They came, they conquered, and then *poof*! We’re talking about movie stars who bid farewell to the film industry citing “personal reasons”. Perhaps, not everyone enjoys the glitz and glamour of the maha nagri. We’re not complaining, but we wish to see more of them on the big screen. Here’s looking back at seven popular actors who quit acting for the most shocking reasons:
Imran Khan
This quintessential chocolate boy took the industry by storm with his debut in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa. However, after a string of box office misses, Imran declared that Pappu can’t act, sala and expressed that he was more interested in directing films rather than facing the camera.
Zaira Wasim
It was no “secret” that Zaira Wasim was touted as the next big “superstar” of Bollywood. From her portrayal of junior Geeta Phogat in Dangal to her stellar performance in The Sky Is Pink, the actress gave hits after hits to pave her own identity in the film industry. However, the star decided to quit the field to focus on her “religion and self-growth”. This did come as a shock to her fans, but we hope that Zaira has found happiness in her chosen path.
Asin Thottumkal
The shining star of the Tamil and Telugu film industry made her mark in Bollywood with big blockbusters like Ghajini and Ready. But in 2016, Asin bid farewell to her stellar acting career after she got married to Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma. She is currently enjoying motherhood but we’re hoping to see her back on the big screen soon.
Sana Khan
Sana Khan became a household name post her stint in Bigg Boss 6. The actress was then off to a promising start in the film industry with her role as Salman Khan’s sister in the big-budget venture Jai Ho. But things changed drastically for the talented actress post her messy breakup with choreographer Melvin Louis. In 2020, Sana got married to businessman and religious leader Mufti Anas Sayed and bid farewell to her acting career to “serve humanity and follow the orders of her creator”. The former actress is now expecting her first child and we couldn’t be happier for her.
Rimi Sen
Despite delivering back-to-back hits opposite big stars like Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan, Rimi Sen quit acting as she was “done playing glamorous flower pots in films”. The Bengali bombshell was loved for her laidback avatar in the Bigg Boss house too but didn’t appear on the big screen despite garnering popularity as she failed to get “creative satisfaction” from her projects. We really hope to see the actress recreate her on-screen magic with the meaty role of her dreams.
Namrata Shirodkar
After winning the Miss India crown in 1993, Namrata made her big-screen debut with a small-yet-impactful role in Salman Khan–Twinkle Khanna starrer Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998). The actress then created her mark in Bollywood with her performance in movies like Vaastav and Kachche Dhaage. In 2005, the actress got married to superstar Mahesh Babu and quit acting forever as the Telgu star wanted a “non-working wife”. In an interview, Namrata revealed that she has no plans of returning to showbiz.
Shabana Raza Aka Neha
Shabana Raza aka Neha came as a breath of fresh air in Bollywood with her 1998 debut in Kareeb. After appearing in movies like Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet and Fiza, the actress went missing from the limelight and married actor Manoj Bajpayee in 2006. She later revealed that she quit the movies citing the lack of good offers and her inability to “go role-hunting from door to door in producers’ homes”. Shabana has also dropped her screen name “Neha” and is currently enjoying marital bliss with her “Family Man”.
These actors might have bid farewell to B-town for their own reasons, but the industry and their fans are surely missing them. Here’s hoping they someday change their mind and make a comeback on the big screen. Fingers crossed!
Featured Image: Instagram
