Former Miss World and Bollywood actor Manushi Chhillar wants to make one thing clear, she is here to act, to grow, and to take on roles that matter. While her pageant win brought her into the spotlight, Manushi says her real journey began when she decided to step into films.
She admits that many people expect a certain kind of personality or career path from beauty queens. But for her, breaking stereotypes is not the goal, doing her job well is. “Instead of spending energy trying to change what people think about me, I put all my focus into working hard and choosing roles I believe in. Once you give your best, everything else falls into place,” she explains.
The actor believes that public opinion will always exist, and trying to control it is pointless. “When I joined films, I didn’t feel the need to prove myself to anyone. I don’t pick my clothes or roles to fight assumptions. I do it because that’s what my work requires. Before, I was a girl doing her duty as Miss World. Now, I’m a girl doing her duty as an actor,” she says with confidence.
Manushi also wants people to understand that the glamour of a beauty pageant is just the surface. “People only remember the crown and the stage lights, but that is one night out of the entire year. The real work happens off stage, meeting people, travelling to rural areas, and taking part in projects that create change,” she says, recalling her time working on humanitarian campaigns under Beauty With A Purpose.
Since making her acting debut, she has taken on a variety of roles, from playing royal figures in historical dramas to portraying grounded, real-world characters. Each choice reflects her desire to prove herself as a performer, not just a face.
As she puts it, “I’m not here to fit into anyone’s box. I’m here to grow, to work hard, and to earn my place in this industry.”
