18 June,2026 03:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maanvi Gagroo. Pic via X
Actress Maanvi Gagroo recently opened up about an uncomfortable experience from the early days of her career, revealing that she once received a text message offering her 'Rs 1 lakh plus compromise' for a project. The actress said she was so new to the entertainment industry at the time that she did not even understand what the term was supposed to imply.
Speaking on the Two Girls & Two Cups podcast, Maanvi reflected on some of the challenges she faced while trying to establish herself in the industry. She recalled receiving the message and being completely puzzled by its wording.
Sharing details of the incident, Maanvi said, "I replied, saying âcompromise?' because I did not know." Unsure about what the sender meant, she showed the message to a casting director whom she considered a mentor.
According to the actress, the casting director immediately advised her to delete the message and block the sender. Looking back, Maanvi admitted that she was surprised someone would make such a proposition in writing.
"People usually think there should be no proof. They'll say things on the phone so nobody can report them. But this was âRs 1 lakh plus compromise' in a text," she said.
The actress further revealed that her understanding of the word 'compromise' was completely different at the time. She assumed it referred to a financial arrangement or budget negotiation rather than anything inappropriate.
"Mujhe pehle laga compromise matlab budget mein compromise karoge ki nahi. I thought maybe it's a financial thing. Like GST, you know? Rs 1 lakh plus GST, complimentary something maybe. Plus compromise. I didn't know," she recalled.
Reflecting on the experience, Maanvi said that navigating the entertainment industry without prior exposure or connections can often be difficult for outsiders. "This is what happens to non-nepo kids. Navigating all of this is not easy," she added.
Maanvi made her acting debut with Disney Channel's Dhoom Machao Dhoom in 2007 before appearing in films such as No One Killed Jessica and PK. Over the years, she gained recognition through popular projects including Pitchers, Tripling, Made in Heaven, Four More Shots Please! and Ujda Chaman. Most recently, she returned to theatres with Heer Sara, a female-led road-trip drama co-starring Patralekhaa.
