Sept 06: Indian actress and global dance powerhouse Lauren Gottlieb, known for her electrifying performances in the ABCD franchise and popular tracks including “Tattoo,” “Mercy” and “Dance Like,” has voiced her support for Apoorva Makhija, aka Rebel Kid, and her decision to move to New York and pursue a new chapter. For Lauren, it speaks to something increasingly important: creating a life beyond work and giving yourself the space to discover what else you want from it.
Apoorva’s decision to pursue further studies while at the centre of a rapidly growing public career is something Lauren strongly relates to. In 2017, Lauren made a similar move to New York, enrolling in acting school and opening herself up to new possibilities, both personally and professionally.
Lauren’s decision came while she was riding an extraordinary career high, firmly established as one of the most exciting and sought-after talents in Indian entertainment. After years of taking on projects back-to-back, however, she realised there was little room left for a life beyond work.
“Growing up, all I wanted was to become a world-recognized dancer, actor, performer and entrepreneur. I wanted to make it on the biggest stage possible, and eventually I was living that dream. But after years of working nonstop, I realized I had built this incredible career without really building a life outside of it. I didn’t even know who I was without my work.
“I had always dreamed of going to acting school in New York, and I knew there were other parts of myself and my life I needed to explore. It takes tremendous faith in yourself to walk away when everything is going well, to trust that what you’ve built will still be there and that you can come back as an even more evolved version of yourself. When your heart is pulling you toward something, you have to be brave enough to listen. What’s meant for you isn’t going to disappear just because you took the time to grow.”
Lauren continued, “That’s why I was so proud to see Apoorva make this decision for herself, and especially to hear how eloquently she’s spoken about it. So many people can relate to knowing there’s more of yourself, and more of life, you want to explore. It takes courage to actually follow that instinct, and I give her two very big thumbs up for trusting herself and going for it.”
Her experience speaks to a larger shift in an industry where constant availability and visibility have long been treated as part of the job. From Deepika Padukone speaking about structured work hours to Lauren and now Apoorva making room for life and personal growth, perhaps it’s a reminder of the sentiment Dolly Parton made famous: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
From ABCD 2 to performing “Naatu Naatu” from RRR on the prestigious Oscars stage, Lauren has spent her career lighting up stages around the world. But she’s learned that some of life’s most important stages happen far beyond the spotlight. Now, stepping into her next chapter with a renewed sense of self and purpose, she’s back doing what she loves, only this time, better than ever.