In an interview Manisha Koirala revealed that she was asked to lie about drinking alcohol because actresses are not meant to be drinking alcohol.
Manisha Koirala captivated hearts in the 1990s with her performances. The actress has worked in various movies like Jaani Dushman, Majhdhaar, Akele Hum Akele Tum, and others. Recently, the actress spoke in an interview, revealing that she was asked not to disclose that she drank alcohol and had a boyfriend. She shared that while making her Bollywood debut with Saudagar, she was told to hide the fact that she was having vodka at a party because “actresses are not meant to be drinking alcohol.”
Talking more about the matter, she said, “At the time of Saudagar, there was coke mixed with vodka, and I was told by people around me not to tell people that I am drinking vodka because actresses are not meant to be drinking alcohol. I was told to say that I’m drinking coke. I learned that new thing. I told my mom, ‘I am drinking coke,’ and she knew I put vodka in it, and she said, ‘Listen, if you are drinking vodka, say you are drinking vodka, don’t say you are drinking coke, don’t lie for such small little things’.”
Manisha emphasized that she doesn’t like the idea of concealing facts. So, if she was dating someone, she would say it. “If I was dating somebody, I am dating somebody. You want to judge me? Go ahead and judge me, but that’s me, this is me, and I lead my life on my own terms,” she added.
She also addressed the sexism in the movie industry, noting that while male actors are praised as ‘macho’ for having multiple girlfriends, female actors are labeled ‘easy’ for dating someone.
Revealing the thought process of people in the 90s, Manisha said that she faced massive criticism because, back in those days, a male co-star or actor was treated as ‘macho’ for having several actresses. However, the same society expected a female actress to remain ‘untouched.’
“I faced some flak for it because in those days, the heroes could have many girlfriends, and they were called macho men, but the actress was supposed to be this, ‘no no no, nobody is touching me,’ and ‘we are very untouched’,” she said, adding, “It was also misunderstood that (she is) very easy or an easy girl to you know… But I took it in stride.”
Manisha then mentioned that there was a misconception back then that women with personal lives were somehow unprofessional. “Just because I have a personal life or I have a boyfriend doesn’t mean I am going to be unprofessional in my life. I love my work. We had some very warped value system for actresses, which didn’t go well with me,” she said.
