Why are actors plagued by numerological bug?

If you’re a firm believer in karma, hard work and a little bit of luck, what difference would an extra ‘a’ or any alphabet to your name would do to your life and career? Many don’t seem to understand this, especially actors, who are plagued by the numerological bug and constantly keep changing the spelling of their names hoping success would just come and fall in their lap. If it was easy we all can change the spelling of our respective names become successful overnight. But we all know success is the result of months, maybe years of toil and patience.

I don’t wish to argue about numerology, whether it’s powerful or not or its science for that matter in this article. However, we’ll just try and analyze some of the actors who’ve been bit by this bug and understand its effect.

From Kamal Haasan to even the most recent actors such as Poonam Kaur, almost everybody have changed the spelling of their names because they were told it would bring them luck and wisdom by some numerologist. There have been so many instances when actors who changed their spelling changed it back because things didn’t pan out the way they had hoped for. For instance, Poonam Kaur had become Puunam Kaur sometime back but since she was still finding it difficult to find work, she changed it back to the original spelling. Also, Lakshmi Rai changed her name to Raai Lakshmi recently and yet to feel the effect of it.

Many succumb to numerology because they’re told it works as a sentiment and brings them luck. Recently, actress Janani Iyer decided to drop her surname because when “Thegidi” released, the makers had forgotten to add her surname in the credits, but the film turned out to be a blockbuster. Janani decided to cash in on the sentiment, and therefore, dropped her surname. Does it mean if her next film doesn’t do well, will she add back her surname?

Charmi is another actress who has changed the spelling of her name several times but unfortunately she’s still struggling to find work. She was once very popular, worked with several top stars, but all that has changed in the last few years. I seriously fail to understand what difference did the change in the spelling bring to her career?

Actor Vivekh, who has raised questions about various topics including numerology in his films, seems to have contradicted his own statements when he decided to add an ‘H’ to his name. Nevertheless, acting offers have dried up for him in the last few years. Even legendary composer Illayaraja had changed the spelling of his name several times.

I had recently discussed this with a friend who’s a psychologist and here’s what he had to say: “Numerology is appealing to people because they want to make sense of something they don’t understand, they want to connect the dots, they want everything to be connected in some way, and they want a reason behind everything. It’s pretty much just that and our natural ability to see “patterns and shapes” in things. It’s purely based on physics and has nothing to do with success and failure”.