# Tanuja said she sounded ‘like a rat’ on screen, wanted to quit 2026-08-22T14:32:19+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Veteran actress Tanuja once revealed that the first time she saw herself on screen, she was so unhappy with her voice that she wanted to quit acting. Speaking on the chat show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai', she recalled telling her mother she sounded 'like a rat' and did not want to work anymore. Her mother convinced her to continue, and Tanuja negotiated a deal: she would act in her mother's film in exchange for a lemonade. At the time, she was not allowed to drink bottled beverages, so lemonade became her reward. Tanuja started her career as a child artist in 1950 with 'Hamari Beti' and debuted as an adult actress in 'Chhabili' (1960). She went on to star in films like 'Jewel Thief' (1967), 'Haathi Mere Saathi' (1971), and 'Anubhav' (1971), becoming one of Hindi cinema's most respected actresses. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The anecdote highlights the self-doubt even seasoned actors face early in their careers. Tanuja's career spanned over five decades, with a notable shift from child artist to leading lady in the 1960s and 1970s. Her mother, Shobhna Samarth, was a pioneering actress-producer, which gave Tanuja a unique entry into the industry. The lemonade negotiation is a charming glimpse into the personal dynamics behind professional decisions in classic Bollywood. For readers interested in Bollywood history, this story adds a human touch to the legacy of a star whose filmography includes some of Hindi cinema's most enduring hits. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com The article presents a nostalgic anecdote about Tanuja without political or ideological slant, straight reporting of a celebrity story. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Bollywood, Shobhna Samarth, Tanuja Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/tanuja-said-she-sounded-like-a-rat-on-screen-wanted-to-quit/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/tanuja-said-she-sounded-like-a-rat-on-screen-wanted-to-quit/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/