Maanvi Gagroo, refers to controversies surrounding both their films; insists she’s not playing a stereotypical overweight girl, written for comic relief
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 26, 2019)

Maanvi Gagroo is all set to impress in her first lead role, in Abhishek Pathak’s directorial debut, Ujda Chaman. She plays Apsara, an overweight girl, opposite a prematurely bald Sunny Singh. And despite having been part of films like No One Killed Jessica and PK and several shows, she admits she felt like a fresher. “There were many in the unit who were clueless about my shows, so, it felt like I was starting afresh,” she says candidly.

Why did she wait so long to graduate to the big screen? “I was getting offers to play the hero’s sister or friend, whereas online I had more substantial roles. So, I didn’t really need to do films,” she reasons, pointing out that this one too isn’t a stereotypical Bollywood character, loud and desperate to hook a guy, incorporated for comic relief. “Overweight people are also normal,” she argues.

Maanvi reveals that being in a body suit invited a lot of reactions on the set. “During the shoot of the song 'Outfit' I was sitting next to Guru Randhawa. When I got out of my bodysuit, he initially failed to recognise me,” she laughs.

Has she faced discrimination in the industry as a chubby girl? “Obviously, and I only landed typical bubbly parts. One casting director told me since I wasn’t either skinny or fat, they couldn’t cast me,” she shares. And has her perception towards bald people changed? “I never had a perception to change. Some friends messaged to say they felt Ujda Chaman was their story. One even said losing hair had changed his personality and diminished his confidence,” she admits.

The Delhi girl enjoyed filming in the city. “I was the self-appointed guide, taking the team to the best place for momos and shopping sprees. During a shoot in Dilli Haat, I bumped into my school friend’s mother and sister. Later, he told me how proud they were to see me there,” she beams.

Maanvi is currently shooting for Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan in Varanasi and is all praise for co-star Ayushmann Khurrana. “We share the same sense of humour and crack PJs,” she chortles. That’s surprising given that their respective films, Ujda Chaman and Bala, are embroiled in a court case? “We don’t talk much about the films as we have other things to discuss. And we are both mature enough to not let it affect our equation. He complimented me on my trailer, I did the same,” she signs off.