Sonali Bendre talks about wearing Pooja Bhatt’s rejects for first film; here are tips to turn pass ons into stepping stones

Bendre said, “The first film I signed was Naaraaz with (Mahesh) Bhatt saab. So the clothes that were being made for the second heroine were the rejects of Pooja Bhatt (that were coming to me).” 

However, in hindsight, she admits that it was a positive thing, “But the advantage of that was that there were certain things that she couldn’t wear, such as fitted short dresses. Only a skinny body could have carried that off, and suddenly it looked fabulous and that one song from Naaraaz just made me. Somebody else’s rejects worked for me (sic).”

 

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Bendre’s perspective highlights the importance of having an open mind and embracing everything that comes your way with positivity. Gurleen Baruah, organisational psychologist at That Culture Thing, says, “Rejections, setbacks, or gaining certain positions or projects may have their own histories. For someone, it might have been a nightmare, or it may not align with their values while for someone it may be the exact thing they wanted! Let’s talk about a piece of garment as an example; perhaps it’s not the right size, shape, or style for a person. However, that doesn’t mean the rejected piece of garment itself, or that role, job, or position is worthless because someone rejected it. It reminds me of the quote ‘someone’s loss is someone’s gain’.”

Other real life examples of when someone has turned a rejected opportunity into a significant success 

Baruah mentions that in Bollywood, there’s the noteworthy example of Twinkle Khanna declining the role of Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which eventually led to Rani Mukerji’s breakthrough. “Twinkle’s rejection paved the way for Rani’s rise to stardom, establishing her as a prominent actress in the industry.”

Similarly, in the business sphere, she notes the invention of the post-it note. Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M, set out to develop a strong adhesive but ended up creating a weaker one. She says, “Despite this setback, his colleague Art Fry recognised its potential and used it to create the iconic sticky note. What began as a rejected adhesive evolved into a widely-used office essential and a lucrative product for 3M.”

In the literary world, she recalls J. K. Rowling’s manuscript for ‘Harry Potter’ faced rejection from multiple publishers before being accepted by Bloomsbury Publishing. This rejection turned into Bloomsbury’s gain, launching one of the most successful literary franchises in history.

Think outside the box inside the box. Embrace creativity by using limited resources to your advantage. (Source: Freepik)

Strategies you can adopt to transform feelings of rejection into motivation and creativity

Individuals facing feelings of rejection or inadequacy can adopt several mental and emotional strategies to transform these challenges into motivation and creativity, says Baruah. These are:

*First and foremost, it’s crucial to focus on your own journey and not compare your setbacks to others’ successes. Comparing your “bloopers” to someone else’s “highlights” only amplifies feelings of inadequacy. 

*Winners see threats as opportunities. During times of change or adversity, adopt a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth. By reframing challenges as opportunities, you can harness them to propel yourself forward. 

*Think outside the box inside the box. Embrace creativity by using limited resources to your advantage. Constraints can breed innovation and ingenuity.

*Seek out opportunities for growth and learning. Instead of dwelling on rejection or inadequacy, channel your energy into self-improvement. Take on new challenges, learn new skills, and broaden your knowledge.

*Practice resilience and perseverance. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of life’s journey. Instead of letting rejection or inadequacy define you, use them as stepping stones to propel yourself forward.