Akshay Kumar’s first leading lady Shanti Priya with whom he worked in Saugandh is reportedly making a comeback of sorts after being away from the limelight for years. Reportedly, she will be a contestant on Salman Khan’s controversial reality show Bigg Boss 14. PeepingMoon.com caught up with the actress in an exclusive chat wherein she spoke about depression and nepotism in Bollywood.

Sushant’s demise has opened the ugly can of worms of how nepotism, favouritism and groupism work in Bollywood. His death has brought out the questions that why the industry does not give equal opportunity to outsiders the same way they give to star kids. The need to talk about depression and mental health has also come to the forefront.

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During the course of the interview, Shanti Priya was asked that many patiently work hard and manage to survive in showbiz while on the other hand, there are those who succumb to depression and find it difficult to survive. Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise is the latest example of depression claiming lives, to this, Shanti Priya said, “I am a big example of depression. I have been a successful actress and I took a step back from my career. I was very low when I got married, depressed when I left my work then adjusting in family. Then lost my husband, raised my two children without a father. So I have to be their father too, I am in a better place at the moment. Now even if I think of making a comeback onscreen but looking at the industry it pushes me back to loneliness .Everyone says main hu main hu lekin koi aata nahi hai hai.. But thik hai yaar God has given you one beautiful life don’t waste it. My only advice for you all is, ‘Try keeping yourself busy but don’t destroy your life’.”

She also spoke about nepotism and claimed that she also has fallen prey to its politics. However, she said that groupism and clichés are the bane of Bollywood and said, “Of course I have gone through nepotism and I am going through also. But nepotism is not only based on star kids it’s about everyone who favours you the most. Despite me being an actress, getting married to Siddharth who comes from a legendary film family still I am facing nepotism as it’s not only star kids, don’t divert nepotism only towards them, it’s more of groupism, unke group ke logo ko hee kaam hai, dusro ko nahi.”