Rakul Preet Singh on shutting out social media noise: 'You have to distance yourself'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Rakul Preet Singh has opened up on managing online criticism and trolling, emphasizing the need for actors to mentally detach from constant social media chatter. In an exclusive interaction, the Runway 34 star revealed that letting external noise affect one's craft is counterproductive to sustained professional performance.
The early advantage
Rakul noted that when she began her career, social media was far less intrusive than it is today. "When you are newer and when you just start out, you get affected. Luckily, when I started out, social media wasn't so prominent," she said, underscoring how timing shaped her resilience to online commentary.
The pandemic shift
The actress highlighted a marked change in public behavior post-COVID-19 lockdown. "People have become extremely vocal on social media ever since the lockdown. This is only the last five years, and I think people have started having an opinion only through the pandemic," Rakul explained. She attributed the surge in social media engagement and opinion-sharing to the extended time people spent online during restrictions.
Her strategy for mental health
Rather than engage with every critique, Rakul advocates for a deliberate disconnection. "As an actor, you have to shut that noise and you have to distance yourself from the chatter. And just put your blinders on and work, and then disconnect," she stated. She warned that absorbing every social media comment would derail an actor's focus and output, describing such a mindset as ultimately destructive to one's career.
Upcoming project
On the work front, Rakul is set to appear in the romantic comedy Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, and Wamiqa Gabbi. The film, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Renu Ravi Chopra, and Krishan Kumar under the banners T-Series and B R Studios, with Juno Chopra as creative producer, is slated for theatrical release on 15 May.