Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Siddhant Chaturvedi: Actors who faced bullying over their appearance before becoming household names

Long before global fame through projects like ‘Bajirao Mastani’, Priyanka faced racial bullying as a teenager in the United States. In her memoir, she shared that classmates mocked her dusky complexion and called her “Brownie.” Instead of letting it define her, she later used the experience to champion representation and confidence worldwide. On work front, she will be seen next in 'The Bluff' and SS Rajamouli's 'Varanasi'.

Despite becoming a superstar with ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai’, Hrithik’s childhood was marked by insecurity. He struggled with a severe stammer and was teased relentlessly in school. Classmates also mocked the extra thumb on his right hand, leaving him painfully shy and withdrawn during his early years.

Before winning hearts in ‘Gully Boy’, Siddhant revealed he lost a major opportunity due to something as simple as his curly hair. Recalling the incident, he said, “I auditioned for a big film, and I got shortlisted… the director and casting director liked me. But after 3-4 months of workshops, the producer watched the screen test and rejected me… it was because of my curly hair.” Despite the setback, he went on to carve a niche for himself.

Known for films like ‘Barfi!’, Ileana has spoken candidly about enduring body-shaming since adolescence. She recalled, “I went through body-shaming right from the time I was 12… people would say, ‘Oh my God, why is your butt so big?’… You start believing what they say.” She described the experience as a deep emotional scar that took years of self-acceptance to overcome.

Before her debut in ‘Dabangg’, Sonakshi was frequently mocked for her weight during school. Although she underwent a major transformation for her first film, online trolls continued to target her appearance. Over time, she has openly advocated body positivity and self-confidence.