Zareen Khan says Filmmakers rejected her due to Pretty Looks

Zareen Khan has opened up on being rejected from film roles due to her pretty looks.

The actress recalled being bluntly told about Bollywood’s perception that pretty girls cannot act.

She also opened up about the subject of typecasting.

Zareen elaborated: “It’s not just me who has been typecast. I feel every person in this industry gets typecast.

“When I came out with Veer I was typecast as a pretty girl, a girl next door comparisons and everything.

“So, I did not get enough chances. Actually did not get a chance at all after that. I was called fat and this and that.”

Zareen Khan explained that her dance number ‘Character Dheela’ in Ready, helped changed perceptions to an extent.

“People were like, ‘she can look like that also. She has lost weight, nice’.

“Then came Hate Story and people said she is so hot.”

However, Zareen was rejected when she tried looking for roles that would give her something meaningful to portray.

She said: “After that when I tried meeting people for not so hot roles or roles that would need me to play something meaningful or serious, I was rejected and I was out and out told in our industry it’s a perception that pretty girls can’t act.

“What the hell does that even mean?

“If you find me pretty and you are not going to give me a chance that is so unfair.”

She then decided to take a break from all things related to being glamorous.

“I really want to make a conscious effort for people to see me as more than a glamorous face.

“I want them to see my potential, credit, give me due for my potential and give me a chance.

“More than anything else, to give me an opportunity to show that I am more than just about looking hot and being pretty.

“That is the reason I took a bit of break. I was reading a lot of scripts and I wanted to do something that would portray me away from the glamorous image.

“So, that people can change that image about me.”

Zareen Khan was last seen in Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele, which had a digital release.

The film tells the story of friendship, with Zareen portraying a lesbian while Anshuman Jha played a gay man.