Actress and former medical student Manushi Chhillar recently reflected on the emotional strain of having to retake her medical entrance examination after the 2015 paper leak. She has spoken about it at length days after the recent protests against the NEET paper leak by students. Manushi shared how the unexpected setback tested her resilience and shed light on the intense pressure faced by medical aspirants across India.The episode on Soha Ali Khan’s YouTube talk show ‘All About Her’, which also featured renowned psychiatrist Dr Anjali Chhabria, focused on the challenges surrounding competitive entrance exams, academic stress, burnout, anxiety, and mental well-being.During the discussion, Soha recalled the difficult period and asked, “I want to take you back to 2015, if I may. You had prepared for months, secured a good rank, and done well in the exam. What was it like to be told that the exam had been cancelled and that you had to prepare all over again?”Looking back at that phase, Manushi responded, “There are two aspects to this, one is my personal experience, and the other is understanding the reality that most students in the country face. I had parents who had gone through the same journey years ago, so I was mentally prepared for the process. But it was still incredibly difficult because I had to sacrifice everything that brought me joy. I was a Kuchipudi dancer, I loved painting, and I had to put all of that aside for a year to focus entirely on my entrance exam.“She explained that while the experience was deeply challenging, it also gave her perspective on the struggles of countless students preparing for highly competitive exams. “While it was one of the toughest phases of my life, I realised it wasn’t the hardest compared to what many other students were going through. I met students whose parents had borrowed beyond their means to send them to coaching centres. Many had moved cities, lived in cramped PG accommodations, and spent every single day preparing for one exam.“Recalling the aftermath of the paper leak, Manushi admitted the additional waiting period was mentally draining. “When you’re told that after months of preparation you have to continue for another 45 days, you wonder how much more you have left to give. But I also recognise that I had immense privilege and support.”She also spoke about the role her parents played in protecting her mental well-being during the preparation period. “One thing my parents insisted on was an hour of exercise every day, no matter what. Whether it was basketball or going to the gym, it gave me an outlet, helped me stay connected to people outside the exam bubble, and protected my mental health. Many of my peers didn’t have that luxury. Some had already returned to their hometowns after their accommodation leases ended, losing the environment they needed to continue preparing,” she said.Later in the conversation, Soha asked Manushi whether there was a moment when she realised that medicine was no longer the career she wanted to pursue. In response, Manushi said, “It was gradual. It wasn’t as though I woke up one day and decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. I genuinely loved studying medicine. But by the time we entered college, most of us were completely exhausted.”Reflecting further on life in medical school, she added, “Our seniors used to joke that you would only be happy during the first two days and the last two days of medical college. Looking back, I think it was burnout. We believed clearing the entrance exam was the finish line, only to realise there was an even bigger mountain waiting for us.”For those unfamiliar, Manushi Chhillar, who won the Miss World 2017 title, completed her MBBS degree before eventually pursuing a career in entertainment. She made her Bollywood debut opposite Akshay Kumar in Samrat Prithviraj (2022) and has since appeared in films including The Great Indian Family, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and Operation Valentine.
