Naila Grrewal on social media trolls: ‘Keep doing your work and stay focused’

Actress Naila Grrewal believes the best way to deal with social media trolls is not to give them too much importance. For her, staying focused on the work matters far more than responding to criticism from people hiding behind anonymous online identities.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, the ‘Maamla Legal Hai’ actress said she does not allow online trolling to affect her significantly and prefers to concentrate on her craft.

Asked how much social media trolling affects her and whether she responds to trolls, Naila said, “It does not affect me that much. I feel giving so much importance to nameless and faceless people is not good for your health.”

“You just keep doing your work and take your work seriously. As I said, these things will keep coming. Today it is Instagram trolls; tomorrow it will be something else. But your work and your focus should not be shaken,” she added.

The actress was also asked about another increasingly common trend in the entertainment industry — social media influencers and digital creators being considered for acting projects because of their large online following.

For actors who spend years building their careers and honing their craft, she acknowledged that the changing casting landscape can be difficult to ignore.

Naila, however, said she sees it as part of the industry's current reality and believes strong acting will continue to matter.

“I feel this is the reality today,” she said, adding that filmmakers who place the greatest emphasis on storytelling and scripts would not cast someone solely on the basis of follower numbers.

“Serious directors who give the most importance to their scripts will never sign an actor based only on numbers. They will sign someone based on their work and potential,” she said.

According to Naila, social media popularity can change rapidly, but the fundamentals of acting remain constant.

“At the end of the day, if you are a strong performer, regardless of whether you are also an influencer or social media star, I feel that is not the main point. Your performance and the work you bring to the table will ultimately get you work,” she said.

She added that the entertainment industry would continue to evolve with changing platforms and audience trends.

“All these things will keep changing. Today it is Instagram; tomorrow it will be something else. But acting is not going anywhere. If your acting foundation is solid, you will definitely get work,” Naila concluded.