I didn’t get good roles even after working with a big banner and performing well: Actress Aalika Shaikh

After I did 'Mann Kee Aawaz Pratigya', I was sure that I would get good roles but that didn't happen. I didn’t get good roles even after working with such a big banner and performing so well. There were issues in my personal life too, so that added to it. I was aware that the entertainment was an unpredictable space, but I couldn’t handle it well. That's when I went through a low and experienced depression.

Well, the first difficult stage of my life was leaving my house since no one in my family was willing to let me pursue a career in acting. So I had to leave my family and my home. I belong to a Muslim family and in my family women are not given education and are married off at a young age. My cousins are all married now. And I am hardly on talking terms with my family.

When I left home, I thought that I will make a name for myself. Because people used to tell my mom 'your daughter is doing this', 'your daughter is doing that', 'this is haram for us', I'm in such a family where girls don't get anything, life is over for them. Apart from making my own identity, I chose to change my name to protect my family's reputation from unfavourable comments.