Aditi Bhatia, known for her work in numerous popular TV shows and films, has always kept her fans updated about both her personal and professional life. Recently, she participated in a roundtable podcast with Pinkvilla, where she shared insights into her journey and opened up about the challenges she has faced in the industry.
Turning Down Look-Centric Roles
During the conversation, Aditi recalled projects she had lost and revealed that she deliberately avoids pursuing roles that are centered around her appearance. She candidly admitted that she has been rejected for being 'too pretty.'
“To be very honest, I genuinely enjoy being part of the beauty space, the beauty market, the brand side of things. I truly like it. But over the years, I conditioned myself to not take up roles that are offered just based on how I look. I wanted to step away from what I’m mostly known for and do something that would feel unexpected, something that brings a sense of surprise,” she said.
Seeking Performance-Based Opportunities
Aditi elaborated on her approach to selecting roles, emphasizing her desire to be recognized for her acting abilities rather than her looks. “Even when I was exploring opportunities before my last project, I was inclined towards roles that were not look-centric. Roles where casting didn’t depend on my appearance, but rather on the performance I could bring to the table. I always wanted that to be the highlight because I didn’t want to be seen as just a ‘pretty face.’ And I know saying that might sound a bit off or even arrogant, but it’s really about wanting to offer more as an artist,” she explained.
Balancing Beauty and Authenticity
While Aditi enjoys the beauty space, she is determined to go beyond it. “I’ve always wanted to go beyond it, and fortunately, I got the chance to do that in my last film. I hope that opens doors to more such roles where people start seeing me differently. Also, I feel most beautiful when I wear Indian outfits. I connect deeply with that part of myself. It’s not like I’m some ‘firang’; I’m very much Indian. I have no roots elsewhere; my entire lineage is Indian. But I do understand that I don’t necessarily fit into the conventional idea of an ‘Indian look,’ and that sometimes affects casting choices because they often look for a certain kind of face,” she shared.
Facing Rejection and Staying True to Herself
Aditi acknowledged that she has lost projects due to her appearance, but noted that such instances are not frequent. “Even if my acting is a 10/10, sometimes they still say, ‘We’d rather cast someone who naturally looks the part.’ And my response is always, ‘But I can look the part—just work with me on it.’ That said, these kinds of roadblocks haven’t happened too often. There have only been a few instances where I’ve felt this way,” she said.
She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to acting-oriented work. “I was also very clear in my head that I didn’t want to take up something just for the sake of it. It’s not that I was against doing music videos or anything like that, but I wanted whatever I chose to be acting-oriented, especially since I was kind of starting again in a way. I didn’t want my work to revolve around my looks, because that’s already something people see on my Instagram,” she stated.
