There was a time when a mole above the lip, a crooked smile, or a barely uneven nostril might turn out to be an actor’s signature allure. Consider the traditional stars whose quirks had been a part of their magnetism. However in right now’s hyper-lit, high-definition, filter-heavy world, individuality usually bends beneath the burden of “perfection.” In Bollywood and the broader leisure {industry}, wanting ageless has shifted from being knowledgeable bonus to a silent, persistent stress — one that may form careers, distort self-worth, and blur the road between authenticity and artifice.Throughout candid conversations with ETimes, actors and influencers shared unfiltered truths about their earliest experiences of magnificence stress, the compromises they’ve resisted, and their fears for a technology rising up within the shadow of “flawless” faces.
The primary minimize: when magnificence requirements hit younger
Manjari Fadnnis
For Manjari Fadnnis, the awakening got here brutally early. “Proper at first of my profession once I was simply a youngster,” she recollects, “I used to be advised I’m not scorching sufficient to be an actress in Bollywood. That I have to put on color contact lenses, wigs, blow-dry my curly hair straight… principally, I used to be made to seem like each different lady attempting to turn out to be an actress.” At an impressionable age, she was advised to not be herself — and the message left scars. “For a very long time, I had so many insecurities. As an alternative of embracing my uniqueness, I used to be adapting to what I used to be advised would make me glamorous.”For Shenaz Treasury, the entry level was modelling at 16 — and the criticism was speedy. “It was at all times about reducing weight for me… ‘she’s cute however too plump, her face is a little bit chubby.’ I used to be so younger and weak, so I’d go on loopy diets, work out, not eat, all simply to suit the {industry} commonplace. Now once I look again at these photos, I used to be lovely. However on the time, I felt like I used to be by no means sufficient.”Tv and OTT actress Saumya Tandon confronted a distinct — however equally absurd — stereotype. “As a result of I’m truthful, have brown hair and lightweight eyes, folks in tv mentioned I’d absolutely be thought of for vamp roles. The truthful women had been the unhealthy women, the dusky ones had been the great women. Goodness and badness determined by pores and skin color — what a horrendous factor! It was cornering.”
Typecast by your personal face
Shenaz Treasury
Appears to be like don’t simply have an effect on vanity; they’ll resolve the form of roles an actor is even thought of for. Manjari admits she spent years boxed in as “the candy lady subsequent door.” “I wasn’t getting layered, attention-grabbing roles. I felt suffocated as an artist. Till I made a decision I’d await higher roles or stroll away.” The turning level got here with Barot Home, which pressured the {industry} to see her in another way.Shenaz remembers her debut movie Ishq Vishk vividly — however not for the explanations followers may suppose. “I used to be speculated to be Alisha, the best-looking lady in class. The director made me put on inexperienced lenses, advised me actresses should look good in all angles. If my stomach caught out, I needed to eating regimen extra. The opposite lady within the film was so skinny they had been padding her, whereas they had been attempting to shrink me. It was ridiculous.”For Siddharth Sibbal, a well-built physique has been a double-edged sword. “It tends to steer the roles I’m supplied towards armed forces or cops, reasonably than extra character-driven or on a regular basis roles. Solely when folks noticed my reels — comedy, vulnerability — did they begin seeing me past the uniform.”Saumya Tandon factors out the identical bias extends to severe skilled roles on display. “Truthful-looking women won’t ever be supplied the roles of a physician, engineer, lawyer. They’ll solely be wives, mistresses, honey traps. What a horrible message! In actual life, a woman might be any pores and skin color and be clever — why can’t that replicate on display?”
Beauty crossroads
Saumya Tandon
In an {industry} the place the digital camera magnifies each pore, the choice of beauty enhancement lurks within the background for nearly everybody.Manjari admits she as soon as considered it — briefly. “Then I assumed, what DO I do?! I’m good!” she laughs, however shortly turns severe: “I really like the best way I look. I’m camera-ready and completely related. I don’t need to attempt to be.”Shenaz’s stress was much less about fillers and extra about staying skinny — to the purpose of creating unhealthy consuming habits. “On the time, I might cry myself to sleep, starve all day, then eat at evening. Now I’m far more accepting of my face and physique. I don’t even put on make-up on social media — I wish to maintain it actual.”Saumya hyperlinks the stress on to social media. “The right thought of an ideal physique, good lips, good face — it’s manufactured day in and day trip with filters. It’s unrealistic and unhealthy, particularly for teenage women. It’s so unhealthy for his or her psychological well being.”Siddharth admits to receiving “strategies” for hair enhancement and Botox. “These procedures have virtually turn out to be the norm for actors. However it ought to be a private selection, not a obligatory ceremony of passage to remain related.”
Social media: the magnifying glass
Priyanka Bajaj
Whereas the purple carpet might have as soon as been the primary area for magnificence comparability, now the battlefield is Instagram feeds and paparazzi pictures.Shenaz finds paparazzi tradition notably poisonous. “You see girls dressing for them, all for the male gaze — tiny tops, enormous boobs, tiny waist. It’s not even actual. I mute something that gained’t uplift me. I don’t wish to see that stuff.”For Priyanka Bajaj, the method is completely different. “I give attention to gratitude. Each time I see my photographs on the market, I remind myself it’s a privilege to share my work. Comparability is pure, however I let it encourage me reasonably than restrict me.”Manjari says she’s constructed resilience over years of self-acceptance. “Like each regular individual I’ve insecurities — I want my left profile! However I’ve learnt to like myself with my flaws.”
Is authenticity actually trending — or only a area of interest?
Prableen Kaur Bhomrah
Nearly everybody interviewed sees indicators of change — however opinions differ on how deep it runs.Manjari believes audiences are “woke sufficient to reject unrelatable flawlessness” and wish emotional authenticity. “The characters they’re loving are relatable ones.”Influencer Prableen Kaur Bhomrah goes additional, seeing a “clear shift in the direction of pure and genuine magnificence beliefs… folks wish to really feel extra relatable, extra at residence with what they see on display.”“The sweetness norms aren’t as far-fetched as they was, and it’s encouraging to see this modification. From celebrities to actors—everyone seems to be adapting to it, and I imagine that’s a very good factor,” she says. She additional provides, “I really feel that so long as you’re capable of settle for your self—your pores and skin, your physique—no one ought to have the fitting to let you know what they suppose it is best to do. Whether or not it’s a magnificence therapy or any form of enhancement, it ought to solely occur should you genuinely need it. In any other case, nobody ought to have the ability to make that call for you, regardless of how a lot stress you’re beneath. In the present day, we’re truly seeing a form of reverse psychology—persons are embracing extra pure pores and skin, avoiding lip fillers, and stepping away from extreme remedies.” However Saumya dismisses the thought of an industry-wide shift. “Bollywood is as stereotypical because it was. Possibly now and again movie comes, however in any other case, it’s the identical mould — related our bodies, related hair, related styling.”Siddharth calls it “extra of a distinct segment pattern than the norm,” noting mainstream cinema nonetheless leans towards the proper look, whereas OTT and content-driven movies lead the push for authenticity.Priyanka is extra optimistic. “OTT platforms and contemporary voices are celebrating individuality greater than ever. It’s refreshing.”
The gender divide in magnificence stress
Siddharth Sibbal
A number of voices level out that males, whereas not immune, usually escape the identical intense scrutiny.Shenaz is blunt: “Have a look at the boys — as quickly as they flip 40 they’re balding, have large stomachs. Ladies aren’t accepted like that. Males go for young women, and society allows it.”Siddharth acknowledges that male actors get nudged towards sure enhancements, however the profession penalty for “imperfection” appears decrease. “Being well-groomed is essential, however finally, your efficiency stays with folks longer than your jawline.”
Recommendation to the following technology
Regardless of their completely different journeys, each voice affords an analogous closing be aware: your uniqueness is your biggest asset.Manjari Fadnnis: “Even probably the most naturally lovely folks have insecurities. Imperfections make us lovely. Discover your personal distinctive.”Shenaz Treasury: “It’s not about wanting good. Be actual, present up as you might be. Folks will such as you to your authenticity and vulnerability greater than your glass pores and skin.”Saumya Tandon: “In case you’re your personal self — distinctive look, distinctive voice — you’ll stand out. Don’t look factory-produced.”Prableen Kaur Bhomrah: “Nobody ought to really feel insecure about their appears. Audiences love folks extra for being pure than for having procedures.”Siddharth Sibbal: “Appears to be like might open a door, however expertise retains you within the room.”Priyanka Bajaj: “Your uniqueness is your signature. Give attention to craft, well being, and pleasure — the digital camera loves authenticity.”In a enterprise constructed on appearances, the thought of not conforming can really feel radical. But, as these actors’ tales present, it’s doable to withstand — and even thrive — with out erasing the quirks that make you you. Possibly the following large revolution in Bollywood gained’t come from a blockbuster script or a viral track, however from the quiet braveness of a face that refuses to be “perfected.”