Mumbai: Actress Rakul Preet Singh, who won the Best Actress award at the fourth edition of Zee Real Heroes Awards 2026, reflected on her journey in the film industry and shared her views on nepotism and the rise of OTT platforms.
Zee Real Heroes Awards honors individuals for their outstanding contributions in innovation, business, healthcare, entertainment and arts.
During her interaction at the event, Rakul described her journey in cinema as “fruitful”, adding that she still had many achievements to achieve. “It has been a long and tiring journey, but there is still a long way to go,” he said.
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Speaking about the nepotism debate and being an outsider in the industry, Rakul admitted that she entered Bollywood without any connections. She said, “I always knew it was going to be a tough journey. I don’t think much about nepotism because after all, you can survive only if the audience loves you. There have been many examples of people who were well connected but still couldn’t succeed.”
He further explained that many leading actors in Bollywood come from non-film backgrounds. Rakul said, “From Shahrukh Khan to Kriti Sanon and Taapsee Pannu, many of the top actors are not from the industry. The journey is long and tiring, but you eventually see the results of your hard work.”
The actress also stressed that talent is a key factor for long-term success. “Even if your first opportunity is easy, only talent will keep you in this industry,” he said.
Talking about the rise of OTT platforms, Rakul said that the digital boom has opened new doors for creators and artistes. He explained, “The advent of OTT has created a space where we can experiment with content. More actors and directors are getting opportunities. There is no minimum guarantee now that a film will do well at the box office, but it will inspire creators to create amazing content.”
About Zee Real Heroes Awards
Zee Real Heroes Awards brings together thought leaders, achievers, policy makers and members of the media fraternity. Through its dialogue segment, the program promotes dialogue on leadership, innovation in times of change and the power of authentic storytelling in shaping a progressive India.
Over the years, the awards have honored leading celebrities including Ajay Devgan, Anupam Kher, Kartik Aaryan and Pankaj Tripathi as well as changemakers like Paralympian Navdeep Singh and many other inspirational figures from across the country.
This initiative reflects Zee Media’s commitment towards nation-building journalism by celebrating real stories of perseverance and achievement that continue to inspire the nation.