Manisha Koirala recalls a photographer’s reaction when she refused to wear a bikini; says, ‘I told him if this is the way I have to get into the movies…”

Bollywood actor Manisha Koirala is currently basking in the success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. The actress has had an illustrious career of over 2 decades in the industry. In a recent interview, she recalled her earlier days and revealed how sexism existed. Manisha Koirala also shared an incident where a renowned photographer asked her to pose in a two-piece bikini and what happened when she refused to do so.

When Manisha Koirala refused to pose in a bikini

In an interview, she recalled the instance and said, “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.’”

When Manisha Koirala refused to wear bikini

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After knowing about Manisha’s inhibitions, the photographer told her off. Recalling the same, Manisha 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.”

Manisha talked about the mindset of some people in the 90s. She remembered how the same photographer, who had scolded her early in her career, had to photograph her again when she became a star. He then praised her, saying, “Oh, I knew you were going to be a big star.” While Manisha wasn’t happy with his behaviour, she also understood where he came from. “Not to be mean to the person, but their conscience level was that. Their exposure was that, so they behaved like that,” she added.

On the work front, before Heeramandi, Manisha was seen in Shehzada which starred Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon.

Also Read: Heeramandi star Manisha Koirala recalls feeling lonely during her battle with cancer; says, ‘Nobody was there’