Meenakshi Seshadri blasts modern publicity and 'no-work' celebrity culture: They spread news by wearing clothes or not at all

Veteran Bollywood actress Meenakshi Seshadri has taken a sharp dig at the modern entertainment industry's obsession with PR and aggressive self-promotion. In a candid reflection on today's celebrity culture, the iconic Damini star expressed her disdain for headline-grabbing antics, stating she prefers to let her performances define her career. Channeling Vidya Balan's famous dialogue from The Dirty Picture, Seshadri criticized stars who stay in the news "just by wearing clothes or not," emphasizing that true longevity only comes from artistic success and dedication to the craft.Referring to the culture of constant publicity in a conversation with IANS, Meenakshi said, “You had seen the film, ‘The Dirty Picture’, in which the main heroine says, ‘there is only one thing going on here: entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!’ So, some people find it in the media and publicity, without doing any work, just by wearing clothes or not, they spread their news. I am not one of those people. I like my work to speak for itself."The actress also shared her thoughts on what truly leads to longevity and respect in the film industry. According to Meenakshi, consistent success through sincere work remains the strongest foundation for a lasting career. She said, “There is a saying in English, nothing succeeds like success. So the first aim should success, success through work and artform, that should be the main motto. After that, all the stairs and doors to success open on their own." Her statement reflects her long-held belief that recognition should be earned through dedication to the craft rather than aggressive self-promotion.In an earlier interview with ETIMES, Meenakshi spoke about how moving to the United States transformed her outlook. She explained that life there taught her independence and made her more emotionally aware. “Living in another country immerses you completely in that lifestyle, reshaping your mindset and behavior. In America, self-reliance is paramount—you must navigate tasks like household repairs, driving children to events, and managing daily responsibilities independently. In my case, my husband's demanding job left me solely responsible for our family's needs. Motherhood itself is transformative, enhancing your ability to love and empathize with others. While I've always been compassionate, becoming a mother deepened that empathy further." When asked about actors she would like to share screen space with again, Meenakshi named Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Sunny Deol. She said, "Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Sunny Deol were like immediately, you could think that it would be a good combination [with her]. Let’s see. That’ll also happen."Meenakshi was one of the most admired actresses of the 1980s and 1990s and earned acclaim for her performances alongside stars such as Sunny Deol, Rishi Kapoor, and Amrish Puri.