What It Takes to be Miss World! | Manushi Chhillar on Bollywood & Pageants | Karishma Mehta | Ep 82

“On that stage, I was not Manushi-I was simply Miss India. The Miss World Competition was in China that year and when I was crowned Miss World, seeing everyone scream “India” was overwhelming. Representing India on the global stage, and knowing that we won was unreal, I can’t put that feeling into words!”
At 20, Manushi Chhillar was crowned Miss World-a feat that not many people can brag about! But her journey into the world of glamour and to this point of success began at an even younger age…
An MBBS student from Haryana, Manushi stumbled into the world of pageants rather unexpectedly… And winning that first pageant in college just paved the way for bigger things! While her transition from medicine to films is laudable, what’s even more commendable is the way she’s managed to stay grounded and expand her life beyond the bubble of films.
Join us as we delve into her fascinating journey, from how she got into the world of pageants to what it was like being crowned Miss World, and from foraying into Bollywood to balancing that very demanding profession with entrepreneurship-Manushi shares it all with us.
But that's not all! Manushi speaks about her family and their contribution to making her what she is today and you can see the love in her eyes!
This one’s an episode filled with not just anecdotes but so much inspiration-Manushi’s mindset of dealing with failure and her mantras in life is truly inspiring!
Tune in, subscribe, and join us as we unlock the chapters of Manushi’s journey on How The Hell Did I Do It!
We talked about:
Manushi’s childhood
Mantras that define Manushi’s life
Why did she decide to become a doctor?
Manushi’s tryst with modelling
What was it like, winning Miss India?
Preparing for Miss World
Representing India on the global stage
Stepping into Bollywood
Shooting her first film with Akshay Kumar
Dealing with failure in her first film
What is love to Manushi?
Manushi's foray into business
#manushichhillar #humansofbombay #podcast
Time Stamps
00:00 - Precap
01:40- Welcoming Manushi
01:50- Manushi’s first podcast
02:39- The mantra that defines Manushi’s life
03:55- What was Manushi’s childhood like?
05:35- Why did Manushi decide to become a doctor?
06:44- Manushi’s college days
08:17- Manushi’s tryst with modelling
08:23- How To Tell Your Story?
09:38- Manushi’s biggest dream
10:46- What the Miss World Experience taught Manushi
11:58- How pageantry happened
12:46- Campus Princess
14:56- Juggling studies & preparing for a pageant
15:30- Learning ramp walk
15:53- Manushi’s biggest support
18:36- Winning Campus Princess
20:32- Feeling unprepared for Miss India
21:08- How to prep for pageantry?
22:46- What was it like, winning Miss India?
27:07- Training for Miss World
28:33- A night before the Miss World competition
32:00- India’s jinx with Miss World
32:44- Manushi’s parents’ pride & happiness
33:45- The ‘winning’ answer
34:31- Gratitude towards family
35:09- Representing India on the global stage
36:48- The saree story
38:41- Bollywood, the next step
40:36- Shooting her first film
41:07- Anecdotes with Akshay Kumar
42:30- Dealing with her first film’s failure
44:31- Manushi’s learning from her film’s failure
47:16- Realising life doesn’t go our way
48:39- What is love to Manushi?
51:01- Foraying into entrepreneurship
54:48- Manushi’s advice to young women
57:11- Thank you
57:15- Banter & fun!
Links:
Humans of Bombay
Instagram: / officialhumansofbombay
YT Shorts: / @humansofbombay2801
LinkedIn: / humans-of-bombay
Manushi Chhillar
Instagram: / manushi_chhillar
X: x.com/ManushiChhillar
Karishma Mehta
Instagram: / karimehta05
LinkedIn: / karishma-mehta-b22151174
The 'How To Tell You Story' course by Humans of Bombay available here - bit.ly/learnwithhob
About Humans of Bombay -
Humans of Bombay is a movement that started 9 years ago. We believe that every person has a story to tell and we want to help them tell these stories. In these years we’ve published stories across genres - stories of love, hope, faith and courage. And through our storytelling, we’ve built an engaged community of over 5M!
Our idea is simple - to strike a chord with our community and catalogue the beat of humanity, one story at a time.

[@ishasyoutubechannel]

She was my inspiration. I got into med school, 2nd year going on, applied for a pageant few months back, got selected but didn’t go ahead due to my internal examinations. Applied for Miss India as well this year, but then, I realised if I get into this (means get selected) I will have to choose the glamour industry as my career. I won’t be able to complete my degree! Honestly, my biggest heartbreak was seeing Manushi choosing acting as her career and failing at it, when she had the chance to be a doctor and treat patients. My application mail stayed in my inbox while I watched the criticism of the song Manushi was in (i think it was a clip on her ig, some beachside view and her dancing) And the big question struck me - Do you want to land up like that? After preparing so hard for neet, getting through it, having the chance to be a doctor, then leaving it all behind, as Manushi said, for a ‘crown that makes you feel like a princess’. And the answer came- No. now it definitely was my personal choice, that my belief in pageantry and the glamour world has decreased, especially when I see non deserving people getting ahead because of their connections/money. I still have the photos from the photoshoots,heels, dresses, make up everything I bought for the ‘audition and the journey ahead’ 😂 Idk, might give it a try AFTER I GRADUATE. For fun though. I’d stick to be a doctor. A doctor who’s also a pageant title holder? Maybe.

[@IndoGermanGlimpses]

Hey! Just came across your comment. Trust me (as someone who comes from healthcare and was once a medical student) getting an educational degree is utmost important. You can still achieve all your dreams once you are done with your medical degree! So proud of you for taking that step because it isn’t easy but I am sure you will do well 🫶🏻❤️

[@ishasyoutubechannel]

@@IndoGermanGlimpses thankyou! I will give my best at all what I do!

[@chan90s]

Girl, get your degree. Nothing is more satisfying than intellectual performance. Btw, the beauty thing is a scam. All these French beauty brands pick an upcoming country, setup the whole thing in such a way that the fast growing country woman gets the pageant, get free marketing and then sell their beauty products. Gotta come out of that matrix. They have done it with Europe, South America, Africa and now India

[@debashreekonwar4321]

You can take little little steps for your dreams. It'd be amazing if you be the one.

[@supreetsidhu4535]

Good decision

[@nishashah95]

I love how grounded she is & despite the fame, doesn’t forget to credit her family 🙌🏻

[@humansofbombay2801]

So true! ❤️

[@Amna12349]

Meet these “celebrities” in person and see how they are. Arrogant af for no reason lol

[@1729krish]

​@Amna12349 that's a broad generalization lol. Who have you met though?

[@Amna12349]

@@1729krish my friends have seen firsthand how rude Kareena, Katrina, Rani mukherjee etc are. Most of them are horrible human beings. Not what u see in interviews and ig. I know people who work in advertising/media in US and Mumbai. You have no idea how dark the industry is. It is demonic and these people have no soul!

[@siddharthbalasaria4444]

Great work Karishma and team … watching your podcasts of HOB has become our routine after dinner activity with entire family.

[@SagarSuman16]

Queen Manushi is pure love. 😍😍❤️❤️ I wish she becomes the biggest bollywood actress in the coming years. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🧿🧿

[@samidhashaha6630]

Most beautiful podcast I’ve ever seen , being a medical student it motivates me too do other activities and stay disciplined no matter what i do . the charm she carries her graceful attitude such a beautiful persona 🤌🏻✨♥️

[@tanya7044]

Woww, such a fun and insightful conversation it was!! Loved it

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@snehatrivedi8931]

She definitely has a star quality…. Aura like Deepika Padukone … I hope she gets some great projects

[@Emma7amber]

Thank god someone brings her for podcast ❤

[@humansofbombay2801]

🙏🏻❤️

[@andriavinithalobo5813]

You both look like sisters❤

[@humansofbombay2801]

❤️❤️

[@rupasingh7758]

The best miss world we could have❤

[@Gauravchaudhri99]

Your content is great,so useful,on the topic that everyone wants to know. it's touching my heart ❤️

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you so much 😀❤️

[@kaustubhsathe8462]

It's always delightful to watch, two beauties conversation ❤

[@jistha9896]

Nice podcast.. Thank you Both. God bless

[@DrishtiSharma-ec9zb]

Wow she speaks so well that i can listen hour for hours 💗😘

[@humansofbombay2801]

So true. 🙏🏻❤️

[@sagarsuman95]

Queen Manushi is the epitome of beauty, charm & grace. 😍😍💖💖 I wish her nothing but the best in life & career. 💫💫✨️✨️ Lots of love & respect always. ❤️❤️👏🏻

[@MaheshYadav-hk4io]

Oh my God How sweet you are talking Amazing

[@humansofbombay2801]

🙏🏻❤️

[@YusufKhan-mq7mn]

Can't wait to watch this love manushi love humans of bombay❤

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you! ❤️

[@Sweta_Kumari01]

So true rather than overthinking 😅we should just start

[@diksha2212]

Love u manushi❤❤

[@balajibasu1237]

Beautiful interview. 😊😊

[@humansofbombay2801]

Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️

[@anjalitiwari4653]

Loving watching ur podcast. Love u maarushii

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@nitantyadav735]

Her way of talking is interesting and very sweet.

[@ishikabhatt341]

I manifested this ❤❤❤❤

[@nehanainshi2395]

Lots of love to Queen Manushi 😍😍❤️❤️

[@SakshiKanwar-t9h]

What is the beautiful change they are making in world after crowning ?

[@neisham7478]

Cutie pie Manushi ❤

[@INGOJACK]

lovely conversation 🙏

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you! ❤️

[@mohsinbatatawala6271]

Wow❤

[@humansofbombay2801]

❤️❤️

[@chiragmiglani7216]

Just here to listen rohtak 😅being a proud resident of rohtak

[@DrishtiSharma-ec9zb]

Such a beautiful person my beautiful queen miss World ❤❤

[@humansofbombay2801]

She’s the best! ❤️

[@parul5810]

Absolutely classic, elite,bold and beautiful,, enriched conversations ✨✨💝💝

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@parul5810]

❤️

[@user-uq4li8yk7b]

She is so beautiful! I love her bracelet. Is that a Bulgari bracelet?

[@bharghavatri9487]

Yeah probably

[@Balbhadrapal]

Love this show 💓💓💓💓💓💓

[@humansofbombay2801]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@satyeshtiwari]

Came here only for akshay Kumar sir ❤

[@kmppnd894]

Life is a journey as much as learning 😬😁🙏with gratitude 🤘

[@kmppnd894]

I.liked your first podcast ❤️❤️

[@vivekgopinathan6960]

Great to hear her speak unlike those typical Bollywood bs talks

[@debankanmukherjee9927]

Elegant 😊

[@humansofbombay2801]

Absolutely! ❤️

[@Abhiraj_Raghu]

One word for Manushi i.e; she's pride of our nation.❤

[@betterme3514]

she was meant to be there

[@humansofbombay2801]

Absolutely! Hardwork always pays off! 🙏🏻❤️

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

Priyanka, Sushmita, Lara, Diana, Yukhta are very down to earth women. Initially Ash was humble and she changed. Now she changes her accent according to the places.

[@indipacifician3693]

changing accent has nothing to do with being hum,ble

[@parth3337]

❤❤❤

[@jitubhatia2354]

🎉🎉❤❤

[@humansofbombay2801]

❤️❤️

[@henrychuailou9357]

What do u mean we have little ur parents both doctor u have so much my parents dont have salary bro not even 500 prr month so doctor are like top job in the world...but still love u

[@AjayYadav-us6yb]

Plzz call rashmika di, Sai pallavi, shradha Kapoor

[@suchankigupta207]

❤

[@SakshiKanwar-t9h]

Well Iam so curious to know this what should men need to learn from women and what women need to learn from men? And what make Miss Universe, Miss world different from other womens?

[@freefirelover22770]

If she will choose good scripts she will be a next priyanka chopra may be

[@travelingwithnehavaidya7320]

👌❤️👌

[@humansofbombay2801]

🙏🏻❤️

[@subikashbiswas3237]

Sky is the limit > sky is not the limit

[@shahidanusrat6086]

May Allah SWT bless manushi and its beautiful family from Pakistan 🙂

[@utkarshpawar777]

I hope she doesn't fall to casting couch in bollywood

[@freefirelover22770]

Please call miss universe harnaaz sandhu

[@robbie9930]

Humble beginnings!!!?????😂😂😂😂

[@nishantsharma2813]

She should work on her acting skills

[@bappaditya04]

Karishma can easily become a Bollywood star. Such a beautiful and glamourous lady she is ❤

[@darshikadumane2032]

Please get mouni Roy on show

[@game-changer-brand7252]

Must Read Book For Every Generation = "HAPPY MONEY" By Mr. Ken Honda ! 👌✅👍💵💰📚

[@jyotisaini186]

What is her height?

[@NehaSharma-rq4xi]

This does not matter. Being a tall person does not mean you are capable of becoming Miss world or Miss Universe or singer dancer or astraunaut. It takes efforts. Don't ever count the height. Count upon your heights.

[@jyotisaini186]

@@NehaSharma-rq4xi thank u mam..... Miss India ke liye bhi kuchh height hoti hai, eligibility criteria hota hai..... Isliye puchha tha😊

[@NehaSharma-rq4xi]

@@jyotisaini186 all the best⭐

[@user61693]

5'8"

[@jyotisaini186]

@@user61693 how do u know?

[@jitubhatia2354]

U look better ❤😂 than chillar ......

[@kc0369]

Now she is dating veer pahariya before him nikhil kamath….clearly she targets only super rich guys

[@NhuQuynh-nv7fp]

She targets them or the other way around ?..

[@Garmondranee]

She’s smart then why marry a poor guy when you can marry a rich guy 😂

[@preety-yr3cf]

How did u know????

[@Garmondranee]

@@Sweta_Kumari01 no body .

[@dhruvbatra9548]

Npc comment

[@satya4267]

Miss world no foubt bt not actor

[@Shivani15399]

yrr podcast k bich me mat bolo plz

[@pamg2628]

From grandstanding at pagentry to romancing an actor, probably older than her father, in a mindless film-quite a journey? My foot!

[@nirvana27983]

some gora guests would add some more perspectlve/

[@ishika7422]

Worst click bait line

[@anuvratchhillar8216]

:)

[@humansofbombay2801]

🙏🏻❤️

[@alicedrozario4085]

From to be a Doctor to be a Nachne wali....shit happens.

[@rajsouth101]

@@alicedrozario4085 alice mam,itna sach mat boliye..😂😂🙏🙏apko bhi iske fans(yes, apparently they exist)sunane lagenge ki "aurat hi aurat ka dushman hote hai karke".!

[@tanveerkhan-mi2zr]

काई का Sir ,आम चुसके खाते या काटके खाने वाला एक्टर हमारे L पर है 😂😂 बीजेपी कहती हैं एक्ट्रेस मूवी के लिए सोने को तैयार है एक्टर , डायरेक्ट प्रोड्यूसर के साथ , बीजेपी Bollywood को वेश्यालय कहती हैं मुझे बीजेपी की ये बात सच लगती है 😂

[@adityasingh-tr3tu]

Chup vaishya putra 😂

[@tanveerkhan-mi2zr]

@@adityasingh-tr3tu वैश्या पुत्र मै तेरी बात नहीं कर रहा हूं 🇮🇳😂 तेरी क्यों मिर्ची लगी है 😂 मेरा तो बायोलॉजिकल एक ही बाप है जिससे मेरे मा की शादी हुई हैं 😂 मै वैश्या के बारे में बोल रहा हूं, तू क्यों चिड रहा है 😂 चिडेगा वही जिसकी मा वैश्या हो 😂

[@tanveerkhan-mi2zr]

@@adityasingh-tr3tu तुझसे भद्दी गाली देना भी आती हैं तेरे कान सुज जायेगे मैने गाली लिखना शुरू की आंखो में से टपक टपक अंशु छलकेगे 😂 मैने गाली देना शुरू की तो ब्लॉक करता फिरेगा 😂😂 बेवजह में किसी को गाली देता नहीं हू 😂 कोई छेडे तो हिसाब किताब करना जरूरी 😂 मैने गाली में पीएचडी की है 😂 समझ ले अंध अंध भक्तो की गाली भी कुछ नहीं है IT cell की गाली कुछ नहीं है😂

[@tanveerkhan-mi2zr]

@@adityasingh-tr3tu तेरेसे उचे लेवल की गाली आती हैं गाली लिखने लगा तो गान्ड फट के हाथ में आ जाएगी 😂 बेवजह में किसी को गाली देता नहीं 😂 ओर कोई छेड़े तो हिसाब किताब बराबर करना जरूरी है , अंध भक्तो की गाली भी कुछ नहीं मेरी गाली के आगे 😂 पीएचडी की है गाली में ठीक 😂

[@nisargparekh8813]

Avg a**budul☕️☕️

[@kc0369]

None of her movies was successful

[@sunnychoudhary1323]

Akshay Kumar is the reason why her career has doomed. Nvr do a movie with Akshay, nobody watches his movies in the industry, hv a bad reputation of doing non sensical movies without putting much effort.

[@purvichamundi1741]

what it takes to be a Miss World? ANS: BE A SECRET BANANA..

[@SakshiKanwar-t9h]

What is the beautiful change they are making in world after crowning ?