Watch: Tannaz Irani Fulfilled Her 8YO Self's Dream With Manifestation

Actor Tannaz Irani, known for films like Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, considers herself a fortunate woman who has had the opportunity to live life to the fullest twice over. She wishes to share her story with anyone feeling that their life is dull and uneventful and with those questioning their worth or considering themselves to have bad luck.

Irani asserts that her story will inspire anyone who doubts themselves, given that she has been a prominent figure in the industry for 30 years. She reminisces about her passion for acting, which ignited at the age of 8 when Doordarshan was the sole medium for films and shows.

Irani fondly recalls her family tradition of watching one movie every Sunday, which fueled her dreams of emulating stars like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit. However, being born into a traditional Parsi family posed challenges, leaving her uncertain about how to pursue her aspirations in acting.

Tannaz Irani Fulfilled Dream Of Her 8-YO Self Through Manifestation

She recalls, "I come from a typical Parsi family where our lives revolved around food, family gatherings, and our traditions. We hardly spoke Hindi at home, and I didn't have anyone I could share or discuss my dreams of becoming an actress with."

Then a gift altered her life, and no, it wasn't a doll or any typical toy for an 8-year-old—it was a diary. She says, "It was a diary with a lock that changed everything for me at the age of 8. I started writing everything in it—my dreams of becoming a big actor, imagining myself famous, and everyone taking my autograph. My diary became my confidant, and we shared a lot together."

Today, what we call journaling and manifesting, I started doing in my teens. I would visualise myself as a successful actor every waking moment—I would visualise myself as a famous actor.

Irani attributes her acting career to her manifestations. She recalls how, at 21 and already married with a young daughter, acting came into her life at the right time. Quoting Shah Rukh Khan's famous dialogue, "Kehte hain ki..agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to puri kayanat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai," she emphasises the power of determination in achieving goals. Her debut serial, Zabaan Sambhalke became a classic, paving the way for numerous television shows thereafter.

Talking about her entry into the big screen, Irani reminisces about a wedding encounter with Rakesh Roshan. He asked her why she hadn't done films yet, to which she candidly replied, "Nobody offered me." Impressed by her response, Rakesh Roshan offered her the role of Sonia in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.

She recalls how her Parsi accent and imperfect Hindi did not hinder her from achieving success in the industry, nor did they ever cause self-doubt. Irani emphasises, "You don't need to doubt yourself; you just need to surrender to your passion and visualise yourself as what you want to become. You need to surrender yourself to the manifestation without ever doubting it."

However, there came a phase in Irani's life when she faced setbacks and self-doubt overwhelmed her. She became depressed during this period due to a medical issue in her leg that left her unable to walk without support. Feeling unable to share her problems with her children and husband compounded her distress. It was during this dark phase that she described finding her second chance at life.

Irani credits Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) for helping her. She joined the programme, trained herself, and underwent a profound change in mindset. This transformation helped her become more positive and view her life in a brighter light. Today, she is not only an actor and presenter but also a coach who helps others facing similar challenges find their path to a better place. Her journey underscores the power of mindset and resilience in overcoming adversity.

Take a look at her story here. 

This story was published in collaboration with Josh Talks.