Manisha Koirala recalls toxic 90s photographer who scolded her for not wearing a bikini: 'Pighalne se sharmati ho'

Manisha Koirala was recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi. She recently shared her experience with toxic patriarchy in 90s Bollywood.

Manisha Koirala recently shared the difficulties and hardships female actors faced in Bollywood during the 90s. The actor, who is known for being candid about the Hindi film industry, recounted an encounter with a male photographer. In an interview with Filmfare, Manisha disclosed how the senior photographer told her off for refusing to wear a bikini for a photoshoot. (Also read: Manisha Koirala meets Kamal Haasan; fans want them to reunite for a film again)

Manisha on her 90s experience as a female actor

Manisha Koirala said that a male photographer in the 90s told her off for not wearing a bikini.

Manisha, while sharing her experience told, “Very early on in my career I was asked to go and take photographs, and there was this very famous photographer. I went with my mom, and initially, that photographer said things like, ‘You are the next superstar and this and that.’ Cut to him bringing a two-piece bikini to me and asking me to wear it. I told him, ‘Sir, I wear this when I go to the beach or for a swim, but if this is the way I have to get into the movies, I don’t want it, and I am not wearing that.'”

She further said, “I told him either you shoot me fully clothed otherwise I am… ‘ I remember he gave me a big dialogue. He said, ‘Jo mitti pighalne se sharmati ho uske murti kaise banaye (The clay that refuses to melt, how do I make a statue from it)’. I have not forgotten that. That's how the mentality was of some of the people, not everybody. The same person did photograph me when I was a big celebrity and said, “Oh, I knew you were going to be a big star. Not to be mean to the person, but their conscience level was that. Their exposure was that, so they behaved like that.”

Manisha Koirala's acting career

Heeramandi has been renewed for the second season. The first installment is available for streaming on Netflix.