"I was constantly made to feel beautiful"

BHUMI PEDNEKAR'S BEAUTY ISN'T JUST SKIN DEEP, SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL MIND AS WELL. RACHIT GUPTA TAKES NOTES AS SHE COMES CLEAN ON CAREER AND FASHION CHOICES...

Bhumi Pednekar is celebrated for her dynamic and unconventional choices. Starting her career as a casting assistant, she made a striking debut with Dum Laga Ke Haisha, a role that demanded significant physical transformation. Known for her commitment to diverse and challenging roles, Bhumi’s journey reflects her relentless pursuit of quality over commercial success. Her roles span across genres, from the heartland stories of India to complex contemporary characters. Bhumi’s approach to acting is deeply rooted in personal growth and the joy of impactful performance, consistently pushing boundaries and refusing to be typecast. Off-screen, she is a vocal advocate for body positivity and fashion, balancing her public persona with an authentic representation of self-love and empowerment. With a decade in the industry, Bhumi continues to leave an indelible mark, driven by passion, hard work, and a fearless spirit. During our chat, she came across as affable, brimming over with sunshine and good cheer, and seemed genuinely interested in having an interaction rather than a conventional interview. She didn’t shy away from hard queries and batted away everything with aplomb, sure of hitting a homerun every time. She loves introspection, joking that interviews give her a chance to sort herself out. And one thing she was most vocal about was feeling grateful to the universe for her bounty. Excerpts from an engaging interview with the witty and talented actor.

Many actors say that it’s difficult to make brave choices and far easier to go with the flow and say yes to commercially lucrative projects. Have you ever been at such crossroads, or have you always had that clarity of vision?