Rajeev Masand recalls breaking up with an actress's boyfriend during his first year as a talent agent

Rajeev Masand recently shared his experiences working in artist management and stated that actors often lack self-objectivity and live with a high level of delusion. Speaking on a podcast with Cyrus Broacha, the former film journalist and Chief Operating Officer of Dharma Cornerstone Agency recalled an unusual incident from his first year on the job.

Unconventional Duties

Masand described an occasion when he had to step far beyond his normal work duties to handle a client's personal life. He recalled having to go and break up with a female actor's boyfriend on her behalf. Masand noted that while such tasks are not part of an agent's standard role, the deep personal investment in a client's career sometimes blurs those boundaries. He confirmed he has never done anything similar since that first year.

Views on Actors

Discussing the mindset of film stars, Masand remarked that actors show great objectivity when talking about other people, but completely lose that perspective when it comes to themselves. He stated that actors buy into their own myth and suffer from a high level of delusion. Masand also touched upon Kangana Ranaut during the conversation, saying that he misses her as an actor and feels she has become a joke, adding that Bollywood respects success and her work has lately turned into a personal show.

Context

Talent management agencies handle public relations, brand deals, and career choices for film stars, but deep personal involvement often arises in the entertainment industry. Rajeev Masand transitioned into this management role in 2021 after a long career as a prominent film journalist and critic.