LIVING IT UP

"I want to focus on the 'chill' in Chhillar," says actress Manushi Chhillar, clearly in a mood to celebrate with her next film release Tehran.

- CHIRAG MOHANTY SAMAL

Is a nerd comfortable in the spotlight, sashaying down fashion ramps, swapping doctor's scrubs for luxury labels and hobnobbing with the already famous? Manushi Chhillar, former Miss World-turned-actor-turned-entrepreneur is an interesting example of this unique metamorphosis.

An MBBS student from a government college in Haryana, Chhillar never imagined her face would launch brands around the world. She was made the global ambassador for Estée Lauder in 2023; chosen to be a part the Icons of India initiative by The Leela Palace Hotels and Resorts, and was also appointed the global brand ambassador of Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) in 2023.

While the list of brand endorsements is extensive and impressive, her transition, is even more so. "For me, the limelight came all of a sudden. I had not imagined this life," says Chhillar. She acknowledges that the transition changed what she grew up thinking and her plans for the future. "I was a shy, studious girl. There was no one to guide me...I learnt to understand fame. Due to the nature of the industry, you travel, meet so many people, do diverse things and that helps you learn."