Rubina Dilaik is recounting the harsh realities of breaking into Bollywood.
In a candid chat covered by NDTV Movies, the actress revealed that a director once called her face "negative" and told her: "Don't think anybody will cast you as a protagonist."
When Rubina first entered the industry, she was carrying baby fat and, as she recalls, people used to call her "Himachali seb" (a local apple reference from her home state Himachal Pradesh).
She was told repeatedly that she didn't fit the mould of a "leading lady." But Rubina refused to accept these verdicts.
Today, the actress has landed leading roles and became a household name with TV hits like Choti Bahu and her win on Bigg Boss 14 in 2020. The director was wrong.
Rubina has spoken before about industry bias and the pressure to fit conventional beauty standards. Her candour about these early struggles puts a spotlight on obstacles that many aspiring actors face.
