Actress Manisha Koirala has been entertaining the audience with her performances for three decades. From iconic roles in Dil Se and Heeramandi to her courageous battle with cancer, she has been an epitome of resilience and reinvention. In this candid conversation with The Free Press Journal, Manisha opens up about life after 50, breaking societal norms, and navigating ageism in the entertainment industry. With unfiltered honesty, she also discusses the hurdles faced by women in Bollywood. Excerpts:

You recently said the best part of life begins after 50...

By 50, a lot of us are financially independent, we are job secured, we have reached a certain level of thairaav. I'm talking about a mind frame, a sense of security, and about being at peace with your life. We gain clarity a lot about ourselves and about the world by 50. We are on our path of doing what gives us joy. We realise who our best friends are. We realise where we should be spending more time. We are in tandem with our soul. So it's not only about pursuing a hobby. It's got to do with your life, your attitude, and your mindset. 

Many women fear aging in the entertainment industry. What would you like to say about that? 

Whether in the industry or otherwise, aging is an issue with women. We get shamed. I've never heard any troll telling a male figure that he's become old. But a lot of women are trolled. It's like looking down upon the age. Ageism impacts women a lot more than it impacts men. I was sidelined by a certain group for a roundtable conversation. And the reason they gave me was, 'Oh, it was about a certain age group'. I asked, 'Okay, if the male colleague was also in the same age group, if my co-actor or older than me was part of the project, would he have done a good job? Would he also be secluded from the roundtable conversation?' Not really. I have seen this like in at least two to three roundtable conversations, I was secluded because of ageism. It does impact us. Suddenly, they don't want to have older co-actors but they do mind having apparently older actresses. 

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about actresses in their 50s? 

We need to be torchbearers to show it to the world and to ourselves that, after 50, we can still rock. We can still lead a phenomenal life. We can still be good in our profession. We can still have a very happy, fulfilled and healthy life. As long as I'm alive, I want to work and I want to be healthy. I want to be looking good...that's my motto. Lots of people think 'Buddhi ho gayi hai, what kind of work can she do? 'or 'Let's give her only a mother's role or a sister's role'. But women can do kick-ass roles. They can be badasses, full of life and fire. So many actresses before me have done that and I also want to do that. I still have fire in my belly. I still have a hunger to do more. I want to keep growing as an artist and age is just a number. 50 is just a number. And that won't stop me. That shouldn't stop anyone. 

If you could go back and give your 30-year-old self one piece of advice, knowing what you know now, what would it be?

I don't know whether to because I was not the person to take advice. A lot of my well-wishers, my family, advised me, but my funda was, 'I'll make my own rules. I'll fall and pick myself up and I will walk'. It's like silly, stupid stubbornness when you're young. We all do that and I was definitely that. I also feel all those experiences, good and bad, have made me who I am today and I'm very content with myself. I'm self-assured and happy and fulfilled and in a good space and in peace. Every experience adds some element to our personality and we shouldn't devalue them. But, on the other hand, there's also a debate in my head that I could have saved myself from so many disappointing heartaches, so many letdowns, if I only had more confidence. I didn't need to worry or be insecure. 

Was there ever a point in your career when you thought about stepping away from acting?

Many times I felt that it was enough of me working in films for various reasons. Still, when I see disparity, ageism, favouritism, I question if I'm doing the right thing to be in the business or should I step away and lead a peaceful life? But I love cinema and acting. I love our fraternity so much. I love people in the creative business. So the love and respect that I have for the people in the craft pulls me back. But when I see ageism coming in subtly, in a very sophisticated manner or favouritism, it hurts me. But I don't voice it and I get confused whether I should still want to be doing this or should I just step away. These doubts keep haunting me sometimes. 

What's the most scandalous rumour you've heard about yourself?

It really doesn't matter. We are human beings and people are attracted to scandal. One should always take it with 'Ah, chalta hai' types and also be mindful that I don't do that to others. So many times I must be wronging someone by not really maliciously putting the person down, but unintentionally also. So as long as I don't hurt other people, I'm happy with myself. I'm more conscious of me doing wrong than others doing whatever. Being a celebrity, being in this kind of a profession, one has to take it with a pinch of salt. 

How do you stay relevant and keep challenging yourself in a rapidly changing industry?

Whoever has stayed on in a profession for a long time, they must learn to adapt themselves and be relevant in today's time and speak the language that today's people understand. And as long as you are growing and delivering, there's nothing bigger than that. This is actually a kind of a book I would want to make on how to learn to be relevant in this rapidly changing industry. I've fallen flat on my face and so many times I've succeeded. It's a trial and error sort of a thing, I think, for me.

What are some of the biggest hurdles for women in Bollywood today? 

First of all, to break in is the biggest thing. But also, once you break in, you should be able to deliver. Put all your hardships, trauma, and pain in front of the camera and pour that in. I feel in any profession we face so many hurdles, disappointments and heartbreaks. Those experiences are like jewels. If we can use them and put them in our art, I've seen so many great actors doing it, it will help us become better actors and better human beings. 

How do you handle the pressure of being in the public eye?

I don't think there's pressure from the public eye. I love the public. I love my fans and I love communicating with them. I don't think there is an issue at all. If 20 people are asking for my autograph, I will give it to all of them. I'll give photographs to everybody. I'm so honoured that I have their love.