Saiee Manjrekar, daughter of acclaimed actors Mahesh Manjrekar and Medha Manjrekar, entered the film industry in 2019 with her debut in Dabangg 3, starring opposite Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The film, however, was met with controversy due to the significant age gap between the then 17-year-old Saiee and the 54-year-old Khan. The pairing sparked criticism, though the young actress remained largely unaware of the backlash at the time.
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Saiee opened up about the negativity surrounding the age difference. Reflecting on that period, she shared, “I was oblivious to the discussion because when Dabangg 3 was released, I didn’t have a PR or marketing team. I was just happy to see myself on the big screen.” Saiee admitted that six months later, when she became more active on social media, she saw the criticism but wasn’t deeply affected. “It didn’t impact me much because I had already moved on to other projects,” she explained. “I am a thick-skinned person, and things don’t affect me quickly. I’ve always been that way.”
Saiee also discussed the challenging period following her debut film, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown. With the pandemic halting her work, she found herself grappling with uncertainty and self-reflection. “After Dabangg 3, I thought I had achieved something, but the lockdown made me realize I hadn’t yet,” she said.
During the six to eight months of isolation, Saiee spent time contemplating her next steps. “It was a low period for me. I had put my education on the back burner after 12th grade to focus on acting full-time, but with the pandemic, I was sitting idle while my friends were busy with online classes and work,” she recalled.
Despite being surrounded by family, Saiee admitted feeling isolated and in a “dark phase” as the industry remained shut down. Her reflection on this time highlighted the emotional toll the pandemic had on many young professionals, especially those in creative fields.
Saiee has since bounced back, continuing her career with projects like Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha and looking forward to future opportunities in the industry.