“Stepping into the world of acting taught me more than just performance—it taught me resilience. I learnt to face rejection with grace, to audition in rooms full of strangers, to stand in lines like everyone else, and to earn every opportunity through sheer merit. These experiences didn’t just shape my craft; they deepened my appreciation for every role I’ve had the privilege to play,” enumerates actress Saiee Manjrekar recently reflected on the invaluable life lessons she’s learned from her father, veteran actor, director, and writer Mahesh Manjrekar.
Growing up in a home where cinema was an everyday conversation, she reveals it wasn’t fame or connections that her father handed her, but resilience, self-belief, and the ability to stand on her own feet. Saiee Manjrekar stepped into Bollywood by assisting in direction of Viruddh that is directed by her father Mahesh Manjrekar.
Saiee shared, “My father has always been my biggest inspiration, but never my shortcut. I remember a very straightforward chat we had when I first spoke about acting, he told me, ‘If you want to be an actor, it has to be your decision. I will never put you in a room with any friend of mine or make a call on your behalf.’ At first, it felt daunting. But today, I see how important that lesson was. I learnt to face rejection, to audition with strangers, to stand in lines like everyone else, and to earn every opportunity on my own merit. It made me value every role so much more.”
She made her acting debut in Bollywood in the action film Dabangg 3 playing the love interest of Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan).
For Saiee, the real gift of growing up around a legend like Mahesh Manjrekar wasn’t just watching him on set, but observing the discipline, humility, and passion he carried into every project. “On screen, my father taught me how to respect the craft. Off screen, he taught me how to respect my co-workers, and the journey, even when it’s hard. He’s shown me that being an artist is not about arriving at a destination, it’s about constantly learning, evolving, and staying true to your voice,” she adds.
With her grounded approach and a deep understanding of the industry’s realities, Saiee continues to navigate her career with the same determination and grace her father instilled in her, proving that tough love often leaves the most lasting impact
