Actor-producer Lakshmi Manchu has opened up about long-standing stereotypes surrounding South cinema, the business’s magnificence requirements, and the challenges girls face in movies. Talking on a variety of matters—from the so-called “navel obsession” to pressures of look and household restrictions—Lakshmi provided an unfiltered perspective on points not often mentioned overtly.
‘Navel obsession exists in all places, not simply within the South’
Responding to a query a couple of declare that the South is “obsessive about the navel” and has a “huge breast obsession,” Lakshmi disagreed with the generalisation, saying such views are reductive and misinformed.She defined that the stereotype probably persists as a result of “we naturally have greater breasts than actresses within the North,” including that mainstream Hindi cinema has lengthy showcased navels too.“Inform me one Hindi movie from the 80s to now that doesn’t present the navel,” she stated throughout a dialog with Hauterrfly, mentioning that even movies from areas like Bihar have songs centred round it. “From Karan Johar to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, there have been navels in all places.”
‘Bombay carries a chip on its shoulder’
Lakshmi additionally provided a pointy comparability between working cultures in Bollywood and the South, noting that the North tends to be harsher and extra appearance-driven.“In Bombay, individuals carry a chip on their shoulder. In the event you stroll in, somebody is straight away judging you,” she stated, recalling conversations the place individuals bluntly advised her she wanted to drop some weight or regulate her look.In distinction, she stated the Telugu business doesn’t give time or validation simply, and clout doesn’t matter there. “Solely in Bombay do you could have all this clout.”
‘Everyone appears to be like the identical now—mouth, eyes, nostril’
The actor additionally addressed the rising stress to look a sure method, saying individuals freely touch upon options like noses, resulting in uniformity in appearances.“Some individuals inform me I appear to be this particular person or that particular person… everybody has the identical nostril now. Even in Dubai, everybody’s mouth, eyes, nostril look equivalent,” she remarked.When requested whether or not she had undergone beauty procedures herself, Lakshmi was forthright, “I do Botox on my nostril. I had a dip due to an harm, and it doesn’t look good on display screen. Botox smoothens it.”She additionally revealed she lately underwent an Alma laser therapy. “It’s bloody painful, however it lifts your pores and skin and improves collagen. What’s the disgrace in saying it?”
‘What number of actors’ daughters are allowed to work?’
Lakshmi spoke a couple of longstanding perception that many South Indian male actors discourage the ladies of their households—sisters and daughters—from becoming a member of the business. She confirmed that she has confronted this mindset too.“I’m nonetheless tackling it,” she stated. “Inform me what number of actors’ daughters you recognize who’re within the business? Not actresses’ daughters—actors’ daughters.”