--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to play second leads or…" description: "\"I don't want to play second leads or third leads in a film. I started working at 17. I still have a long way to go.\" — Jiah Khan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jiah-khan-38653_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-play-second-leads-or-thi_2338777.jpg" --- # I don't want to play second leads or third leads in a… ![“I don't want to play second leads or third leads in a film. I started working at 17. I still have a long way to go.” quote by Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jiah-khan-38653_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-play-second-leads-or-thi_2338777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jiah-khan-38653_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-play-second-leads-or-thi_2338777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/jiah-khan-38653_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-play-second-leads-or-thi_2338777.jpg) > “I don't want to play second leads or third leads in a film. I started working at 17. I still have a long way to go.” [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She as to avoid minor roles, emphasizing ambition and the long journey toward leading parts. **In simple terms:** She wants leading roles, not supporting ones. Key Takeaway Pursue growth and seek lead opportunities. Themes career ambition role selection self‑advocacy Mood determined hopeful Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - audition preparation - networking events - career planning - mentorship programs Key Concepts industry dynamics personal branding career trajectory Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to showcase lead‑role potential? - How do you handle setbacks while aiming high? A Different Perspective The industry often typecasts actors, making it hard to break out. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-started-929386/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leads/) [Leads Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leads-film-1535336/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second/) [Second Leads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-leads-1535337/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Third](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/third/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Working 17](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-17-2551526/) ## Related quotes > [I dont want to play second leads or third leads in a film. I started working at 17. I still have a long way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-dont-want-to-play-second-leads-or-third-leads-in-a-film-i-started/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I've done second leads in movies, I've done really small roles, too. Other actors never bother me, I believe I'm decent enough to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hassanandani-reddy/i-ve-done-second-leads-in-movies-i-ve-done-really-small-roles-too/) [Anita Hassanandani Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hassanandani-reddy/) > [I'm a little bit of a weirdo - I'm kind of a loner, I didn't go to college, I spend a lot of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zosia-mamet/i-m-a-little-bit-of-a-weirdo-i-m-kind-of-a-loner-i-didn-t-go-to/) [Zosia Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zosia-mamet/) > [I've been working since I was 17, when I started playing for Fluminense, which helped me a lot, I grew a lot there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo/i-ve-been-working-since-i-was-17-when-i-started-playing-for/) [Marcelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo/) > [I started working when I was 17. After working for seven-eight years, I informed my parents about my acting decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupriya-goenka/i-started-working-when-i-was-17-after-working-for-seven-eight-years-i/) [Anupriya Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupriya-goenka/) > [I don't want to carry a network show. I don't want to give up 10 months, working 17 hours a day, up at five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-don-t-want-to-carry-a-network-show-i-don-t-want-to-give-up-10/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I never went to college. I started working when I was 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barun-sobti/i-never-went-to-college-i-started-working-when-i-was-17/) [Barun Sobti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barun-sobti/) > [There are a lot of movies I'd like to throw away. That's not to say that I went in with that attitude. Any film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiefer-sutherland/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-i-d-like-to-throw-away-that-s-not-to-say/) [Kiefer Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiefer-sutherland/) > [We discovered this halfway through the process. When we started making the film there were some lines of dialogue in Portuguese, but we then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-abreu/we-discovered-this-halfway-through-the-process-when-we-started-making/) [Alex Abreu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-abreu/) > [ I didn't know anything about film when I first started - I was a painter - but I \[always\] felt that sound was just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-didn-t-know-anything-about-film-when-i-first-started-i-was-a/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [“By the time we arrived the film had already started, and there was only standing room left behind the screen, where everything was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sijie-dai/by-the-time-we-arrived-the-film-had-already-started-and-there-was/) [Sijie Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sijie-dai/) > ['Fukrey' was a major turning point of my career because it was post this film that I started getting lead roles in films like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/fukrey-was-a-major-turning-point-of-my-career-because-it-was-post/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) > [I've always loved film, and it started with Pixar movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-ve-always-loved-film-and-it-started-with-pixar-movies/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [For me the most moving moment came when I first started working on 2001. I was already in awe of him, and he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-dullea/for-me-the-most-moving-moment-came-when-i-first-started-working-on/) [Keir Dullea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-dullea/) > [I studied science and journalism at the University of Colorado and then got interested in experimental film there and started doing my own films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-darnell/i-studied-science-and-journalism-at-the-university-of-colorado-and/) [Eric Darnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-darnell/) ## More by Jiah Khan > [My experiences and training back at drama school were very enlightening. I always believe in improving, be it kathak or my acting skills, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/my-experiences-and-training-back-at-drama-school-were-very/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I'm an all or nothing kind of girl. When I give my heart, I give myself totally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-m-an-all-or-nothing-kind-of-girl-when-i-give-my-heart-i-give-myself/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [Style to me is a mix between rock star chic-quirky-sexy and expressive. I always dress for my body type, as it's important to highlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/style-to-me-is-a-mix-between-rock-star-chic-quirky-sexy-and/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I love working in cinema - it can be in any language!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-love-working-in-cinema-it-can-be-in-any-language/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I love India. I love the people, food and the environment. Yes, I am from London, but right from when I was a toddler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-love-india-i-love-the-people-food-and-the-environment-yes-i-am-from/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I am deeply romantic and a genuine yet complex person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-am-deeply-romantic-and-a-genuine-yet-complex-person/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I would enjoy venturing into music, as I do write songs and compose music! And, of course, dance, rhythm and performance are in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-would-enjoy-venturing-into-music-as-i-do-write-songs-and-compose/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I dont want to play second leads or third leads in a film. I started working at 17. I still have a long way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/i-dont-want-to-play-second-leads-or-third-leads-in-a-film-i-started/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [There is a time and place for being in the limelight. As far as being away from the spotlight, well, a certain air of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-being-in-the-limelight-as-far-as-being/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [Sexy is attitude, but fitness for me is my dance. I dance two hours nearly every day. You break into good sweat, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/sexy-is-attitude-but-fitness-for-me-is-my-dance-i-dance-two-hours/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) [Explore all 11 Jiah Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't want to play second leads or third leads in a film. I started working at 17. 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