Pooja Batra recently spoke about the challenges she faced in Bollywood because of her height. The former Miss India said that during her acting career, she often had to adjust herself physically in scenes so that male actors would not appear shorter on screen. She also said actresses like Deepika Padukone and Kriti Sanon have had an easier path because she helped break stereotypes for tall actresses in the film industry.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Pooja said, “It was tough. I remember I was told by Sangeeta Bijlani, ‘You don’t have a chance in the movies because you’re too tall.’ She’s my idol. She’s beautiful, and she’s a model too. I gave every role I got my best, even though the heroes got intimidated because of my stature. It’s true I didn’t book a lot of movies because of my height. I lost out on a lot of good roles.”
Speaking further about Deepika Padukone and Kriti Sanon, she said, “I paved the way for tall actresses. Say thank you.”
Pooja also recalled how she had to change her posture during shoots to avoid looking taller than male actors. She said, “I would do splits in front of the camera so that the heroes would look taller. I had to spread my legs halfway through the scene. Salman never had a problem. He was one guy who’d be like, ‘Wear your heels, I don’t have a problem.’ He’d be confident in his own skin.”
Before entering films, Pooja Batra had a successful modelling career. She won the Femina Miss India International title in 1993 and later represented India at the Miss International pageant. Her visibility increased after the competition, helping her move into films.
Pooja made her acting debut with the Tamil film Aasai in 1995. Directed by Vasanth and produced by Mani Ratnam, the film became a major success and gave her a strong start in cinema.
She later entered Bollywood with Virasat alongside Anil Kapoor, Tabu and Amrish Puri. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film introduced her to Hindi film audiences.
Over the years, Pooja Batra appeared in several popular films including Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Nayak, Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye and Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya. Later, she moved away from mainstream Bollywood and spent several years in the United States while continuing work in modelling, wellness, and selective acting projects.