'Wasn't taken seriously': Shalini Pandey recalls struggle after 'Arjun Reddy'
What's the story
Shalini Pandey, who shot to fame with her debut in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Arjun Reddy, recently opened up about the struggles she faced after the film's success. Despite being part of a successful project, she often felt ignored in conversations and had to "play dumb" to be taken seriously. Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, Pandey revealed she wasn't taken seriously when she tried contributing ideas in discussions with directors.
Industry struggles
'They just wanted me to be bubbly, show my dimples...'
Pandey shared, "When I initially came after Arjun Reddy, the hardest pill to swallow was that if I wanted to contribute something with the director, they wouldn't take me seriously." "They'd be like 'alright don't use your brain." "They just wanted me to be bubbly, show my dimples and look beautiful. But I'm so much more than that," she said.
Assertiveness
Pandey's resolve to be heard in the industry
Pandey confessed that she played "dumb" to get through situations since she was alone and had to deal with everything on her own. But she later chose not to go down that road. "I don't care if people feel weird about it or think I'm trying to act too smart. I will ask questions, I will put my foot down, and I will be heard," she asserted.
Career highlights
Pandey's career trajectory and upcoming projects
Pandey was recently seen in Maharaj, which was Aamir Khan's son, Junaid Khan's OTT debut. She has another project, Bandwaale, lined up after her recent Netflix series, Dabba Cartel. Her first lead role was opposite Aditya Rawal in Bamfaad and she made her big-screen Bollywood debut with Ranveer Singh in Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022). Her Tamil film Idli Kadai will hit theaters on April 10 this year.