‘Perfect isn’t real, embrace imperfections’

Women should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down by pointing out imperfections, says actor Neha Sharma.

“With changing times, I feel people want to see actors look more real now. Perfect isn’t real. We all have imperfections and everyone’s body is built differently. I personally don’t ever want to give a false image of perfection as I somewhere feel responsible,” says Neha, who has been a part of films such as Mubarakan (2017), Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013), Youngistaan (2014) and Tum Bin 2 (2016).

“Growing up, I saw photoshopped images of people in magazines and felt inadequate. I don’t want to do the same. Another thing that needs to change: shaming confident women. Someone who constantly post selfies or looks in the mirror is often seen as ‘full of themselves’ or ‘big headed’ or ‘selfabsorbed’ but what’s wrong with being confident and loving yourself? Absolutely nothing!” she says.

The actor feels more women should feel this way about themselves. “We should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down by pointing out imperfections or shaming someone for being confident,” she says.

It’s the time to embrace the imperfections and accept ourselves as “we are and not feel the pressure to be perfect at all times”, feels Neha.

Does she feel beauty standards has changed over a period of time? “With the changing times, I think the standard of beauty has changed as well. We have become more tolerant to diversity. [Thankfully], as a society, [now] we have become much more aware of the need and value of diversity,” signs off the actor.

Actor Neha Sharma