The Rise and Fall of fame, a relentless cycle of ascent and descent, has always fascinated people across generations. In the world of art, cinema, and music, countless stories reveal how tremendous effort and perseverance are required to achieve stardom, yet a single misstep can erase years of hard-won glory. This fragile nature of fame—how easily it can slip away after relentless pursuit—forms the central truth of the journey from obscurity to celebrity and back again. As columnist M. Ibrahim Khan highlighted in his piece for Daily Dunya News on October 29, 2020, understanding the volatility of fame is essential for anyone in pursuit of lasting success.
The Harsh Reality of Fame
Legendary singer Mehdi Hassan, famously known as the Shahenshah-e-Ghazal, once explained this truth during an interview. When asked about the highs and lows of his career, the interviewer remarked, “You belong to an industry where careers rise and fall overnight.” Mehdi Hassan immediately corrected him: “It takes a lifetime to rise, but it takes no time to fall.” His words captured the cruel yet universal reality of life — in every profession, building something valuable takes years, while losing it requires just a single mistake.
Struggles Behind Every Success
The rise and fall of fame is best understood through the stories of showbiz. In music and film industries, people can become stars overnight, but the same spotlight can abandon them without warning. Mehdi Hassan’s own career is a perfect example. Early on, he faced rejection after rejection. For nearly seven years, despite his training and passion, he only received ten film songs. Many would have quit under such pressure, but he endured.
His first real breakthrough came in 1962 with the hit song “Ilahi Aansu Bhari Zindagi Kisi Ko Na De.” From then on, his voice became immortal. Mehdi Hassan’s journey teaches us that perseverance, humility, and continuous learning are essential in keeping success alive.
Fragile Stardom in Bollywood and Lollywood
The rise and fall of fame is not limited to music. Film industries like Bollywood and Lollywood are full of tragic stories where stars touched unimaginable heights but could not handle the weight of stardom.
- Rajesh Khanna, India’s first superstar, delivered 15 consecutive solo hit films between 1969 and 1971. At the peak of his fame, fans would cover his car with lipstick marks, and he was adored like no other. Yet, when Amitabh Bachchan entered the scene with “Anand” (1971), Khanna’s insecurities grew. Instead of focusing on his craft, he let jealousy consume him. His arrogance and bitterness accelerated his decline.
- Waheed Murad, Pakistan’s beloved “Chocolate Hero,” faced a similar fate. At his prime, he was surrounded by fans wherever he went. But as new stars like Nadeem emerged, Waheed Murad struggled to cope with fading popularity. Unlike Rajesh Khanna, he was not arrogant, yet he could not bear the psychological burden of decline. By age 45, he had tragically passed away, leaving millions heartbroken.
These stories remind us that the spotlight can be both a blessing and a curse.
Lessons from the Rise and Fall of Fame
The rise and fall of fame holds timeless lessons:
- Success demands humility – Stars who stay grounded, respect others, and avoid arrogance enjoy longer careers.
- Failure tests resilience – The real strength of a person is shown not in success but in how they handle setbacks.
- Continuous self-improvement matters – Even at the top, learning never stops.
- Fame is borrowed, not owned – Those who understand this truth manage to stay relevant longer.
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https://dunya.com.pk/index.php/author/m-ibrahim-khan/2020-09-29/32568/55621755
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Final Thoughts
Every career, whether in showbiz or beyond, is shaped by the same unforgiving law: building lasting success is a slow, demanding process, but losing it is swift and often irreversible. This universal journey—the rise and fall of fame—reminds us that real achievement lies not just in reaching the top, but in how we handle the precarious balance between triumph and failure. Ultimately, true wisdom comes from understanding that fame is fleeting and mastering the art of resilience and humility is what turns temporary success into an enduring legacy.