Nishant Malkhani: Jennifer Lopez is one of biggest icons in world

Rakshabandhan… Rasal Apne Bhai Ki Dhal actor Nishant Malkhani considers Hollywood star and singer Jennifer Lopez to be an icon.

People say that age is just a number, but sometimes people say so because most of us don’t like talking about our age.

   

“I personally believe it’s a very typical mindset which believes that age is something to be ashamed of and I think no it’s not and you’re not supposed to be ashamed. There are a lot of examples in the world where people are doing the best work and are getting love from the audience at an age which we didn’t expect them to. Like Jennifer Lopez, I think she’s one of the biggest icons in the world. Look at her age, look at the kind of fan following she has and look at the love she gets from all age groups,” he said.

“In India, we have so many actors like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan. These people have crossed the 45-50 age bracket and have a strong following in the country today. I think it’s a stupid thing to compare your age with your capabilities. Along with that I feel you need to be very healthy and fit and then you can make this term very true that age is just a number,” he added.

Age shaming has become a common thing in public space, especially on social media. “I think it’s very ridiculous, it shows an illiterate person behaviour – ‘padhe likhe gawar’ (literate but uneducated) type behaviour where you think that the number of age you’re shaming on, it’s not going to come back to you someday because you’re going to age as well. Time will not stop for you,” he said.

Calling someone uncle and aunty sarcastically is very common. “I have not faced it till now, but even if I do, I think I will just laugh it off because I know my capabilities and how I look on screen. Even now when I’m 34, I don’t feel like a 34-year-old. I’m still playing roles of 24-25-year-old on TV. I get all the offers of lead roles of that age group. So yes, I feel age is just a number. If someone is shaming you for your age then it just shows their insecurity and inferiority complex,” he said.

Work place age discrimination is also very common. “I think I have always got the roles which have suited me best and if they haven’t suited me, I have looked and found that yes there were a lot of factors for which I was not suited for the character, so I don’t think I have ever had an experience where I had to let go of a project because of just age,” said Nishant.

On the best way to deal with ageism, he shared, “Just laugh it off and believe that somebody who is trying to age shame you, is dealing with their own insecurities and they have nothing else to point out because you’re perfect in your own way, so they are ultimately resorting to the most desperate kind of way which is age shaming.