Shivangi Verma on industry pressures and staying relevant: Beauty should not be a race

Actress Shivangi Verma, known for her work in Tera Ishq Mera Fitoor, Choti Sarrdaarni, the film Badass Ravi Kumar, and her upcoming project Gaurishankar Gauharganj Wale, recently opened up about the struggles actors face in today’s competitive entertainment world. In a candid conversation, she addressed the challenges of maintaining relevance and facing unrealistic beauty standards.“Yes, staying relevant is honestly one of the biggest challenges,” Shivangi admitted. “As actors, we are constantly working on ourselves—physically, mentally, emotionally. There’s always someone new coming in, and you have to keep growing without losing your own identity.”Talking about the pressures of evolving beauty standards, she pointed out the constant changes that actors are expected to adapt to. “One day the trend is sharp jawlines, next day it’s curves, then it’s glass skin. It never stops,” she explained. “As actors, we are expected to look a certain way even when we are just being human. But beauty should not be a race. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Trends will keep changing, but self-confidence is what should stay constant.”When asked whether beauty standards have always overshadowed talent, she responded thoughtfully. “I think it was, especially in the earlier times. Many talented actresses were judged first by how they looked and only later for their talent. Even today it happens, but I’m glad people are slowly accepting different looks and real bodies. It’s a slow change, but it makes me hopeful.Reflecting on social media’s role, she said, “People see your photos before they see your performance. Followers and looks often come before skill. But in the long run, only talent helps you stay.”On being typecast, Shivangi concluded firmly, “I don’t let assumptions define me—I let my work do that.”