But six years later, the 27-year-old’s choices are proving that she’s not just playing by the old rulebook. With her upcoming film Maalik, where she plays the complex and emotionally charged role of Shalini, Chhillar is part of a notable shift in how pageant winners are approaching their acting careers in 2025—with depth, deliberation, and daring.
Who is Shalini in Maalik?
In Maalik, Manushi plays Shalini, a character caught between personal belief and public duty in a socio-political drama that explores power, faith, and justice in contemporary India.
Described by insiders as “layered, restrained, and emotionally loaded,” Shalini is not the glamorous love interest or a decorative presence—she is central to the plot, flawed, and quietly radical.
Pageant Queens Are Not Just Pretty Faces Anymore
Historically, Indian beauty queens-turned-actresses have been cast in roles that leaned heavily on their looks, especially in their early careers. Be it Aishwarya Rai in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya or Sushmita Sen in Dastak, the early years were often about glamour, not grit.
But the new wave—led by the likes of Manushi, Sobhita Dhulipala (Miss Earth India 2013), and even Priyanka Chopra’s post-pageant arc in global cinema—is rewriting that narrative. Today’s beauty queens are prioritizing scripts over stardom, and roles over red carpets.
From Samrat Prithviraj to Maalik: A Career Realignment
Manushi’s debut in Samrat Prithviraj (2022) opposite Akshay Kumar received mixed reviews. While she looked the part, critics noted the limited emotional range offered by the script. Manushi took that feedback seriously.
Instead of rushing into commercial projects, she reportedly spent over a year reading scripts, training in method acting, and working with coaches to unlearn the pageant posture and discover character truth.
Maalik is a result of that inward shift—and the industry is watching.
“It’s Not About Being Liked. It’s About Being Believable.”
Manushi, with Maalik, is now part of this growing movement that says: you can be a former Miss World—and still be taken seriously as a craftsperson.
