The resemblance between Dabba Cartel star Shalini Pandey and Bollywood fame Alia Bhatt has long been a topic of discussion. Ever since Pandey’s rise to fame in 2017, social media has constantly drawn comparisons between the two, a conversation that now seems to be getting on her nerves. In a recent interview with Instant Bollywood, Pandey expressed her frustration with the ongoing discourse, while also sharing admiration for Bhatt and emphasising that there is no one like the actress.
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"We don't need another Alia and no one should be another Alia, because Alia is so amazing. Just as Alia. I mean, not just because of her films. Of course, she's like what we see her on-screen. But I feel personally, what I've seen of Alia, off-screen also, I think I admire her,” the 31-year-old said.
Pandey also advocated for her own individuality, and do not want viewers to “box her into something”. She said, “I don’t want to be that because there is one Alia. Of course, there are so many admirable qualities that you want to take, but I also want to have my own individuality. I want people to look at me for who Shalini is rather than box me into something. That I’m not okay with. But when they compare me with love, of course, it’s a great comparison because she’s just lovely.”
Pandey rose to fame in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2017 hit romantic-drama film Arjun Reddy. She made her initial mark in Bollywood the following year in Rahul Ganore Shanklya’s Meri Nimmo. Her recent film appearance came in the Netflix film Maharaj, where she starred alongside Junaid Khan in his film debut.
