Meenakshi Seshadri says many actresses today stay in limelight 'just by wearing clothes or not wearing them at all'
Mumbai, May 19
Veteran Bollywood actress Meenakshi Seshadri shared her views on modern-day publicity stints by actresses in the entertainment industry, saying that many celebrities today prefer remaining in limelight by doing everything else but actual work.
During an exclusive conversation with IANS, the actress reflected on the current trend and said, "'The Dirty Picture' film aapne dekhi hogi, jismein main heroine kehti hai, 'yahaan sirf ek hi cheez chalti hai, entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!' Toh kuch log media aur publicity mein hi apni jagah dhoondte hain. Bina koi kaam kiye, sirf kapde pehen kar ya bina kapdon ke bhi woh apni khabrein phaila dete hain. Main un logon mein se nahi hoon. Mujhe pasand hai ki mera kaam khud mere liye bole."
(Have you seen the film, 'The Dirty Picture', in which the main heroine says, 'there is only one thing going on here, entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!' So, some people find it in the media and publicity, without doing any work, just by wearing clothes or not, they spread their news. I am not one of those people. I like my work to speak for itself)
When asked about earning audience love and longevity without aggressive PR machinery, Meenakshi added, "English mein ek kahawat hai, nothing succeeds like success. Toh sabse pehla aim success hona chahiye, kaam aur kala ke zariye success milna chahiye, wahi main motto hona chahiye. Uske baad safalta ki saari seedhiyan aur darwaaze apne aap khul jaate hain." (There is a saying in English, nothing succeeds like success. So the first aim should success, success through work and artform, that should be the main motto. After that, all the stairs and doors to success open on their own)
Talking about Meenakshi Seshadri , the actress was among the leading actresses of the 1980s and 1990s.
She made her acting debut with Painter Babu opposite Rajiv Goswami, and later went on to star in many successful movies including Hero, Meri Jung, Shahenshah, Ghayal and many more.
Her portrayal in the movie Damini is still considered one of the strongest female performances in Hindi cinema even after 33 years of its release.
The film also starred Sunny Deol, Rishi Kapoor and Amrish Puri.
The actress who is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, was also known for her graceful dance performances on screen.
At the peak of her career, Meenakshi moved to the United States after marriage to focus on family life. The actress returned to Mumbai a few years ago and often shares dance performances and videos on social media.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"Nothing succeeds like success" - absolutely true! But times have changed. Today's actresses are also working hard, it's just that visibility matters more now. We shouldn't judge them solely on their clothing choices. Let's appreciate talent without throwing stones.
Honestly, she's spot on! So many so-called 'celebrities' today are famous only for their Instagram posts and controversies, not for any acting skills. Meenakshi's generation actually had to dance, act, and deliver dialogues properly. Respect for the old school talent! 👏
Every generation has its own challenges. Yes, some people use shortcuts, but many actresses today are incredibly talented and work hard. Also, let's not forget that even in the 80s and 90s, actresses were often objectified. The problem is systemic, not just about 'wearing clothes'. Good to hear Meenakshi ji's perspective though.
She's right about focusing on work and art. But let's also acknowledge that the industry has always had both substance and fluff. Meenakshi ji herself was part of commercial masala films. Nothing wrong with that. It's all entertainment at the end of the day. 🙏
I understand her frustration, but this kind of 'my generation was better' talk feels a bit outdated. The real issue is lack of good scripts and opportunities for actresses of all ages. Instead of blaming clothes, we should focus on creating a better industry for everyone.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.