Actor Manas Shah isn’t afraid to talk about the struggles behind the spotlight. Best known for Yeh Hai Chahatein, he recently revealed that survival—not dream roles—guided his career in Mumbai.
After moving from Ahmedabad in 2008, Shah had no financial backup. Acting was his only source of income. As a result, every role became an opportunity to pay the bills.
“First of all, if there is a role offer, then it is my priority. Because I used to live in Mumbai only on the basis of this. I didn’t do any other work. So I needed money for survival.”
Survival Came Before Passion
For Shah, the decision was never complicated. He accepted work because he had to survive.
He explained that financial stability came first. Creative choices could wait until later.
Mumbai Is an Expensive Dream
Furthermore, Shah said living in Mumbai involves much more than paying rent. Actors must also invest in their health, appearance, networking, and public image.
“You need money to pay the bills, to pay the rent, and other expenses to maintain your body, to maintain your health, to maintain PR, to maintain relationships in the industry. Everywhere you need money. Mumbai is a costly city to stay in.”
According to him, these expenses are unavoidable. Therefore, saying yes to available work often becomes a necessity.
Financial Freedom Changed Everything
However, things gradually changed once Shah became financially secure.
Only then did he feel comfortable waiting for roles that genuinely interested him.
“If there is enough money and if you can stay one year without any single rupee income, then I try to play this type of role for 3-6 months. I can show choices there.”
He believes financial independence gives actors the confidence to take creative risks.
Every Actor’s Journey Is Different
At the same time, Shah refuses to judge anyone for making different career choices.
Instead, he believes every actor has unique responsibilities and circumstances.
“It is person to person change. Nobody is wrong. If someone is giving preference only to the role, that is fine. But if someone is giving preference only to the money, then that is also not wrong.”
For him, choosing money over passion—or vice versa—is a personal decision.
Television Gives Women Better Opportunities
Interestingly, Shah sees a clear difference between television and cinema.
According to him, television offers actresses greater variety because most shows are built around female characters.
“If you talk about television, then definitely female actors get more variety. Because 90% of shows are female oriented.”
Cinema Still Revolves Around Heroes
In contrast, Shah believes mainstream films continue to focus primarily on male leads.
As a result, heroines often receive less prominence than heroes.
“Cinema is more male-dominated and TV is more female-dominated.”
He added that audiences usually remember the hero first, highlighting the industry’s long-standing imbalance.
A Refreshingly Honest Perspective
Ultimately, Manas Shah’s story offers a realistic look at life in the entertainment industry. Behind the glamour lies financial pressure, uncertainty, and difficult decisions.
Nevertheless, his message is simple. There is no shame in choosing stability before passion. Sometimes, paying the bills is the first step toward building the career you truly want.
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