Actress Kangna Ranaut rues the fact that artists are not valued and stardom often overshadows the real actors.

"I must admit that artists are not valued in this country and it's not just actors, it also includes painters, dancers, classical singers. They are not even paid well, " Kangna said during the India Today Conclave 2012 here Saturday.

"I started my career with theatre and my Guru kept telling me if you want to live in poverty pursue theatre and if you want to have a happy life try something else, " she added.

The actress started her acting career at the age of 17 with Mahesh Bhatt's 2006 film "Gangster" and in the matter of just six years has come a long way with films like "Life in a...Metro", "Fashion", and "Tanu Weds Manu", among others. She even won a national award for her role in "Fashion".

Kangna feels stardom often overshadows the real acting abilities.

"In Bollywood we have this funny concept of stars and actors. Sometimes your stardom really overpowers your acting abilities. It is very unfortunate but that's the way it is." she added.