From perk to pressure: Manjari Fadnnis, Shenaz Treasury, Saumya Tandon and others speak on Bollywood's unspoken war with beauty obsession

Time of India

18 hours ago

There was a time when a mole above the lip, a crooked smile, or a slightly uneven nose could become an actor's signature charm. Think of the classic stars whose quirks were part of their magnetism.
But in today's hyper-lit, high-definition, filter-heavy world, individuality often bends under the weight of 'perfection.' In Bollywood and the wider entertainment industry, looking ageless has shifted from being a professional bonus to a silent, persistent pressure — one that can shape careers, distort self-worth, and blur the line between authenticity and artifice.
Across candid conversations with ETimes, actors and influencers shared unfiltered truths about their earliest experiences of beauty pressure, the compromises they've resisted, and their fears for a generation growing up in the shadow of 'flawless' faces.
The first cut: when
beauty standards
hit young
Manjari Fadnnis
For
Manjari Fadnnis
, the awakening came brutally early. 'Right in the beginning of my career when I was just a teenager,' she recalls, 'I was told I'm not hot enough to be an actress in Bollywood. That I need to wear colour contact lenses, wigs, blow-dry my curly hair straight… basically, I was made to look like every other girl trying to become an actress.' At an impressionable age, she was told not to be herself — and the message left scars.
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Undo
'For a long time, I had so many insecurities.
Instead of embracing my uniqueness, I was adapting to what I was told would make me glamorous.'
For
Shenaz Treasury
, the entry point was modelling at 16 — and the criticism was immediate. 'It was always about losing weight for me... 'she's cute but too plump, her face is a little chubby.' I was so young and vulnerable, so I'd go on crazy diets, work out, not eat, all just to fit the industry standard.
Now when I look back at those pictures, I was beautiful. But at the time, I felt like I was never enough.'
Television and OTT actress
Saumya Tandon
faced a different — but equally absurd — stereotype. 'Because I am fair, have brown hair and light eyes, people in television said I'd surely be considered for vamp roles. The fair girls were the bad girls, the dusky ones were the good girls. Goodness and badness decided by skin colour — what a horrendous thing! It was cornering.'
Typecast by your own face
Shenaz Treasury
Looks don't just affect self-esteem; they can decide the kind of roles an actor is even considered for.
Manjari admits she spent years boxed in as 'the sweet girl next door.' 'I wasn't getting layered, interesting roles. I felt suffocated as an artist. Until I decided I'd wait for better roles or walk away.' The turning point came with Barot House, which forced the industry to see her differently.
Shenaz remembers her debut film Ishq Vishk vividly — but not for the reasons fans might think.
'I was supposed to be Alisha, the best-looking girl in school. The director made me wear green lenses, told me actresses must look good in all angles. If my belly stuck out, I had to diet more. The other girl in the movie was so thin they were padding her, while they were trying 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 offered toward armed forces or police officers, rather than more character-driven or everyday roles.
Only when people saw my reels — comedy, vulnerability — did they start seeing me beyond the uniform.'
Saumya Tandon points out the same bias extends to serious professional roles on screen. 'Fair-looking girls will never be offered the roles of a doctor, engineer, lawyer. They'll only be wives, mistresses, honey traps. What a terrible message! In real life, a girl can be any skin colour and be intelligent — why can't that reflect on screen?'
Cosmetic crossroads
Saumya Tandon
In an industry where the camera magnifies every pore, the option of cosmetic enhancement lurks in the background for almost everyone.
Manjari admits she once thought about it — briefly. 'Then I thought, what DO I do?! I'm perfect!' she laughs, but quickly turns serious: 'I love the way I look. I am camera-ready and absolutely relevant. I don't have to try to be.'
Shenaz's pressure was less about fillers and more about staying thin — to the point of developing unhealthy eating habits. 'At the time, I would cry myself to sleep, starve all day, then eat at night.
Now I'm much more accepting of my face and body. I don't even wear makeup on social media — I want to keep it real.'
Saumya links the pressure directly to social media. 'The perfect idea of a perfect body, perfect lips, perfect face — it's manufactured day in and day out with filters. It's unrealistic and unhealthy, especially for teenage girls. It's so bad for their mental health.'
Siddharth admits to receiving 'suggestions' for hair enhancement and Botox.
'These procedures have almost become the norm for actors. But it should be a personal choice, not a compulsory rite of passage to stay relevant.'
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Social media: the magnifying glass
Priyanka Bajaj
While the red carpet may have once been the main arena for beauty comparison, now the battlefield is Instagram feeds and paparazzi shots.
Shenaz finds paparazzi culture particularly toxic. 'You see women dressing for them, all for the male gaze — tiny tops, huge boobs, tiny waist.
It's not even real. I mute anything that won't uplift me. I don't want to see that stuff.'
For Priyanka Bajaj, the approach is different. 'I focus on gratitude. Every time I see my images out there, I remind myself it's a privilege to share my work. Comparison is natural, but I let it inspire me rather than limit me.'
Manjari says she's built resilience over years of self-acceptance. 'Like every normal person I have insecurities — I prefer my left profile! But I've learnt to love myself with my flaws.'
Is authenticity really trending — or just a niche?
Prableen Kaur Bhomrah
Almost everyone interviewed sees signs of change — but opinions vary on how deep it runs.
Manjari believes audiences are 'woke enough to reject unrelatable flawlessness' and want emotional authenticity. 'The characters they're loving are relatable ones.'
Influencer Prableen Kaur Bhomrah goes further, seeing a 'clear shift towards natural and authentic beauty ideals... people want to feel more relatable, more at home with what they see on screen.'
"The beauty norms aren't as far-fetched as they used to be, and it's encouraging to see this change. From celebrities to actors—everyone is adapting to it, and I believe that's a really good thing," she says.
She further adds, "I feel that as long as you're able to accept yourself—your skin, your body—nobody should have the right to tell you what they think you should do. Whether it's a beauty treatment or any kind of enhancement, it should only happen if you genuinely want it.
Otherwise, no one should be able to make that decision for you, no matter how much pressure you're under. Today, we're actually seeing a kind of reverse psychology—people are embracing more natural skin, avoiding lip fillers, and stepping away from excessive treatments.
"
But Saumya dismisses the idea of an industry-wide shift. 'Bollywood is as stereotypical as it was. Maybe once in a while a good film comes, but otherwise, it's the same mould — similar bodies, similar hair, similar styling.'
Siddharth calls it 'more of a niche trend than the norm,' noting mainstream cinema still leans toward the perfect look, while OTT and content-driven films lead the push for authenticity.
Priyanka is more optimistic. 'OTT platforms and fresh voices are celebrating individuality more than ever. It's refreshing.'
The gender divide in beauty pressure
Siddharth Sibbal
Several voices point out that men, while not immune, often escape the same intense scrutiny.
Shenaz is blunt: 'Look at the men — as soon as they turn 40 they're balding, have big stomachs.
Women are not accepted like that. Men go for younger women, and society enables it.'
Siddharth acknowledges that male actors get nudged toward certain enhancements, but the career penalty for 'imperfection' seems lower. 'Being well-groomed is important, but ultimately, your performance stays with people longer than your jawline.'
Advice to the next generation
Despite their different journeys, every voice offers a similar closing note: your uniqueness is your greatest asset.
Manjari Fadnnis: 'Even the most naturally beautiful people have insecurities. Imperfections make us beautiful. Find your own unique.'
Shenaz Treasury: 'It's not about looking perfect. Be real, show up as you are. People will like you for your authenticity and vulnerability more than your glass skin.'
Saumya Tandon: 'If you're your own self — unique look, unique voice — you'll stand out. Don't look factory-produced.'
Prableen Kaur Bhomrah: 'No one should feel insecure about their looks. Audiences love people more for being natural than for having procedures.'
Siddharth Sibbal: 'Looks may open a door, but talent keeps you in the room.'
Priyanka Bajaj: 'Your uniqueness is your signature. Focus on craft, health, and joy — the camera loves authenticity.'
In a business built on appearances, the idea of not conforming can feel radical. Yet, as these actors' stories show, it's possible to resist — and even thrive — without erasing the quirks that make you you. Maybe the next big revolution in Bollywood won't come from a blockbuster script or a viral song, but from the quiet courage of a face that refuses to be 'perfected.'