Erica Fernandes transitioned from modelling to acting and soon appeared in a slew of movies in the south before courting fame and success on the small screen. While from the outside, it may seem like a seamless journey, she reveals that it has been a tough ride. In fact, Fernandes was replaced in a film for being “too thin”.

“I lost work because I could not gain weight. In fact, there were projects in which I was replaced because I was thin. Once, I shot for the project for a few days, and then I was replaced because I was thin,” she shares.

The 29-year-old adds that she has been constantly struggling to break away from industry norms and has been skinny-shamed by trolls for years now. “Even today, I get body shamed, with people saying, ‘You are so thin, look at your legs, look at your hands, why don’t you gain some weight, why don’t you eat some more?’ I just want to tell those people, stand in front of the mirror, and first look at yourself before criticizing someone else. It is only when you are not happy with yourself, that you start blaming other people,” says the Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi actor.

Talking about the industry and its fixation on a perfect body type, she shares that everyone is only working in one direction: “If you look at the whole industry here, they (people and makers) will not take people who aren’t of a particular body type. If you look at today’s heroes, all of them are only working towards having lean bodies and having six-pack abs. But that doesn’t define a hero, or a perfect man.”

Ask her how has she been dealing with all this and Fernandes says she has found the strength within: “It will take you some time to find that strength, for which you need to have the right people around you.” 

And when it comes to days when it’s all a lot to take in, the actor says she hangs out with her close pals and “just vents it out”.