Manushi Chhillar recently starred in Maalik alongside Rajkummar Rao. In an exclusive interview with us post release, she talks about being selective about her projects, struggles she faced as an outsider, her viral post slamming misogyny in society and scrutiny around personal life
Manushi Chhillar exclusive interview
After being crowned as Miss World in 2017, Manushi Chhillar stepped into showbiz and made her debut with Samrat Prithviraj alongside Akshay Kumar. This year, she had 2 releases- Operation Valentine and Maalik. In an exclusive chat with Mid-day, the actress talks about the film, struggles of being an outsider and her post on misogyny.
Manushi Chhillar on Maalik
The actress played the role of Rajkummar Rao’s (Maalik) wife in the industry. Talking about her experience and response, she shares, “Maalik came into my life at a time when I truly wanted to take on something challenging. The kind of film it is, the premise, it wasn’t something people expected of me. I usually get very different kinds of offers.”
When asked why she has been selective of scripts, the actress explains, “I say no a lot more than I say yes. Honestly, I've no regrets about turning down the films I did, because I’ve seen how they ultimately turned out. The bigger problem is saying yes to things you don’t want to do.”
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Manushi on being an outsider
Manushi reflects on her journey as an outsider and shares the challenges she faced. “There are many challenges you face when you’re not from the industry, but that’s very natural. I don’t prefer to rant about it because I believe there’s a lot of joy and pride in earning your place. I know I’ve earned every opportunity. Even with my first film, I acknowledge that Miss World played a role, but no one handed anything to me on a platter. There have been times when people made me feel like I didn’t belong because I wasn’t from a film family”, says the Bade Miyan Chote Miyan actor.
Manushi on her misogyny post
When asked about her post on misogyny, she answers, “I called out misogyny in general because I’ve seen it firsthand. Since actresses are in the public eye, we are often subjected to comments that aren’t kind, and those comments reflect the misogyny that still exists in society. My whole comment came from the fact that whenever I see some female do really well, there is a small section of people who never want to give her hardwork, dedication and talent the credit. They’ll say she got lucky or was friends with the right people. That same scepticism isn’t usually applied to men.”
A misogynistic mindset finds it easier to attribute a woman’s success to a man’s patronage than her own merit.
— Manushi Chhillar (@ManushiChhillar) May 31, 2025
I’ve always really ignored silly comments which have no consequence in the real world, but I constantly see working women, specially in the entertainment industry being…
Manushi adds, “I’ve seen that certain people struggle to give women the same respect and recognition that men receive for similar achievements. That's something I called out. And because actresses are so visible, our opinions are public, and we’re more vulnerable to criticism. But whenever I see a woman doing great work, I feel inspired and motivated — it gives me confidence. It’s just not okay to discredit women who are working hard and doing well.”
On a parting note, we asked her about dealing with constant limelight towards her live life. To this she answers, “I don’t think I’ve shared much about my personal life. Honestly, whatever has been written about it isn’t true.”
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