Maanvi Gagroo Recalls How Her Body Type Restricted Casting Directors To Offer Her Roles

Be it films or social issues, actress Maanvi Gagroo never shies away from putting forward her opinions. She is comfortable in her own skin and always advocates body positivity. Maanvi might not have the conventional look of a heroine or an actress but it hardly matters to her. From 'TVF Tripling' and 'Four More Shots Please' to her recent release 'Half Love Half Arranged', Gagroo has made a place for herself in the industry. All thanks to the OTT platforms and Maanvi too agrees that.

Maanvi plays the lead in 'Half Love Half Arranged' opposite Karan Wahi. The show has received immense love and the actress is over the moon with the responses. On her chemistry with Karan, she said, ''Jogi (Karan) and Rhea's (Maanvi) chemistry is coming out beautifully and we had so much fun doing it. It was obvious that it would show on screen. When you have fun while shooting, it shows on the screen''.

Earlier, in several interviews, she said that her body type became a restriction for casting people as they didn't know where to cast her. When asked if the scenario has changed now, Maanvi said, ''Back in the day, there were a lot of casting people who wanted to cast me. They would often tell me, 'We want to cast you but don't know where to cast'. Because at that time on television, the lead roles will always be of a certain type. In films, there were kinds of roles where it was for the lead actress heroine's best friend or the hero's sister.''

''In their head at that time lead would be played by someone who is super skinny and fit and the best friend would be played by someone who is super fat. They told me, 'You are neither skinny enough to be the heroine nor you are fat to be the best friend'. They really liked my work and said, 'You are really nice but we don't know where to cast or place you','' she added. 

The 'Pitchers' actress also opened up about the digital revolution with OTT, and how actors like her are getting better work. 

She asserted, ''When OTT happened, the whole idea or the genesis of OTT shows whether it's TVF's Pitchers, Permanent Roommates or whatever, when they started, their whole conception was around that they will make shows that they wanted to make. They wanted to make shows about relatable content and people. They just cast me as Shreya in Pitchers. I did it and everyone accepted it. I think it's also when you show it to people in a particular way they will accept it. The makers thought people won't accept, so they never made it. You need someone to be brave enough to make shows like that. Someone did and it worked.''

Maanvi also said that if one is a good actor, he or she will definitely get work. ''Now, there is enough representation. It's not enough though but there is representation at least. I think now there is much more acceptance around just like body type, skin colour or other things,'' she added.

Gagroo also recalled when people questioned her for doing 'Pitchers'. She said, ''I remember when Pitchers came out, it was earlier on YouTube. People were like, 'Why are you doing this YouTube show?' I said, 'Listen, I love the script and the people. So, I am going to do it. Thank God, I did the show and that changed the course.''

''I know their intentions are good but they can be very confusing also especially when you don't belong to the industry. When you are an 'outsider' you don't know anything about this industry. Different people give you different advice and you don't know what to do. When you are young you don't have your sensibility developed yet,'' said the 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' actress. 

Asked if she fears getting stereotyped, to which the diva said, ''I have that worry sometimes but I also feel that I enjoy the work that I am getting. One of my friends, Atul Mongia, is an acting coach and also a casting director. I always turn to him for advice and I told him, 'I am getting the same kind of roles'. He said, 'What's the problem?' I told him that I am not worried about getting stereotyped, I am worried that I will stop enjoying it after a point because I am doing the same thing over and over and I don't want to not enjoy it. He told me, 'The thing is firstly if you are getting a role again and again that means you are good at it. Firstly accept that and enjoy'. As an actor, it's very challenging to play the same role differently''.