Discovering deeper emotional patterns
Typically, it takes a selected second to make us conscious of patterns or fears we’ve got carried unnoticed. This yr, every star confronted one thing deeply private.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx realized he had a behavior of internalizing struggles as an alternative of asking for assist—a bent that left him overwhelmed. Reflecting on it, he acknowledged that vulnerability can truly strengthen relationships and make life simpler.“This yr I spotted I’ve a behavior of attempting to hold every little thing myself. I don’t ask for assist till I’m already actually overwhelmed. Seeing that clearly confirmed me that sharing the load doesn’t make me weaker—it truly makes life simpler and my relationships stronger. So, whereas it’s tough for me, I’ve resolved to be extra open after I’m struggling, to speak earlier, and to let the individuals who care about me step in. It’s a piece in progress, however it already seems like a more healthy method to transfer by means of the world.”
Sadia Khateeb
For Sadia, introspection got here by means of her work—the shoot in Sondung Cave and the discharge of Diplomat. These experiences taught her to give up management and belief within the pure unfolding of life, which introduced her calmness and presence.“This yr concerned lots of introspection for me. Whether or not it was my shoot in Sondung Cave or the discharge of my movie Diplomat, each experiences made me mirror deeply. They made me realise that regardless of how laborious you attempt or how a lot you push your self, finally, every little thing unfolds the best way it’s destined to. That understanding introduced me a way of calm, and it genuinely modified me as an individual.”She additional mirrored on how the sudden love for her movie taught her persistence and the artwork of being current.“After coming back from Sondung Cave and after the discharge of Diplomat, I felt myself turning into a a lot calmer human being total. The love and response we acquired for the movie have been utterly sudden. I hadn’t anticipated that sort of appreciation, and when it got here, I used to be overjoyed, overwhelmed, and emotional. It taught me to let issues occur in their very own time, and to permit life to unfold the best way it’s meant to. In order that sample of at all times speeding, that sample of continually hustling and dealing recklessly, that sample has stopped. Now, I feel this yr, these moments made me calmer and extra current within the second. I’m placing my power into the work I’m doing, however I’m not speeding towards it, not exhausting myself, and I’m consciously not being anxious about it. There isn’t any worry, there is no such thing as a set off, there’s solely perception. And that perception is that no matter is yours will come to you on the proper time. That’s what it has revealed to me. The expertise itself has revealed that to me.”
Tarun Mansukhani
For Tarun, the problem was skilled. Directing Housefull 5 with nineteen actors stirred anxiousness, however it additionally introduced him again to a core reality about trusting himself.“I feel the second that really held up a mirror to me was once we started work on Housefull 5. The fixed query in my thoughts was, How on earth am I going to deal with nineteen actors without delay? There was a lingering worry that the movie might spiral past my management, that dates would collapse, one thing would go mistaken, and there wouldn’t be an opportunity to repair it. It was a quiet, persistent anxiousness.”In that second, he reconnected with self-belief.“However the perception that steadied me was one thing extremely easy. The second I sat again within the director’s chair, known as out the primary shot, and felt the power of the set once more, it was like reconnecting with an previous model of myself. A reminder speeding again: You recognize what you are doing, belief that. It was self-belief that I had someway misplaced, coming again precisely after I wanted it.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi realized that for years she had minimized herself to keep away from being “an excessive amount of.” Recognizing this sample allowed her to reclaim her area with out guilt.“This yr, I grew to become acutely aware of a sample I’ve carried quietly for years—the worry of showing ‘an excessive amount of.’ Too emotional, too bold, too expressive. I spotted I had been shrinking myself in delicate methods simply to suit into concepts that weren’t even mine. It revealed to me that I used to be nonetheless carrying echoes of previous judgments, and the second I acknowledged that, one thing softened inside me. I lastly gave myself permission to take up area with out apologizing for it.”
Recognizing emotional limits and discovering steadiness
The yr additionally examined their emotional limits—work pressures, public expectations, and private calls for pressured every to find how they get better and reset.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx’s workload throughout languages in 2025 reminded him of the significance of stepping again to regain steadiness.“2025 has been an extremely demanding yr, with seven theatrical releases throughout three languages- ‘Raghu Dakat’, ‘Devi Chowdhurani’, and ‘Pokkhirajer Dim’ in Bengali; ‘Lucifer 2 Empuraan’ in Malayalam; and ‘Kesari 2’, ‘Phule’, and a cameo in ‘Thamma’ in Hindi. When work, expectations, and opinions received too loud, I used to be reminded that my emotional restrict arrives prior to I’d prefer to admit. Perhaps I used to be extra affected person up to now—or perhaps I simply had fewer stressors—however my response stays the identical: I reset by operating and lifting, making music, paragliding, driving my bike… something that shifts my focus away from what’s weighing on me. Stepping again, even briefly, brings me again to steadiness. And I’ve realized that after I return to the duty at hand after a brief break, I can meet it with renewed vigor and positivity.”
Sadia Khateeb
Sadia discovered that calmness wasn’t in regards to the absence of noise—it was about embracing her perspective and gratitude.“The calmness I discovered this yr got here at a time when every little thing round me was extremely loud. There’s no work stress; I by no means really feel work stress. I find it irresistible when there’s an excessive amount of work to do. I by no means take the stress of all these issues. Public opinion about my work issues to me as a result of it makes me see what I did, and fortunately, to this point, it has been solely nice. The critiques have solely been nice. Up to now, it has been solely nice. The yr was filled with gratitude within the public opinion, and even work stress. Every little thing solely appeared to me like a blessing, to be very trustworthy. Every little thing was a blessing. It is a lot better than silence within the room and no opinion in any respect. I imply, it is nice, particularly when it’s about work. Private expectations weren’t a lot this yr as a result of it was all about work and life revolving round movies.”
Tarun Mansukhani
For Tarun, silence and solitude grew to become anchors for his psychological and emotional wellbeing.“I realised this yr that solitude is my anchor. When every little thing turns into overwhelming, I instinctively draw back and spend time alone. I’ve at all times been a bit delinquent in that sense, and I feel that’s truly what saves me. My manner of resetting is very simple: silence, darkness, no cellphone, no music, completely nothing. I change off each gentle and simply sit on my own. I’m not analysing the day or attempting to resolve something. I’m simply letting every little thing fall away. Typically an hour passes with out me even realising it, and by the top of that, one thing inside has loosened. I really feel lighter, calmer, and prepared for the following day. It’s grow to be a each day ritual for me, even after I’m not working. That pause, that stillness, retains me practical.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi emphasised that taking quiet, intentional moments for herself helped her navigate chaos with out dropping authenticity.“When the world round me received loud—shoot schedules, social media noise, opinions that arrived uninvited—I realized one thing essential: I attain my restrict a lot prior to I admit. However I additionally realized how I get better. I want silence. I want a night the place I’m simply Gargi, not ‘Gargi Kundu the actress.’ Lengthy walks, grounding conversations, moments the place nobody expects something from me. These small rituals reset me. They remind me that my value isn’t measured by how a lot I can carry, however how actually I can present up.”
Dealing with previous wounds and unresolved feelings
This yr, confronting previous emotional wounds allowed the celebrities to develop, settle for themselves, and reframe previous challenges. Every dealt with these moments in a different way, revealing private insights about resilience and self-awareness.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx observed acquainted insecurities resurface—emotions of restlessness and questioning whether or not he was doing sufficient. As a substitute of operating from them, he selected to sit down with these feelings and hear. This course of reminded him that a lot of the stress we stock is self-imposed.“Sure, some previous emotional bruises reappeared this yr — insecurities I assumed I’d outgrown. Moments after I questioned whether or not I’m doing sufficient, attaining sufficient, shifting quick sufficient, or giving sufficient of me to every undertaking. A kind of acquainted restlessness and uncertainty. Up to now I might need ignored it or tried to outrun it, however this yr, I approached it in a different way: I sat with it. I listened to what it was attempting to say. And curiously, it wasn’t about failure—it was about fatigue. I spotted I used to be measuring myself by requirements I didn’t set… and that a number of the expectations I nonetheless carry aren’t even mine anymore. Making peace with these emotions requires honesty, persistence, and a little bit of self-forgiveness – I am engaged on it.”
Sadia Khateeb
For Sadia, the yr was about presence and therapeutic somewhat than dwelling on previous wounds. She discovered that specializing in the current allowed her to embrace peace over chaos.“Nope. This yr was all about work, this yr was all about therapeutic, this yr was all about realising great things, bringing peace and selecting peace over chaos. This yr was all about being current. It had nothing to do with the previous, previous wounds, and even the longer term. This yr was all about being within the second, and that is what I’m attempting to intention the longer term as nicely, simply being current in what I’m doing in the present day.”
Tarun Mansukhani
Tarun’s resurfaced “wound” was bodily somewhat than emotional. He had let his health self-discipline slip after COVID, and this realization hit him laborious. Recognizing that his physique deserved consideration reminded him that self-care is non-negotiable.“The previous wound that resurfaced wasn’t emotional; it was about my well being. I was extraordinarily disciplined about health, however someplace after COVID, I had let all of that slip. And I didn’t even realise how a lot I had drifted till after the movie was launched. Someday, I checked out myself within the mirror and at last acknowledged how a lot I had uncared for my very own physique. That second hit laborious. Getting again into it has been more durable this time, as a result of age isn’t in your aspect the best way it as soon as was, however it wanted to be executed. Working by means of it has been about accountability, self-discipline, and accepting you could’t take your self with no consideration, not on this trade, not in life.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi confronted emotions of being ignored and undervalued, however as an alternative of ignoring them, she allowed herself to course of the ache absolutely. Journaling, talking with trusted individuals, and giving herself area to really feel grew to become her manner of therapeutic.“Some previous wounds resurfaced this yr—emotions of being ignored, of working twice as laborious to show half as a lot. As a substitute of brushing them apart like I at all times do, I allowed myself to sit down with them. I journaled, I talked to individuals I belief, and I finished telling myself to ‘be robust.’ Making peace didn’t imply erasing the ache. It meant accepting that whilst I develop, elements of my previous nonetheless wish to be heard. And typically, listening is essentially the most therapeutic factor I can do.”
Classes from setbacks and letting go of previous beliefs
Setbacks are inevitable, and this yr every star confronted moments the place plans didn’t go their manner. How they navigated these challenges revealed not solely their resilience but additionally what beliefs they wanted to launch.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx confronted betrayal and disappointment when a PR individual mishandled his Kolkata go to for his movies. He realized that staying grounded requires letting go of the concept that each setback displays private value.“There have been fairly just a few issues this yr that didn’t go the best way I deliberate—tasks delayed, alternatives shifting, expectations falling quick, and other people I trusted letting me down. Probably the most heartbreaking moments was touring to Kolkata in help of Raghu Dakat and Devi Chowdhurani, solely to find that the PR individual meant to deal with my go to was a fraud. Consequently, I by no means received the prospect to attach with the viewers the best way I’d hoped, and that harm greater than I can categorical. Past the reminder that not everybody may be trusted, I needed to settle for that not every little thing will unfold the best way I think about it.”The idea that grounded him was easy but highly effective. “And in these moments, the assumption that saved me regular was this: ‘The work will meet me the place I’m if I hold exhibiting up authentically.’ It’s easy, however grounding. I additionally realized I wanted to let go of the previous perception that each setback someway displays my value or my trajectory. That mindset is exhausting, and it had me chasing validation that doesn’t truly matter. Letting go of that taught me one thing essential: the world isn’t asking me to be excellent. It’s asking me to be current, constant, and trustworthy—in my work and in my relationships. That feels much more sustainable.”
Sadia Khateeb
Sadia turned her challenges into classes of persistence and religion, trusting that what doesn’t work out has a greater different in retailer.“When issues didn’t go my manner this yr, there have been just a few moments that didn’t prove the best way I personally needed. Throughout that point, I reminded myself of how, when the movie was launched, I didn’t count on sure issues to occur, and so they did, and so they turned out nice for me. All of them made me mirror on the blessings I skilled this yr. Each time something felt tough, I remind myself that God has a plan, and if one thing isn’t going my manner, it’s as a result of one thing higher is on its manner. I simply have to attend for that to occur. Somebody very clever stated one thing to me that stayed with me, Agar upar wala aapka phool chin leta hai toh vo, guldasta deta hai, aur agar guldasta chin leta toh vo bagh deta hai. Aur agar tumse kuch chin jaye toh tum apne bagh ka intezar karo. It taught me who I’m and made me realise I’ve much more persistence and quietness in me than I assumed. And whenever you give up your life to the Almighty, issues prove so a lot better, and you’re feeling extra at peace and extra in sync with life.”
Tarun Mansukhani
For Tarun, steadiness got here from perspective—acknowledging gratitude and shifting ahead, no matter circumstances.“That is truly the one yr the place I can say, every little thing has gone my manner. But when I have a look at the seventeen years earlier than this, the assumption that has saved me regular is easy: depend your blessings, keep grateful, and hold shifting. There’ll at all times be somebody on the market who has it more durable and remains to be placing within the effort. That perspective stops you from slipping into excuses. It reminds you to maintain exhibiting up, hold doing the work.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi realized that aligning along with her values mattered greater than proving herself to others. Letting go of this want introduced her freedom.“When issues didn’t go my manner—tasks falling by means of, delays, private plans shifting—I held onto one perception: What aligns with me will discover its method to me. However I needed to let go of one other perception: the concept that I need to at all times ‘show’ myself to deserve good issues. Letting that go taught me that the world will at all times have expectations, and so they’ll change every single day. However who I’m at my core doesn’t must bend for them. My journey is mine, even when the trail feels unsure.”This yr, Bollywood stars confirmed that progress isn’t about fame or glitz—it’s about confronting worry, embracing calm, making peace with the previous, and letting go of limiting beliefs. By way of self-reflection, they’ve learnt classes that resonate far past the silver display screen.