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Manushi Chillar: 'I wish I had given more lady-like reactions'

November 28, 2017 15:51 IST

Miss India World 2017 Manushi Chhillar revealed that she looks at the clip of her victory and laughs.

Manushi Chillar

All photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

It was a moment of overwhelming joy for Manushi Chhillar when she was crowned Miss World 2017, but the beauty pageant winner wishes her reaction could have been 'more lady-like' when she won.

Manushi recently won the coveted title at a grand event held China's Sanya.

The 20-year-old medical student from Haryana says she watched the clip of her victory a number of times now.

Manushi Chillar

Manushi makes her way inside Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai. 

In an interview with PTI, Manushi says, 'I won't deny that I've seen the video several times. It still gives me goosebumps.

'(But) I do wish I had given more lady-like reactions. It was something which came out naturally. Now I like to look at it and laugh.'

The pageant was last won by Priyanka Chopra for India in 2000, a year after Yukta Mookhey bagged the crown.

Soon after the victory, Manushi was in the news over Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's pun on her surname, which translates into 'loose change' in colloquial Hindi.

'What a mistake to demonetise our currency! BJP should have realised that Indian cash dominates the globe: look, even our Chhillar has become Miss World,' Tharoor had said, creating a political furore.

But Manushi downplayed Tharoor's comments in her tweet, calling it a 'tongue-in-cheek remark'.

Talking about the incident, Manushi says she is happy that people got an insight into her sense of humour.

'Miss World victory is something very personal to me. But everyone has their own sense of humour and you've social media where everyone has their own opinion.

'I was happy I could give people an insight into my sense of humour,' says Manushi.

She believes her win will bring focus on Haryana. 'There is already so much positive change that has been happening. The khap panchayat in my ancestral village has abolished the practice of firing at weddings.

Manushi Chillar with family

Manushi with her family outside Siddhivinayak Temple.

'I am just a 20-year-old normal girl but knowing that I can do such things, it's very enriching for me,' Manushi says though she did not stay in Haryana -- she grew up in Delhi and Bengaluru -- the outlook towards Haryanvi women is slowly evolving.

For now, Manushi wants to focus on her life as Miss World but she does not rule out the possibility of entering Bollywood.

'There have been offers from Bollywood but as of now I've not really committed to anything.

'I really want to explore my life as a Miss World and live that moment first.

'After this one year, I have to complete my education. But I am not really thinking about it. I would never rule out any opportunity completely. I'd be a fool to do that,' says Manushi.

Rediff Get Ahead Bureau
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