Celebrated actress Tabu once opened up about the deeply human tendency to live life on other people's terms, during a candid conversation with veteran actress and host Simi Garewal on the iconic chat show 'Rendezvous with Simi Garewal'. The actress, known for her introspective outlook, reflected on how the constant search for external validation can quietly erode one's sense of self.

The Robot Metaphor

Tabu drew on a striking image to describe the condition — comparing approval-seeking behaviour to living like a machine. “You are doing things for people. You are waking up on somebody else's time, you're going to sleep on someone else's time and you're wearing what people want you to wear. You are living this life like a robot. You forget that you are a person in yourself also. So it becomes a vicious circle,” she said.

The observation cuts to something most people recognise but rarely name: that the scaffolding of daily life — schedules, choices, even appearances — can be built entirely around the expectations of others, leaving little room for the self.

Why We Seek Approval

Elaborating on the mechanics of people-pleasing, Tabu connected it directly to fear — of hurting others, of professional consequences, and of being seen as imperfect. “You are always trying to please people with your punctuality, with your professionalism, with your niceness, with your cooperative nature. You want people to say good things about you. You want people to be happy about you. Because somewhere we are all afraid that we might hurt the other person or we might spoil our prospects of work or profession. Or disappoint the other people. And you want to give an impression of being nice and perfect. And because it's human nature to look for approval,” she added.

Notably, Tabu's framing goes beyond celebrity introspection — it maps onto a psychological pattern well-documented in behavioural research, where social approval functions as a core motivator, often at the cost of individual autonomy.

The 'Chandni Bar' Actress in Context

'Rendezvous with Simi Garewal' was among the few Indian talk shows of its era that drew out reflective, personal conversations from its guests, making Tabu's remarks part of a broader cultural archive of how public figures process identity and pressure. The actress, who has consistently chosen complex, unconventional roles throughout her career, has spoken in various interviews about the importance of self-awareness and authenticity.

Recent Work

On the professional front, Tabu was recently seen in the horror comedy 'Bhooth Bangla', starring alongside Akshay Kumar and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan. The film was produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, in association with Akshay Kumar's banner Cape of Good Films. The ensemble cast also includes Paresh Rawal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav, and Govardhan Asrani.

Tabu's remarks on 'Rendezvous with Simi Garewal' continue to resonate, offering a rare moment of unfiltered honesty from one of Indian cinema's most respected performers.