Lakshmi Manchu Says She Is ‘More Sure’ of Herself and Grounded: ‘Now I Don’t Care’ About Appearance

Lakshmi Manchu says she has reached a more confident and grounded phase of her life, with her priorities shifting from how she is perceived to how she feels and what she can accomplish. The actor is also looking for stories that challenge conventional ideas about women on screen.

Lakshmi Manchu has never appeared particularly interested in following a predetermined path.

Across Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema, as well as OTT projects and production, the actor has repeatedly explored different kinds of work. What appears to matter most to her now is not the size of a role but whether the story gives her something meaningful to discover.

Speaking to Hyderabad Times during a recent jewellery pop-up, Lakshmi discussed her approach to scripts, the kinds of female characters she wants to see in Indian cinema and the personal changes she has experienced over the years.

Lakshmi Manchu: ‘The story has to be worth telling’

For Lakshmi, the filmmaker’s vision is among the first things she considers when reading a script.

“The first thing I look for in a script is the filmmaker’s perspective. Something I haven’t heard before,” she said.

That approach has also influenced how she evaluates the importance of a role. Lakshmi believes a small part in a compelling story can have more value than a major role in a weak film.

“Whatever I do, I know I’ll do a great job. But it has to be the story,” she explained.

She added that even an impressive performance can lose its impact when the material itself does not work.

“I could do a fantastic job in a horrible script and it all goes to waste. But even if I have one scene in a great script, that gets to be sustained,” she said.

Two Telugu films and a Tamil project are awaiting release

Lakshmi currently has several projects in the pipeline.

She has completed two Telugu films, both comedies, as well as a Tamil film. The projects are awaiting release.

Meanwhile, a show that she has been developing for nearly three years is finally moving towards production.

“I’ve been working on it for three years now, and finally it’s going into shooting. I’m very excited about it,” Lakshmi said.

Her comments suggest that the project has been a long-term creative commitment rather than something developed and produced quickly.

‘People don’t give me romantic roles’

While Lakshmi has taken on a variety of characters throughout her career, she says the industry often has a particular image of the kind of roles she is suited for.

“People just don’t give me those roles. I’ll run around trees and romance a stone if I have to. They want me to beat people up, scare people. I get roles like that,” she joked.

Although she has embraced many of the unconventional parts offered to her, Lakshmi believes the industry could do more to broaden its understanding of what constitutes a strong female character.

Lakshmi Manchu wants women characters to have a voice

For Lakshmi, strength in a female character should not simply mean physical power or an aggressive personality.

She believes a woman showing her preferences, disagreeing with the protagonist and expressing her own perspective can itself be a powerful act.

“A strong female character is somebody who can say, ‘I like this and I don’t like this,’ rather than saying yes to everything the protagonist says,” she said.

She continued, “Where she challenges him. That’s just having a voice. It’s not being strong. And that itself is silenced in most of our movies.”

Her comments reflect her interest in female characters who have their own agency rather than existing primarily to support the male protagonist’s story.

She admits feeling jealous when women-led films succeed

Lakshmi also spoke candidly about her reaction when a woman-centric film becomes a major success.

She said she sometimes finds herself wondering why she was not part of the project.

“I’m like, why didn’t I do it? But it’s never a regret. It’s just jealousy,” she said.

The admission came with humour rather than bitterness, reflecting her enthusiasm for stories led by complex female characters.

When asked whether she prefers working in front of the camera or behind it, Lakshmi did not hesitate.

“Always in front of the camera. It’s the easiest thing,” she said.

‘I’m more sure of myself’

For Lakshmi, one of the biggest changes in recent years has been personal rather than professional.

She says she is now more comfortable with herself and less concerned about constantly managing how she appears to others.

“I’m more sure of myself. I’m more in my body. I’m more grounded,” she said.

That confidence has also changed the way she thinks about her appearance.

“If I have layers of fat, I have layers of fat this week. Before, I would be conscious about being a certain way. Now I don’t care,” she explained.

Rather than focusing primarily on appearance, Lakshmi said she is now more interested in what her body allows her to do.

“Now I just want to wake up and be strong… Am I able to optimally work rather than how I look?” she said.

Lakshmi Manchu on entering her 40s

Lakshmi believes growing older has brought a broader perspective on what deserves attention.

“In your 40s, you realise there are so many other things in life than appearance,” she said.

Her comments reflect a shift away from external expectations and towards strength, functionality and personal confidence.

For an actor who has spent years moving between languages, formats and different creative roles, Lakshmi appears increasingly comfortable choosing work on her own terms.

Whether she is acting, developing a new series or challenging conventional ideas about female characters, her priorities remain centred on meaningful stories and the freedom to keep exploring.

And as she puts it, she is now less interested in fitting into a particular image and more interested in simply being herself.