Arbaaz Khan on Building Personal Identity: Lessons from Bollywood

Arbaaz Khan, the renowned Indian actor and producer, reflects on the challenges of building one's identity beyond family connections and celebrity status. Delving into his personal journey, Arbaaz shares valuable insights on overcoming the pressures of being associated with famous names and the dynamics of Bollywood.

Challenges of Personal Identity

When asked about his thoughts on creating his own identity beyond his relatives and past relationships, Arbaaz acknowledged the initial struggles: 'There was a time when I was a little conscious and worried about that. Now that I look back, it came for a reason, and it did not make sense. That used to bother me at times when I was called Salman Khan’s brother, probably at one point Malaika Arora’s husband.'

Reflecting on these experiences, Arbaaz shares, 'But you know, I guess there are things that you can’t change. There is no point trying to change people’s mindset. All you have to do is just restrain yourself. I’ve realized that I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. The exercise of proving things to people is such a futile exercise that it’s exhausting and taxing. How long will you do that? How much can you do that? And to what degree and extent will you do it? Will you ever be satisfied after that? What do you really want? Or do you want to please a million people? Between pleasing a million people and pleasing one person... whom would you choose? That one person has to be you.'

Embracing Authenticity

In his journey, Arbaaz emphasizes the importance of seeking validation from within. He says, 'The day you learn to seek validation from yourself, you will be genuinely happy about your existence and you will learn to celebrate achievements. Success is not permanent, it’s very transient. It lasts for a short period. Nobody can live in their success. Nobody can ride on their success all the time. One has to forget their success and as well as failures, they just have to keep it aside. One just has to know to keep moving.'

Arbaaz believes that being an actor who constantly needs to hone his skills means he cannot be sitting and waiting. 'He believes in the process and not waiting for some magical things to happen. He thinks that magical things happen when one does it; they just don’t happen when they just wait for it.'

Background and Filmy Career

Arbaaz Khan comes from a family rich in talent. He is the second son of famous screenwriter Salim Khan. His elder brother is the legendary actor Salman Khan, and his younger brother is Sohail Khan. Arbaaz entered the film industry in 1996 by acting a negative role in the film Daraar, for which he received a Filmfare Award for Best Negative Role.

In 1998, Arbaaz appeared in a supporting role in Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya and won a Filmfare Award for this. He then did another negative role in the film Qayamat: City Under in 2004. Throughout his career, Arbaaz has balanced his achievements with personal life, marrying Malaika Arora in 1998. Their son Arhaan Khan was born in 2002. While Arbaaz and Malaika divorced in 2017, their journey has been a testament to the complexities of personal and professional life in Bollywood.