From Anu Aggarwal To Asin, Famous Women Actors Who Quit Bollywood

Many people who wish to start careers in acting and other branches of the film business view the glittering world of the film industry as their fantasy world. Actors in Bollywood constantly face pressure from failure, rivalry, and the need to stay in the spotlight. Some people can handle it, while others can't. Those who can't frequently give up and choose a different career path. However, there are a few prominent celebrities who have achieved success in the industry while prioritising their spiritual growth or their dedication to their families over their glamorous careers.

While many people believe that celebrities have it all and lead carefree lives, this isn't actually the case. Celebs have frequently spoken openly about the difficult lives they lead. Only a small percentage of those who consider acting and entering the entertainment industry actually do so; the majority either drop out or take a backseat. Many well-known actors, particularly those in the acting business, have quit acting for a variety of reasons. Some actors have stopped working in order to concentrate on their personal lives, while others have quit in order to continue their spiritual journeys.

 Here is a list of female Bollywood actors who quit Bollywood at the peak of their success:

Asin Thottumkal

In 2001, Asin Thottumkal, a former actor, made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka. Following her debut, the actor successfully entered the South Indian film market, winning praise from both critics and fans. Thottumkal continued on to Bollywood, where she began her career in the film Ghajini with Aamir Khan.

She became popular as the movie was a huge box office success. In the eight years of her career, she has acted in a number of blockbuster films, including Ready and Houseful 2. The actor, however, declared shortly after her wedding that she was leaving the entertainment industry to focus more on her personal life in 2016.

Zaira Wasim

Zaira Wasim, a former Bollywood actor, rose to popularity after making her screen debut in Aamir Khan's blockbuster Dangal. Due to her outstanding on-screen work in the film, the star—who was still very young at the time—went on to win a Filmfare Award and a National Film Award.

Both critics and audiences praised Zaira for how she portrayed a young Babita Phogat. Later, she starred in Secret Superstar, which likewise earned largely favourable reviews. Zaira surprised many when she said in July 2019 that she was quitting acting because it "endangered" her relationship with her religion.

Zaira Wasim (pic by Tribune India)

Namrata Shirodhkar

Namrata Shirodhkar won the Femina Miss India title in 1993. She only spent a brief time in Bollywood but is best known for her roles in movies like Pukar (2000) and Vaastav: The Reality (1999), for which she was nominated for an IIFA Best Supporting Actor Award. She also appeared in Kachche Dhaage (1999), Ezhupunna Tharakan (1999), Astitva (2000), Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), LOC Kargil (2003), and the international hit Bride and Prejudice (2004), which are examples of films that fit this description.

In 2005, she married the Telugu star, Mahesh Babu. In an interview in 2018, she emphasised that she did not regret quitting films for marriage.

Sana Khan

Sana Khan starred in more than 50 commercial films before leaving the entertainment business and acted in 14 films in five different languages. She participated in Bigg Boss 6 in 2012 as a contestant and went to the finals. Her first Tamil film role was in Silambattam, after she made her acting debut in Yehi Hai High Society in 2005.

Along with Sharman Joshi and Gurmeet Choudhary, she acted in the movie Wajah Tum Ho. She made a guest appearance in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha with Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar as her co-stars. Sana Khan, citing religious reasons, made an announcement that she was leaving the entertainment industry.

Sana Khan 

Anu Aggarwal

Anu Aggarwal became an instant star in 1990 with the release of Aashiqui, and she quickly became in high demand. She appeared in Thiruda Thiruda and The Cloud Door as well. She decided to leave the entertainment world and follow her spiritual calling. She enrolled in the Bihar School of Yoga in 1997 and remained there as a Karmayogi.

When a major vehicle accident occurred in 1999, Aggarwal was returning to Mumbai to pack her belongings and go live in Yoga to help people. She was in a coma for 29 days and had no knowledge of her previous life. She later became a monk in 2001. She heads the Anu Aggarwal Foundation for mental health, environmental well-being, stress alleviation, and finding joy in today's challenging circumstances. She is a motivational speaker.

Suggested Reading: Allu Arjun Fat-Shamed: Why Are Male Actors Expected To Always Be Macho?