For some people, she is actor Maanvi Gagroo who took over the OTT platforms with her impactful performances in web series like ‘TVF Pitchers’, ‘TVF Tripling’, ‘Made in Heaven’ among others. However, for me, she is the quirky, sassy, and bubbly girl Siddhi from the Emmy nominated web series ‘Four More Shots Please!’.
Even though Maanvi has stepped into Bollywood with movies like ‘Ujda Chaman’ and ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’, there was a time when people told her that she wasn’t good enough to play a lead role. In a recent interview, Maanvi opened her heart and spilled all this and more.
Mid-day quoted her saying, “I never considered myself fat or not attractive until I came into the industry. At the beginning of my career, many people told me how I am not skinny enough to play a lead actress or healthy enough to play a fat girl’s character. You are in the middle so either put on weight or lose weight.”
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However, she remained unaffected by their views, and confidently responded to them, “I was always like why? This is who I am, normal girls look like this.”
“Why does it have to be about weight at all I mean a character’s definition or description can’t be based on his or her physicality. It was never an issue for me. Moreover, nobody has the right to tell me what to do. So obviously, when it comes to my body, I am not going to listen to anyone’s viewpoint.”
The charismatic actor further shared that working in web series has helped her evolve her fashion sense and be more comfortable with her body.
“Personally, I became much more comfortable with my body, although I was never uncomfortable with it. I did have certain things like I would not wear shorts or something. But post ‘Four More Shots Please’ I have only worn shorts.”
“Because I used to feel conscious about my legs being bigger than other girls, so those things were taken care of and it happened very subconsciously,” she added.
And this change was pointed out by the director of her web series, Anu Menon. “After we finished shooting season one, we had met one day for lunch or something and she said, ‘do you realize that you have started dressing up like Siddhi?’ I was like yeah you are right and I had not realized that at all until she pointed it out.”
Maanvi has always been vocal about body positivity. Earlier, she slammed a clothing brand for a ‘distasteful’ ad.
I didn't wear this dress to 'hide my curves'. Not only does the brand NOT have my permission to use my picture as a sponsored post, they definitely don't have my permission to fat shame ANYONE! I stand against everything this distasteful tagline points to. pic.twitter.com/GwY1TkOjCQ
— Maanvi Gagroo (@maanvigagroo) May 28, 2020
More power to you Maanvi for not conforming to the societal norms and carving a niche for yourself!