Saiyami Kher Says She Was Told to Change Her Look in Bollywood

• Saiyami Kher recalled being pressured early in her career to dress and look a certain way.
• She said managers advised her to conform to an expected image for actresses.
• Kher was specifically told not to keep her naturally curly hair.
• She said she chose to preserve her individuality rather than become what she called a “factory-made Barbie.”
• Her recent film Pal Bhar Ke Liye premiered at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on August 16, 2026.
• Kher is set to appear in Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, scheduled for theatrical release on September 11.

Actor Saiyami Kher has recalled facing pressure to change her appearance during the early stages of her career, including advice to abandon her naturally curly hair and conform to a particular image expected of actresses in the Hindi film industry.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Kher said several managers told her she needed to dress and present herself in a specific way. She said the advice was rooted in an expectation that actresses should conform to a particular image.

Kher ultimately chose not to follow that path. Reflecting on the experience, she said she continued to pursue sports on her own terms, speak openly about politics and sports, and maintain the personality she had developed before entering the film industry.

“A lot of people will try to mould you a certain way. But you should stick to your originality because that’s what will set you apart,”

Saiyami Kher was told not to keep curly hair

Kher recalled that the pressure extended to specific aspects of her appearance. She said she was repeatedly advised to dress and look differently and was explicitly told not to keep her curly hair.

“I was told, ‘No, no, don’t keep curly hair,’” she recalled.

Despite those suggestions, Kher said she was pleased that she did not alter her personality or appearance simply to fit industry expectations. She credited her parents for raising her with a strong sense of individuality and said she was satisfied with the work she eventually found without changing who she was.

From Mirzya to Ghoomer

Kher began her acting career with the Telugu film Rey in 2015 before making her Hindi-film debut in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya in 2016.

Although Mirzya did not succeed commercially, Kher’s performance drew attention. She subsequently appeared in projects including Mauli, Choked, Unpaused, Special OPS, Breathe: Into the Shadows, A Thursday and 8 A.M. Metro.

Her performance in Ghoomer also earned critical appreciation. In the 2023 film, she played a young cricketer whose ambitions are disrupted by a life-changing setback.

Saiyami Kher’s upcoming projects

Kher’s latest film, Pal Bhar Ke Liye, co-starring Tahir Raj Bhasin and Vineet Kumar, had its world premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on August 16, 2026. Directed by Vikram Fadnavis, the film features Kher as a fashion photographer.

She is also set to appear in Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, which stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on September 11, 2026.

For Kher, her career has continued without adopting the appearance or persona she was once advised to embrace. Her recollection highlights the tension between established expectations around an actor’s image and her decision to retain the individuality she believes has shaped her work.