by In an industry often driven by speed, spectacle, and short-lived virality, Rakul Preet Singh is speaking a different language — one of discipline, resilience, and longevity. In a candid conversation with Elle India, the actor reflected not only on the work ethic that shaped her career but also on the physical setback that forced her to re-evaluate what success truly means.
Entering the film industry at 18 without a film background, Rakul did not carry legacy advantages or industry godfathers. What she carried instead was conviction. “Some people were better looking than me, some were more talented than me, but no one would work harder than me. My work is worship,” she said — a statement that reads less like motivation and more like personal doctrine.
But the real test of discipline, as she revealed, came not during moments of professional high but during physical vulnerability — when a serious back injury left her nearly immobile. For almost a year, she traveled everywhere with a physiotherapist, balancing long shooting days, international flights, promotions, and daily rehabilitation.
Her words during that period capture the philosophy she now lives by: “This is about longevity. I’m not here for a moment.”
This is not merely about fitness or fashion choices. It is about redefining what it means to build a career that lasts — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Discipline as Identity, Not Performance
In a culture that romanticizes “hustle,” Rakul’s discipline is not performative. It is structural. She describes punctuality not as professionalism but as default behavior. “If I’ve said 4 p.m., it’s 4 p.m. If I’ve said hair and makeup is 1.5 hours, it will be 1.5 hours. I don’t know any other way,” she explained.
That sentence — “I don’t know any other way” — is revealing. For Rakul, discipline is not an accessory to ambition. It is ambition.
Many actors enter the industry with dreams of visibility. Rakul entered with a promise to herself: effort would be her differentiator. In an ecosystem where comparisons are constant and casting cycles unpredictable, discipline became the only variable fully within her control.
It also signals something deeper — respect for collective labor. Film sets run on coordination. One person’s delay becomes another’s overtime. By adhering strictly to time, she signals reliability — a trait often undervalued in conversations about stardom.
In an industry often accused of glamorizing chaos, that reliability becomes radical.
The Injury That Shifted Perspective
While discipline fueled her ascent, injury tested it.
Back injuries are notoriously unforgiving. They compromise mobility, posture, sleep, and mental stamina. For someone whose career demands physical presence — from dance sequences to long shoot schedules — such an injury is not just medical; it is existential.
Rakul revealed that she was nearly immobile at one point. For close to a year, she traveled with a physiotherapist, integrating rehabilitation into every professional commitment.
The image is striking: international locations, 14-hour shooting days, press interviews — followed by swim therapy and rehab sessions. Not as optional self-care, but as non-negotiable survival.
“Even in Melbourne, after a 14-hour day, I’d go swim or do my rehab. I’d tell the team, ‘Leave me in the evening, I need one hour,’” she shared.
This hour represents more than physical recovery. It symbolizes boundary-setting — the understanding that sustainability requires saying no, even in an industry that rewards endless availability.
Longevity vs. Momentary Visibility
“I’m not here for a moment.”
This sentence captures a fundamental shift in how younger actors are approaching their careers.
The entertainment industry thrives on cycles — trending today, forgotten tomorrow. Social media accelerates this churn. Viral moments can eclipse sustained craft.
But Rakul’s philosophy challenges that model. Longevity requires restraint. It requires pacing. It requires understanding that burnout is not glamorous.
Choosing rehabilitation over networking dinners. Choosing rest over another appearance. Choosing long-term spinal health over high-heeled aesthetics.
These are not headline-making decisions. But they shape a career that lasts.
The High Heel Question: Fashion vs. Physiology
Perhaps one of the most telling revelations from her conversation was about heels.
Rakul disclosed that she has largely stopped wearing high heels after learning more about their long-term impact on posture and spinal alignment. “In the last year, I’ve learned so much about how women’s bodies are constantly tilted forward in heels. It’s terrible for you, but we still call it a fashion rule. Why? Who decided pain is aspirational?”
The question cuts deeper than footwear.
High heels have long symbolized power, elegance, femininity, and red-carpet dominance. But they have also normalized discomfort. The entertainment industry often equates suffering with beauty — the corset, the extreme diet, the impossible schedule.
By walking red carpets in flats and stating she felt neither diminished nor powerless, Rakul is subtly disrupting that narrative.
She reframes comfort not as compromise but as confidence.
And in doing so, she opens a broader conversation: why are women expected to endure physical strain to meet aesthetic standards?
Discipline Beyond the Gym
Rakul is known for her commitment to fitness, but her idea of discipline extends beyond physical training.
It is about mental consistency. About honoring commitments. About learning from setbacks.
The back injury could have derailed her trajectory. Instead, it recalibrated it.
Rehabilitation demands patience — slow improvement, repetitive exercises, incremental gains. It teaches humility. It dismantles ego.
For an actor used to choreographed perfection, rehab can feel frustratingly imperfect.
Yet, Rakul integrated it into her identity. She did not treat it as interruption but as evolution.
Entering Without a Safety Net
Starting at 18 without industry lineage meant Rakul built her foundation from scratch.
The Indian film industry, across languages, can be both welcoming and insular. Without connections, newcomers often rely on persistence and adaptability.
Her admission that others may have been “better looking” or “more talented” reveals self-awareness. She does not claim invincibility. Instead, she claims effort.
Hard work is the democratizing tool in an unequal space.
But hard work without boundaries leads to collapse — a lesson her injury likely reinforced.
The Cultural Weight of Professionalism
Professionalism in cinema is often romanticized through anecdotes of “living on set” or “giving everything.” But true professionalism includes self-preservation.
When Rakul insists on punctuality, she signals discipline. When she insists on rehab time, she signals self-respect.
Both are forms of accountability.
In a culture that often glorifies exhaustion, her insistence on structural routine is quietly revolutionary.
Redefining Strength
Strength in the film industry is often portrayed as endurance — enduring criticism, competition, long hours, physical transformation.
But Rakul’s narrative reframes strength as adaptability.
She did not deny her injury. She did not hide vulnerability. She addressed it methodically.
Strength, in her case, is the willingness to prioritize health even when visibility tempts otherwise.
The Gendered Expectations of Pain
Her commentary on heels intersects with broader conversations about gendered discomfort.
From restrictive fashion to unrealistic body standards, women in public-facing professions often navigate silent expectations of physical sacrifice.
Rakul’s rhetorical question — “Who decided pain is aspirational?” — challenges decades of aesthetic conditioning.
By normalizing flats on red carpets, she expands the spectrum of what power can look like.
It is a subtle but significant shift.
Longevity as Legacy
In entertainment, legacy is often measured in awards, box office numbers, and iconic roles.
But longevity adds another dimension — sustained relevance.
Longevity requires:
- Physical sustainability
- Mental resilience
- Strategic project selection
- Emotional balance
Rakul’s injury may have accelerated her understanding of these pillars.
Her focus appears less on immediate hype and more on consistent presence.
The Athlete Mindset in Acting
Interestingly, her approach mirrors that of professional athletes.
Athletes prioritize recovery as much as training. They measure careers in seasons, not matches.
By integrating rehab, swimming, and spinal awareness into her routine, Rakul adopts a similar philosophy.
She treats her body not as decorative but as instrumental.
The Courage to Slow Down
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of her narrative is the courage to slow down.
In a competitive industry, stepping back even briefly can feel risky.
But strategic slowing prevents forced stoppage.
Her one-hour rehab demand each evening becomes symbolic — a boundary protecting the future.
Walking in Flats, Standing Taller
When Rakul says she has walked carpets in flats and never felt powerless, it reflects a shift in internal validation.
Power does not come from height. It comes from stance.
And sometimes, standing tall means standing comfortably.
A Blueprint for Emerging Artists
For young aspirants watching her journey, the lesson is layered:
- Talent matters.
- Hard work matters more.
- Health sustains both.
Entering without privilege does not guarantee failure. But entering without discipline often does.
Rakul’s journey demonstrates that structure can substitute for lineage.
The Long Game
Ultimately, her declaration — “I’m not here for a moment” — is less about ambition and more about intention.
Moments fade. Movements endure.
By choosing discipline over drama, recovery over recklessness, and comfort over convention, Rakul Preet Singh is constructing a career blueprint grounded in sustainability.
Her story reminds us that the most radical choice in a fast industry is patience.
And sometimes, the strongest statement on a red carpet is not towering heels — but steady footing.
In an age of instant fame and instant fatigue, Rakul’s philosophy offers a refreshing counterpoint.
She is not chasing the spotlight.
She is building a spine strong enough to stand in it for years.
