Discovering deeper emotional patterns
Sometimes, it takes a specific moment to make us aware of patterns or fears we have carried unnoticed. This year, each star confronted something deeply personal.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx realized he had a habit of internalizing struggles instead of asking for help—a tendency that left him overwhelmed. Reflecting on it, he acknowledged that vulnerability can actually strengthen relationships and make life easier.“This year I realized I have a habit of trying to carry everything myself. I don’t ask for help until I’m already really overwhelmed. Seeing that clearly showed me that sharing the load doesn’t make me weaker—it actually makes life easier and my relationships stronger. So, while it’s difficult for me, I’ve resolved to be more open when I’m struggling, to communicate earlier, and to let the people who care about me step in. It’s a work in progress, but it already feels like a healthier way to move through the world.”
Sadia Khateeb
For Sadia, introspection came through her work—the shoot in Sondung Cave and the release of Diplomat. These experiences taught her to surrender control and trust in the natural unfolding of life, which brought her calmness and presence.“This year involved a lot of introspection for me. Whether it was my shoot in Sondung Cave or the release of my film Diplomat, both experiences made me reflect deeply. They made me realise that no matter how hard you try or how much you push yourself, ultimately, everything unfolds the way it is destined to. That understanding brought me a sense of calm, and it genuinely changed me as a person.”She further reflected on how the unexpected love for her film taught her patience and the art of being present.“After returning from Sondung Cave and after the release of Diplomat, I felt myself becoming a much calmer human being overall. The love and response we received for the film were completely unexpected. I hadn’t anticipated that kind of appreciation, and when it came, I was overjoyed, overwhelmed, and emotional. It taught me to let things happen in their own time, and to allow life to unfold the way it’s meant to. So that pattern of always rushing, that pattern of constantly hustling and working recklessly, that pattern has stopped. Now, I think this year, those moments made me calmer and more present in the moment. I am putting my energy into the work I’m doing, but I’m not rushing toward it, not exhausting myself, and I am consciously not being anxious about it. There is no fear, there is no trigger, there is only belief. And that belief is that whatever is yours will come to you at the right time. That’s what it has revealed to me. The experience itself has revealed that to me.”
Tarun Mansukhani
For Tarun, the challenge was professional. Directing Housefull 5 with nineteen actors stirred anxiety, but it also brought him back to a core truth about trusting himself.“I think the moment that truly held up a mirror to me was when we began work on Housefull 5. The constant question in my mind was, How on earth am I going to handle nineteen actors at once? There was a lingering fear that the film could spiral beyond my control, that dates would fall apart, something would go wrong, and there wouldn’t be a chance to fix it. It was a quiet, persistent anxiety.”In that moment, he reconnected with self-belief.“But the belief that steadied me was something incredibly simple. The moment I sat back in the director’s chair, called out the first shot, and felt the energy of the set again, it was like reconnecting with an old version of myself. A reminder rushing back: You know what you’re doing, trust that. It was self-belief that I had somehow misplaced, coming back exactly when I needed it.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi realized that for years she had minimized herself to avoid being “too much.” Recognizing this pattern allowed her to reclaim her space without guilt.“This year, I became conscious of a pattern I’ve carried quietly for years—the fear of appearing ‘too much.’ Too emotional, too ambitious, too expressive. I realized I had been shrinking myself in subtle ways just to fit into ideas that weren’t even mine. It revealed to me that I was still carrying echoes of old judgments, and the moment I recognized that, something softened inside me. I finally gave myself permission to take up space without apologizing for it.”
Recognizing emotional limits and finding balance
The year also tested their emotional limits—work pressures, public expectations, and personal demands forced each to discover how they recover and reset.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx’s workload across languages in 2025 reminded him of the importance of stepping back to regain balance.“2025 has been an incredibly demanding year, with seven theatrical releases across 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 got too loud, I was reminded that my emotional limit arrives sooner than I’d like to admit. Maybe I was more patient in the past—or maybe I just had fewer stressors—but my response remains the same: I reset by running and lifting, making music, paragliding, riding my motorcycle… anything that shifts my focus away from what’s weighing on me. Stepping back, even briefly, brings me back to balance. And I’ve realized that when I return to the task at hand after a short break, I can meet it with renewed vigor and positivity.”
Sadia Khateeb
Sadia found that calmness wasn’t about the absence of noise—it was about embracing her perspective and gratitude.“The calmness I found this year came at a time when everything around me was incredibly loud. There’s no work pressure; I never feel work pressure. I love it when there’s too much work to do. I never take the pressure of all those things. Public opinion about my work matters to me because it makes me see what I did, and thankfully, so far, it has been only great. The reviews have only been great. So far, it has been only great. The year was full of gratitude in the public opinion, or even work pressure. Everything only seemed to me like a blessing, to be very honest. Everything was a blessing. It’s much better than silence in the room and no opinion at all. I mean, it’s great, especially when it’s about work. Personal expectations were not much this year because it was all about work and life revolving around films.”
Tarun Mansukhani
For Tarun, silence and solitude became anchors for his mental and emotional wellbeing.“I realised this year that solitude is my anchor. When everything becomes overwhelming, I instinctively pull away and spend time alone. I’ve always been a little antisocial in that sense, and I think that’s actually what saves me. My way of resetting is extremely simple: silence, darkness, no phone, no music, absolutely nothing. I switch off every light and just sit by myself. I’m not analysing the day or trying to solve anything. I’m just letting everything fall away. Sometimes an hour passes without me even realising it, and by the end of that, something inside has loosened. I feel lighter, calmer, and ready for the next day. It’s become a daily ritual for me, even when I’m not working. That pause, that stillness, keeps me functional.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi emphasized that taking quiet, intentional moments for herself helped her navigate chaos without losing authenticity.“When the world around me got loud—shoot schedules, social media noise, opinions that arrived uninvited—I learned something important: I reach my limit much sooner than I admit. But I also learned how I recover. I need silence. I need an evening where I’m just Gargi, not ‘Gargi Kundu the actress.’ Long walks, grounding conversations, moments where no one expects anything from me. Those small rituals reset me. They remind me that my worth isn’t measured by how much I can carry, but how honestly I can show up.”
Facing old wounds and unresolved emotions
This year, confronting old emotional wounds allowed the stars to grow, accept themselves, and reframe past challenges. Each handled these moments differently, revealing personal insights about resilience and self-awareness.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx noticed familiar insecurities resurface—feelings of restlessness and questioning whether he was doing enough. Instead of running from them, he chose to sit with these emotions and listen. This process reminded him that much of the pressure we carry is self-imposed.“Yes, some old emotional bruises reappeared this year — insecurities I thought I’d outgrown. Moments when I wondered whether I’m doing enough, achieving enough, moving fast enough, or giving enough of me to each project. A sort of familiar restlessness and uncertainty. In the past I might have ignored it or tried to outrun it, but this year, I approached it differently: I sat with it. I listened to what it was trying to say. And interestingly, it wasn’t about failure—it was about fatigue. I realized I was measuring myself by standards I didn’t set… and that some of the expectations I still carry aren’t even mine anymore. Making peace with those feelings requires honesty, patience, and a bit of self-forgiveness – I’m working on it.”
Sadia Khateeb
For Sadia, the year was about presence and healing rather than dwelling on old wounds. She found that focusing on the present allowed her to embrace peace over chaos.“Nope. This year was all about work, this year was all about healing, this year was all about realising good stuff, bringing peace and choosing peace over chaos. This year was all about being present. It had nothing to do with the past, old wounds, or even the future. This year was all about being in the moment, and that’s what I am trying to aim the future as well, just being present in what I am doing today.”
Tarun Mansukhani
Tarun’s resurfaced “wound” was physical rather than emotional. He had let his fitness discipline slip after COVID, and this realization hit him hard. Recognizing that his body deserved attention reminded him that self-care is non-negotiable.“The old wound that resurfaced wasn’t emotional; it was about my health. I used to be extremely disciplined about fitness, but somewhere after COVID, I had let all of that slip. And I didn’t even realise how much I had drifted until after the film was released. One day, I looked at myself in the mirror and finally acknowledged how much I had neglected my own body. That moment hit hard. Getting back into it has been tougher this time, because age isn’t on your side the way it once was, but it needed to be done. Working through it has been about accountability, discipline, and accepting that you can’t take yourself for granted, not in this industry, not in life.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi faced feelings of being overlooked and undervalued, but instead of ignoring them, she allowed herself to process the pain fully. Journaling, speaking with trusted people, and giving herself space to feel became her way of healing.“Some old wounds resurfaced this year—feelings of being overlooked, of working twice as hard to prove half as much. Instead of brushing them aside like I always do, I allowed myself to sit with them. I journaled, I talked to people I trust, and I stopped telling myself to ‘be strong.’ Making peace didn’t mean erasing the pain. It meant accepting that even as I grow, parts of my past still want to be heard. And sometimes, listening is the most healing thing I can do.”
Lessons from setbacks and letting go of old beliefs
Setbacks are inevitable, and this year each star faced moments where plans didn’t go their way. How they navigated these challenges revealed not only their resilience but also what beliefs they needed to release.
Alexx O’Nell
Alexx confronted betrayal and disappointment when a PR person mishandled his Kolkata visit for his films. He learned that staying grounded requires letting go of the idea that every setback reflects personal worth.“There were quite a few things this year that didn’t go the way I planned—projects delayed, opportunities shifting, expectations falling short, and people I trusted letting me down. One of the most heartbreaking moments was traveling to Kolkata in support of Raghu Dakat and Devi Chowdhurani, only to discover that the PR person meant to handle my visit was a fraud. As a result, I never got the chance to connect with the audience the way I’d hoped, and that hurt more than I can express. Beyond the reminder that not everyone can be trusted, I had to accept that not everything will unfold the way I imagine it.”The belief that grounded him was simple yet powerful. “And in those moments, the belief that kept me steady was this: ‘The work will meet me where I am if I keep showing up authentically.’ It’s simple, but grounding. I also realized I needed to let go of the old belief that every setback somehow reflects my worth or my trajectory. That mindset is exhausting, and it had me chasing validation that doesn’t actually matter. Letting go of that taught me something important: the world isn’t asking me to be perfect. It’s asking me to be present, consistent, and honest—in my work and in my relationships. That feels far more sustainable.”
Sadia Khateeb
Sadia turned her challenges into lessons of patience and faith, trusting that what doesn’t work out has a better alternative in store.“When things didn’t go my way this year, there were a few moments that didn’t turn out the way I personally wanted. During that time, I reminded myself of how, when the film was released, I didn’t expect certain things to happen, and they did, and they turned out great for me. All of them made me reflect on the blessings I experienced this year. Whenever anything felt difficult, I remind myself that God has a plan, and if something isn’t going my way, it is because something better is on its way. I just have to wait for that to happen. Someone very wise said something 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 am and made me realise I have a lot more patience and calmness in me than I thought. And when you surrender your life to the Almighty, things turn out so much better, and you feel more at peace and more in sync with life.”
Tarun Mansukhani
For Tarun, steadiness came from perspective—acknowledging gratitude and moving forward, regardless of circumstances.“This is actually the one year where I can say, everything has gone my way. But if I look at the seventeen years before this, the belief that has kept me steady is simple: count your blessings, stay grateful, and keep moving. There will always be someone out there who has it harder and is still putting in the effort. That perspective stops you from slipping into excuses. It reminds you to keep showing up, keep doing the work.”
Gargi Kundu
Gargi realized that aligning with her values mattered more than proving herself to others. Letting go of this need brought her freedom.“When things didn’t go my way—projects falling through, delays, personal plans shifting—I held onto one belief: What aligns with me will find its way to me. But I had to let go of another belief: the idea that I must always ‘prove’ myself to deserve good things. Letting that go taught me that the world will always have expectations, and they’ll change every day. But who I am at my core doesn’t need to bend for them. My journey is mine, even when the path feels uncertain.”This year, Bollywood stars showed that growth isn’t about fame or glitz—it’s about confronting fear, embracing calm, making peace with the past, and letting go of limiting beliefs. Through self-reflection, they’ve learnt lessons that resonate far beyond the silver screen.
