August 17, 2025

Shenaz Treasury, actress and former VJ known for films like Ishq Vishk, Delhi Belly, and Kaalakaandi, has a powerful story about the dark side of showbiz beauty standards. From the very start of her career as a teenage model at 16, Shenaz felt the crushing demand to look thin and flawless. “Since day one, there was always the pressure: ‘Oh, if you could lose 5 kgs,’” she shared with ETimes. Despite being beautiful as she was, the industry wanted her to be skinny, even when they first picked her. She remembers a heartbreaking moment on a shoot in Nepal when the director said, “your face is too big, it’s too round.” Shenaz cried because it wasn’t her fault, but the pressure was overwhelming. This obsession with appearance followed her into movies. For Ishq Vishk, the director told her, “You’ve got to wear green lenses, you have to be perfect, look great in all angles.” If she didn’t fit the ‘ideal’ image, she was told to diet and hide her belly. “They wouldn’t let me eat. It was so ridiculous,” she recalls. Shenaz also talked about the 90s MTV days where even on-air hosts were pressured to lose weight or risk losing their shows. This harsh world pushed her into unhealthy eating habits and a difficult emotional journey. But with time, she grew stronger and now proudly accepts her natural face and body. “I don’t even wear makeup on social media because I just want to keep it real and raw,” she said. She also shares a sharp observation about society’s double standards: while men are accepted with balding heads and big stomachs, women face endless scrutiny for wrinkles or aging. “Women in their 50s and 60s are just ignored. Men go for younger women. That creates so much pressure on women.” On the glare of paparazzi and red carpet photos, Shenaz calls them “ridiculous” and points out how many women dress unnaturally to fit the ‘male gaze’ with tiny waists and huge curves. But she stresses it’s society’s pressure, not women’s fault. “It’s really not fair on women, all this pressure.” She avoids gossip sites to stay positive and wants others to do the same. Does Bollywood care about real beauty yet? Shenaz sees men shown naturally in films, but women are still portrayed as too perfect. “Maybe I'm not watching those movies,” she laughs, hinting change is slow. To young actors battling self-doubt over looks, Shenaz’s golden advice is this: “It’s not about looking perfect. It’s about talent, being creative, and showing up authentically. People will like you for who you are—your authenticity and vulnerability.” She warns shallow perfection doesn’t last a lifetime and can leave scars. In a world chasing flawless skin and hourglass bodies, Shenaz Treasury’s story shines bright. She reminds us that true beauty is being real, brave, and just being yourself.

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Tags: Shenaz treasury, Bollywood beauty standards, Body positivity, Showbiz pressure, Authenticity, Mental health,