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In an industry obsessed with perfection, actress Manjari fadnnis is unafraid to speak her truth. From being told as a teenager that she wasn’t “hot enough” for Bollywood, to facing insecurities about her looks, to finally embracing her natural curly hair and so-called “imperfections,” Manjari has lived through the silent pressure to look flawless. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, she opens up about the emotional toll of beauty standards, the temptation of cosmetic procedures, why authenticity resonates with today’s audiences, and her heartfelt message to young fans navigating the same pressures. “I was told to not be myself”For Manjari Fadnnis, the pressure to fit into Bollywood’s beauty mould began when she was just a teenager.
“Right in the beginning of my career, when I was just a teenager, I was told all sorts of things — that I’m not hot enough to be an actress in Bollywood, that I need to wear colour contact lenses and wigs to add glamour, blow-dry my curly hair straight…. Basically, I was made to look like every other girl trying to become an actress. I was literally told to not be myself. And I was at such an impressionable age,” she recalls.The constant push to “look glamorous” left her with insecurities for years. But in time, she realised that her individuality was her real strength.“Over time, as I grew up and found confidence in who I am, I finally embraced my uniqueness — be it my natural curly hair or my pakoda nose and all other imperfections. Personally, I immediately saw the shift in my audience, and I felt I started getting more love from them in my authentic form.”Judged for looks before talent
The actress admits that for a long time, her appearance overshadowed her craft.“Actresses, unfortunately, are always first judged on how they look! For many years I wasn’t getting more meaningful, layered, interesting and complex roles just because I looked like a sweet girl next door. And I was only getting limited roles. I felt I wasn’t being taken seriously as an actress, and I felt suffocated as an artist,” she says.Manjari even considered walking away from the industry.“Till I decided that I’ll wait to get better roles that give me more respect as an actress or I’ll walk away from the industry. Of course, after waiting for two years, meanwhile doing theatre, at one point Barot House came my way, and that changed the way industry and audience saw me as an actor. Only now, in the last few years, I’m being taken seriously as an actress. Thankfully!”On cosmetic procedures: “I’m perfect!”In a world where cosmetic enhancements are often seen as survival tools, Manjari has kept her stance firm.“Yeah, once I gave it a thought! But then I thought, if at all, what DO I do?! I’m perfect!! (laughs out loud) On a serious note… I love the way I look! I wouldn’t want to change anything about me. I am camera-ready and absolutely relevant. I don’t have to try to be.”Audiences now want authenticityManjari believes that the tide is shifting, with viewers rejecting the idea of flawless, picture-perfect faces.“Actually, in recent years audiences have become woke enough to ask for real authenticity. They are catching and rejecting unrelatable flawlessness. They yearn to be able to relate to the characters they watch onscreen. They want to be seen through them. So I’ve been observing, most of the films, series and characters audiences are loving and accepting with open arms are mostly relatable ones — with emotional authenticity.”Learning to live with insecurities
Despite her confidence today, Manjari admits she still has small insecurities.“No (she smiles). As I said, it took me many years to finally love myself with my flaws… so now it is here to stay. But yeah, like every normal person, I do have my own little insecurities which I easily deal with. Like I prefer my left profile to my right one! Even if I’m made to stand on the right side, I’ll still pose from my left (she laughs).”Natural beauty — niche or norm?When asked if Bollywood is shifting toward natural beauty ideals, the actress shares a cautious view.“Unfortunately, natural authentic beauty seems to have become just a niche trend, at least in the entertainment industry and apparently even amongst many affluent people not from the film industry. With more and more people going towards cosmetic surgeries, beauty standards seem to be shifting in a direction I’m honestly not feeling too comfortable about.”Yet, she remains open-minded.“Though I absolutely believe, to each his own, and I would never judge anyone doing any procedures to their face or body. Whatever makes one happy and confident, and works for them personally, they should absolutely go for it! I don’t know, 10 years down, I may be tempted too… I just hope and pray that especially teenage girls, who are such impressionable minds, don’t let their ideas of beauty get completely twisted in their heads. I hope they still learn to appreciate themselves in their real, authentic selves.”A message to the next generationFor Manjari, imperfections aren’t flaws — they’re what make each person unique.“I just want to tell them that even the most naturally beautiful people in the world have some insecurity or the other about their looks. But that’s only human. Imperfections make us beautiful. You just go find your own unique….”
