube were not even a part of our fairy tale this is about the time when

fairy tale this is about the time when

fairy tale this is about the time when for our transport we took the humble B

for our transport we took the humble B

for our transport we took the humble B est bus in Mumbai or the Mumbai local

est bus in Mumbai or the Mumbai local

est bus in Mumbai or the Mumbai local shame because this is also about the

shame because this is also about the

shame because this is also about the time when we didn’t have so much money

time when we didn’t have so much money

time when we didn’t have so much money as to spend for a Kali pili taxi every

as to spend for a Kali pili taxi every

as to spend for a Kali pili taxi every day for our travel this is about the

day for our travel this is about the

day for our travel this is about the time when I was 15 and I decided I will

time when I was 15 and I decided I will

time when I was 15 and I decided I will be an actor so I was working in place

be an actor so I was working in place

be an actor so I was working in place now when you’re doing a play you have

now when you’re doing a play you have

now when you’re doing a play you have many rehearsals to attend months on end

many rehearsals to attend months on end

many rehearsals to attend months on end I don’t know how many of you are

I don’t know how many of you are

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Mumbai but I used to live

familiar with Mumbai but I used to live

familiar with Mumbai but I used to live in a place called sign which was

in a place called sign which was

in a place called sign which was centrally located in Mumbai and the

centrally located in Mumbai and the

centrally located in Mumbai and the rehearsals would happen 15 kilometers

rehearsals would happen 15 kilometers

rehearsals would happen 15 kilometers away one way in the western suburbs Juhu

away one way in the western suburbs Juhu

away one way in the western suburbs Juhu now I had to travel every day for my

now I had to travel every day for my

now I had to travel every day for my rehearsals so the easiest way of

rehearsals so the easiest way of

rehearsals so the easiest way of transport was the bus a bus that would

transport was the bus a bus that would

transport was the bus a bus that would take me directly from sign and was a

take me directly from sign and was a

take me directly from sign and was a direct bus that went right outside my

direct bus that went right outside my

direct bus that went right outside my rehearsal venue you can’t get better

rehearsal venue you can’t get better

rehearsal venue you can’t get better than that

than that

than that this was bus number 255 okay the only

this was bus number 255 okay the only

this was bus number 255 okay the only hitch with this bus was the frequency

hitch with this bus was the frequency

hitch with this bus was the frequency was very bad it was one bus every one

was very bad it was one bus every one

was very bad it was one bus every one hour so you missed one and you’ve had it

hour so you missed one and you’ve had it

hour so you missed one and you’ve had it now I’m waiting for this bus and after

now I’m waiting for this bus and after

now I’m waiting for this bus and after about 30 35 minutes or so I see a 255

about 30 35 minutes or so I see a 255

about 30 35 minutes or so I see a 255 approaching the bus stop while I see it

approaching the bus stop while I see it

approaching the bus stop while I see it a whole lot of others see it and

a whole lot of others see it and

a whole lot of others see it and suddenly what was a disciplined queue

suddenly what was a disciplined queue

suddenly what was a disciplined queue breaks it to a chaos everybody’s trying

breaks it to a chaos everybody’s trying

breaks it to a chaos everybody’s trying to come forward because they all have to

to come forward because they all have to

to come forward because they all have to get into this bus right now

get into this bus right now

get into this bus right now now as the bus is approaching the stop

now as the bus is approaching the stop

now as the bus is approaching the stop the conductor inside the bus sees my god

the conductor inside the bus sees my god

the conductor inside the bus sees my god there are a whole lot of people trying

there are a whole lot of people trying

there are a whole lot of people trying to get into my bus no way so he coached

to get into my bus no way so he coached

to get into my bus no way so he coached onk onk onk onk

onk onk onk onk

onk onk onk onk and the bus goes off without stopping

and the bus goes off without stopping

and the bus goes off without stopping this used to happen often you’re angry

this used to happen often you’re angry

this used to happen often you’re angry you’re frustrated even more so because

you’re frustrated even more so because

you’re frustrated even more so because now you have to wait another hour to get

now you have to wait another hour to get

now you have to wait another hour to get the next one

the next one

the next one the direct one you can’t do a thing so

the direct one you can’t do a thing so

the direct one you can’t do a thing so you wait now exactly at the appointed

you wait now exactly at the appointed

you wait now exactly at the appointed hour the next bus comes thankfully this

hour the next bus comes thankfully this

hour the next bus comes thankfully this one stops but everybody is in a mad rush

one stops but everybody is in a mad rush

one stops but everybody is in a mad rush so there’s a lot of push phone talk

so there’s a lot of push phone talk

so there’s a lot of push phone talk everything and I froze because I didn’t

everything and I froze because I didn’t

everything and I froze because I didn’t think I could get inside the bus I

think I could get inside the bus I

think I could get inside the bus I couldn’t handle this I was scared so I

couldn’t handle this I was scared so I

couldn’t handle this I was scared so I stopped I miss this bus I have no choice

stopped I miss this bus I have no choice

stopped I miss this bus I have no choice I have to wait for the third one and I’m

I have to wait for the third one and I’m

I have to wait for the third one and I’m getting very late by the time the third

getting very late by the time the third

getting very late by the time the third bus came I had very well devised in my

bus came I had very well devised in my

bus came I had very well devised in my head how I’m going to enter this one and

head how I’m going to enter this one and

head how I’m going to enter this one and I managed to enter the third bus I have

I managed to enter the third bus I have

I managed to enter the third bus I have a wonderful journey I have reached my

a wonderful journey I have reached my

a wonderful journey I have reached my rehearsals but a good two and a half

rehearsals but a good two and a half

rehearsals but a good two and a half hours late happens next day it’s back to

hours late happens next day it’s back to

hours late happens next day it’s back to the same thing I’m at the same bus stop

the same thing I’m at the same bus stop

the same thing I’m at the same bus stop waiting for the 2:55 but as I’m waiting

waiting for the 2:55 but as I’m waiting

waiting for the 2:55 but as I’m waiting for the 2:55 see another bus that says

for the 2:55 see another bus that says

for the 2:55 see another bus that says Bandra fine get it at least I’ll go for

Bandra fine get it at least I’ll go for

Bandra fine get it at least I’ll go for kilometres I head into my journey but

kilometres I head into my journey but

kilometres I head into my journey but the problem is you have to change a bus

the problem is you have to change a bus

the problem is you have to change a bus that’s not very convenient but you got

that’s not very convenient but you got

that’s not very convenient but you got to do what you got to do so I get off at

to do what you got to do so I get off at

to do what you got to do so I get off at Bandra I went there for the next bus I

Bandra I went there for the next bus I

Bandra I went there for the next bus I see another bus that says Santa Cruz

see another bus that says Santa Cruz

see another bus that says Santa Cruz that’s another five to six kilometres

that’s another five to six kilometres

that’s another five to six kilometres ahead into the journey fine I get into

ahead into the journey fine I get into

ahead into the journey fine I get into the Santa Cruz bus now in Santa Cruz I

the Santa Cruz bus now in Santa Cruz I

the Santa Cruz bus now in Santa Cruz I get very lucky because every other bus

get very lucky because every other bus

get very lucky because every other bus from there goes to Tahoe so very quickly

from there goes to Tahoe so very quickly

from there goes to Tahoe so very quickly get a bus I reach my rehearsals and that

get a bus I reach my rehearsals and that

get a bus I reach my rehearsals and that day after changing so many buses I reach

day after changing so many buses I reach

day after changing so many buses I reach my rehearsals absolutely on time that is

my rehearsals absolutely on time that is

my rehearsals absolutely on time that is exactly what my career has been I waited

exactly what my career has been I waited

exactly what my career has been I waited some I waited and then I was so

some I waited and then I was so

some I waited and then I was so determined to succeed that I decided I

determined to succeed that I decided I

determined to succeed that I decided I will take the first bus that comes my

will take the first bus that comes my

will take the first bus that comes my way that takes me forward into my

way that takes me forward into my

way that takes me forward into my journey towards my destination so what

journey towards my destination so what

journey towards my destination so what if it is

if it is

if it is only one single stock at a time I

started with stage I that films I moved

started with stage I that films I moved television I sang I cut three albums as

television I sang I cut three albums as

television I sang I cut three albums as a singer I danced my heart out on a

a singer I danced my heart out on a

a singer I danced my heart out on a reality show I am seen I did it all to

reality show I am seen I did it all to

reality show I am seen I did it all to showcase my talent to stay visible to

showcase my talent to stay visible to

showcase my talent to stay visible to earn while I learned something new

earn while I learned something new

earn while I learned something new at times I did it all to survive in

at times I did it all to survive in

at times I did it all to survive in these waters and then I began to thrive

these waters and then I began to thrive

these waters and then I began to thrive in it you know lucky are those people

in it you know lucky are those people

in it you know lucky are those people who care who have this one talent okay

who care who have this one talent okay

who care who have this one talent okay they can do this one thing they work

they can do this one thing they work

they can do this one thing they work towards that one thing and then they are

towards that one thing and then they are

towards that one thing and then they are super successful in that thing brilliant

super successful in that thing brilliant

super successful in that thing brilliant but there is a whole lot of people like

but there is a whole lot of people like

but there is a whole lot of people like me

me

me who maybe can do five things that we

who maybe can do five things that we

who maybe can do five things that we know of and who maybe can do three other

know of and who maybe can do three other

know of and who maybe can do three other things that we do not know we can do but

things that we do not know we can do but

things that we do not know we can do but others can see in us spoiled for choice

others can see in us spoiled for choice

others can see in us spoiled for choice not really now I was hosting this so

not really now I was hosting this so

not really now I was hosting this so countdown show on television I did that

countdown show on television I did that

countdown show on television I did that too and because I’m a Punjabi nd break

too and because I’m a Punjabi nd break

too and because I’m a Punjabi nd break into a song and dance about everything I

into a song and dance about everything I

into a song and dance about everything I was singing on this saw show and I had

was singing on this saw show and I had

was singing on this saw show and I had nothing to lose now

nothing to lose now

nothing to lose now the next thing I know I get this call

the next thing I know I get this call

the next thing I know I get this call from a music company saying we want you

from a music company saying we want you

from a music company saying we want you to cut an album I said no this is not in

to cut an album I said no this is not in

to cut an album I said no this is not in my scheme of things I had not planned

my scheme of things I had not planned

my scheme of things I had not planned for this I am a trained actor I’m a

for this I am a trained actor I’m a

for this I am a trained actor I’m a trained classical dancer but singing I

trained classical dancer but singing I

trained classical dancer but singing I have done nothing towards that I can’t

have done nothing towards that I can’t

have done nothing towards that I can’t just wake up one morning and say hey I

just wake up one morning and say hey I

just wake up one morning and say hey I want to be a finger no but a few months

want to be a finger no but a few months

want to be a finger no but a few months later another music company approached

later another music company approached

later another music company approached me and said we want you to sing then I

me and said we want you to sing then I

me and said we want you to sing then I said hey stop is there something that I

said hey stop is there something that I

said hey stop is there something that I can do which I do not know off but

can do which I do not know off but

can do which I do not know off but others can see that I can so maybe I

others can see that I can so maybe I

others can see that I can so maybe I should not say no okay let’s count our

should not say no okay let’s count our

should not say no okay let’s count our blessings first now what can I do I have

blessings first now what can I do I have

blessings first now what can I do I have a good voice thick

a good voice thick

a good voice thick I understand music sir talc is amateur

I understand music sir talc is amateur

I understand music sir talc is amateur pick now what is it that I cannot do

pick now what is it that I cannot do

pick now what is it that I cannot do here I do not know I do not have the

here I do not know I do not have the

here I do not know I do not have the skill I am not trained I do not have the

skill I am not trained I do not have the

skill I am not trained I do not have the experience fine we will learn but easier

experience fine we will learn but easier

experience fine we will learn but easier said than done because now you have to

said than done because now you have to

said than done because now you have to go back to school become a student

go back to school become a student

go back to school become a student you’re going to try something new

you’re going to try something new

you’re going to try something new so you’re a newcomer again in a new

so you’re a newcomer again in a new

so you’re a newcomer again in a new territory that’s scary but like my

territory that’s scary but like my

territory that’s scary but like my father always said to me for all that

father always said to me for all that

father always said to me for all that you know and for all that you do not

you know and for all that you do not

you know and for all that you do not know a hundred rehearsals is the key

know a hundred rehearsals is the key

know a hundred rehearsals is the key those days luckily I was working with

those days luckily I was working with

those days luckily I was working with the thespian mr. Dilip Kumar and I was

the thespian mr. Dilip Kumar and I was

the thespian mr. Dilip Kumar and I was very worried about my singing and he

very worried about my singing and he

very worried about my singing and he looked at me and he said coiny koshish

looked at me and he said coiny koshish

looked at me and he said coiny koshish guru koshish the board coach hisself

guru koshish the board coach hisself

guru koshish the board coach hisself errata the koshish ham Niki I came up

errata the koshish ham Niki I came up

errata the koshish ham Niki I came up with my first album hula-hula way it

with my first album hula-hula way it

with my first album hula-hula way it worked then I got the opportunity to do

worked then I got the opportunity to do

worked then I got the opportunity to do the second one

the second one

the second one McNab yoga that worked then the third

McNab yoga that worked then the third

McNab yoga that worked then the third one came that worked for someone who had

one came that worked for someone who had

one came that worked for someone who had never even dreamt of this that’s when I

never even dreamt of this that’s when I

never even dreamt of this that’s when I realized that maybe talent is an

realized that maybe talent is an

realized that maybe talent is an overrated dog what actually works is

overrated dog what actually works is

overrated dog what actually works is application like this golfer had once

application like this golfer had once

application like this golfer had once said the harder I practice the luckier I

said the harder I practice the luckier I

said the harder I practice the luckier I get

somewhere along the course of my career

somewhere along the course of my career I also realized that we are our own

I also realized that we are our own

I also realized that we are our own biggest detractors we are so concerned

biggest detractors we are so concerned

biggest detractors we are so concerned about what other people think of us what

about what other people think of us what

about what other people think of us what opinion they have of us do they think

opinion they have of us do they think

opinion they have of us do they think I’m successful so it all becomes

I’m successful so it all becomes

I’m successful so it all becomes about commercial success and stardom we

about commercial success and stardom we

about commercial success and stardom we start measuring our success by other

start measuring our success by other

start measuring our success by other people’s yardsticks I have to tell you

people’s yardsticks I have to tell you

people’s yardsticks I have to tell you about this this really happened to me

about this this really happened to me

about this this really happened to me I’m not making this up now very

I’m not making this up now very

I’m not making this up now very beginning of my career now I had I told

beginning of my career now I had I told

beginning of my career now I had I told this person who mattered it you know I

this person who mattered it you know I

this person who mattered it you know I did a Marathi film and I got the state

did a Marathi film and I got the state

did a Marathi film and I got the state award for the best actress he says yeah

award for the best actress he says yeah

award for the best actress he says yeah that’s regional cinema hey I got a

that’s regional cinema hey I got a

that’s regional cinema hey I got a national award for Shyam Benegal’s film

national award for Shyam Benegal’s film

national award for Shyam Benegal’s film yeah but that’s arthouse cinema I said

yeah but that’s arthouse cinema I said

yeah but that’s arthouse cinema I said I’m working with Burton you change the

I’m working with Burton you change the

I’m working with Burton you change the Hollywood film

Hollywood film

Hollywood film yeah that’s Hollywood let’s talk of

yeah that’s Hollywood let’s talk of

yeah that’s Hollywood let’s talk of Bollywood so for a whole lot of them if

Bollywood so for a whole lot of them if

Bollywood so for a whole lot of them if you’re not the next free baby you

you’re not the next free baby you

you’re not the next free baby you haven’t arrived but the problem is when

haven’t arrived but the problem is when

haven’t arrived but the problem is when you start believing in the same then you

you start believing in the same then you

you start believing in the same then you can’t even begin in life you just have

can’t even begin in life you just have

can’t even begin in life you just have to go with the flow

to go with the flow

to go with the flow you can’t expect miracles because

you can’t expect miracles because

you can’t expect miracles because nothing comes out of a hat there is a

nothing comes out of a hat there is a

nothing comes out of a hat there is a miracle the miracle is life itself the

miracle the miracle is life itself the

miracle the miracle is life itself the miracle is are the opportunities that

miracle is are the opportunities that

miracle is are the opportunities that life presents to you the miracle is the

life presents to you the miracle is the

life presents to you the miracle is the fact that you have your eyes and ears

fact that you have your eyes and ears

fact that you have your eyes and ears open to spot and recognize the

open to spot and recognize the

open to spot and recognize the opportunity when it comes to you and the

opportunity when it comes to you and the

opportunity when it comes to you and the opportunity is in that challenge so you

opportunity is in that challenge so you

opportunity is in that challenge so you got to accept all challenges you can’t

got to accept all challenges you can’t

got to accept all challenges you can’t be scared the first time when I said no

be scared the first time when I said no

be scared the first time when I said no to singing it was my own fear of failing

to singing it was my own fear of failing

to singing it was my own fear of failing I was so scared I’m going to fail it

I was so scared I’m going to fail it

I was so scared I’m going to fail it this I’ve got so much at stake I can’t

this I’ve got so much at stake I can’t

this I’ve got so much at stake I can’t be doing this I knew I was know Lata

be doing this I knew I was know Lata

be doing this I knew I was know Lata Mangeshkar of course you can’t be the

Mangeshkar of course you can’t be the

Mangeshkar of course you can’t be the next a terminator it’s not possible but

next a terminator it’s not possible but

next a terminator it’s not possible but in trying to be nothing but the best you

in trying to be nothing but the best you

in trying to be nothing but the best you do not take that small flight that you

do not take that small flight that you

do not take that small flight that you are meant to take

I have to create my own little story I

I have to create my own little story I have to have my own little existence and

have to have my own little existence and

have to have my own little existence and I’m so glad I did what I did because

I’m so glad I did what I did because

I’m so glad I did what I did because today it’s been 25 years and I’m still

today it’s been 25 years and I’m still

today it’s been 25 years and I’m still around and working I have grown and

around and working I have grown and

around and working I have grown and today I can proudly say that I’m an

today I can proudly say that I’m an

today I can proudly say that I’m an actor who has some body of work in all

actor who has some body of work in all

actor who has some body of work in all these mediums you know nobody can

these mediums you know nobody can

these mediums you know nobody can guarantee you whether you’re going to

guarantee you whether you’re going to

guarantee you whether you’re going to see the highs of success no one can do

see the highs of success no one can do

see the highs of success no one can do that but one thing is certain that you

that but one thing is certain that you

that but one thing is certain that you work and your life will be a happy one

work and your life will be a happy one

work and your life will be a happy one come get their anuses in the gay hamesha

come get their anuses in the gay hamesha

come get their anuses in the gay hamesha chickadee here you just have to know

chickadee here you just have to know

chickadee here you just have to know your strengths be honest your work and

your strengths be honest your work and

your strengths be honest your work and just work that’s what matter big small

just work that’s what matter big small

just work that’s what matter big small this that I’ll just conclude this by a

this that I’ll just conclude this by a

this that I’ll just conclude this by a few things that I stand by in life when

few things that I stand by in life when

few things that I stand by in life when I was a teenager I was a part of his

I was a teenager I was a part of his

I was a teenager I was a part of his play called shatranj ke mejor a written

play called shatranj ke mejor a written

play called shatranj ke mejor a written by the famous Marathi writer PL

by the famous Marathi writer PL

by the famous Marathi writer PL Deshpande there was a beautiful line in

Deshpande there was a beautiful line in

Deshpande there was a beautiful line in it said just sir konohana he sucked a

it said just sir konohana he sucked a

it said just sir konohana he sucked a was makeup in he garnacha hayburner

was makeup in he garnacha hayburner

was makeup in he garnacha hayburner sorry zindagi base URI ho jaaye II have

sorry zindagi base URI ho jaaye II have

sorry zindagi base URI ho jaaye II have something to add to that Leakey Nagar

something to add to that Leakey Nagar

something to add to that Leakey Nagar source a healer Jai those kisses Navi

source a healer Jai those kisses Navi

source a healer Jai those kisses Navi Kabhi nahi horny jockey zindagi you see

Kabhi nahi horny jockey zindagi you see

Kabhi nahi horny jockey zindagi you see cineq ready

and it has been 25 years and I still try

and it has been 25 years and I still try not to miss the first bus that comes my

not to miss the first bus that comes my

not to miss the first bus that comes my way that takes me on exciting journey

way that takes me on exciting journey

way that takes me on exciting journey ahead

ahead

ahead [Applause]

”

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