Mansi Srivastava: Green eyes shouldn’t decide the kind of roles you get

After playing negative characters in four consecutive shows, including Main Hoon Saath Tere and Kundali Bhagya, Mansi Srivastava made a conscious decision to step back. In an industry quick to typecast, she chose to wait for a positive role instead of repeating herself. Nearly a year later, she returned with Lakshmi Niwas, after initially auditioning for a negative part in the same show.

She says, “I enjoyed portraying negative characters, but last year I reached a point where I wanted to return to positive roles. It’s difficult to transition back once you’ve done several negative parts. I requested casting directors to send me auditions only for positive roles. When nothing materialised after a few months, I resumed auditioning for negative roles and even tested for one in this show. However, the channel asked the makers to test me for Revati, a positive character. It felt like a stroke of luck, and I was glad someone saw positivity in my face.”

Over the years, her green eyes have often influenced how she is perceived on screen. Early in her career, she wore coloured lenses to fit conventional expectations of a leading lady. She recalls, “I initially auditioned in brown lenses because I felt it would improve my chances of being considered for lead roles. That’s how I bagged Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se. I wore lenses for nearly two months, but shooting 15 hours a day became uncomfortable and I eventually spoke to my producer and stopped wearing them. However, I feel that green eyes shouldn’t decide the kind of roles you get.”

She is also candid about the practical realities of the profession. “Financial security matters. Sometimes I joke that I should have pursued an MBA and taken up a corporate job with a fixed salary. But I chose acting because I genuinely love being on set. There are moments when staying at home feels comfortable, but eventually you realise you need to return and remain visible,” she concludes.