Vaani Kapoor Slams Unreal Beauty Norms in Bollywood: ‘I Was Called Too Thin, Not Fair Enough’

Entertainment News: Breaking into the film industry is famously difficult, especially for outsiders and much more so for women who do not conform to the industry's firm beauty standards. Actress Vaani Kapoor recently spoke out about being rejected early in her career due to her skin tone. She also discussed being body shamed for being too thin. She has discussed her struggles and how difficult it is to maintain oneself according to the rigid beauty standards of the Bollywood film industry.

Rejected for not being "milky white"

In a media interview, Vaani described being eliminated from a film because she was not "milky white". Although the comment did not come directly to her, she learnt from others that a filmmaker thought she was unsuitable for the role. "A filmmaker once told me that I was not fair enough to get a role. "He said I wasn't milky white'," she explained.

Body shamed for being too skinny

Vaani also discussed being body-shamed, admitting that she is frequently told she is too thin and should gain weight. However, the actress remains unconcerned. "What I hear a lot sometimes is that I’m too skinny and that I should put on some weight because people like women with fuller bodies. But I like me! I don’t want to change anything about myself. I’m fit and healthy. I usually don’t get bothered by these things. Sometimes, you don’t know if such comments are coming from a place of concern or like good advice. But I think I’m pretty okay, and I like who I am," Vaani said.

Vaani's latest project

Vaani is now promoting her latest Mandala Murders. It is an upcoming crime thriller series starring Vaani as a tough, no-nonsense detective. The show, co-directed by Mardaani filmmakers Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat, focuses on a sequence of ritualistic murders.

According to IMDb, the show's synopsis reads, "In a quaint, mysterious town of Charandaspur, where fate, myth, and murder entwine, detectives Rea Thomas and Vikram Singh unravel a chilling conspiracy of ritualistic killings tied to a centuries-old secret society." Surveen Chawla, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Jameel Khan also appear in the film. The series is planned to premiere on Netflix on July 25.