Shrit Chaandeโs journey is not a fairytale of overnight success it is a story of rejection, survival, resilience, and fierce self-belief. In an industry that often worships fair skin and conventional beauty, Shrit entered with a complexion that didnโt fit the โmarket standard.โ Her biggest struggle was always her skin tone. Many times, when she went for auditions, she wasnโt even allowed to stand inside the studio. And if she was given a chance, the comments cut deep: โThere are already so many fair, beautiful girls in the market. How will you get work? Why donโt you just get married or find a regular job?โ These words werenโt just criticism they were attempts to shrink her dreams. And for a while, they almost did.
There were moments when Shrit completely broke down. The news of Sushant Singh Rajputโs suicide shook her to the core. She questioned everything. If someone who had already reached success in the industry could feel so helpless, what about her someone still struggling to find a place? She found herself standing at the edge of giving up on life. But in that darkness, she chose herself. She reminded herself that this was not her end. She had already left home years ago. Going back without building something of her own was not an option. If she had come this far, she would not quit halfway.
Self-doubt haunted her most inside audition rooms. Casting agents often threw negative words at her about her skin, her features, her look. She stayed silent. She listened. With no mentor or guide, she believed maybe they were right. She thought perhaps it was her fault for not fitting into their idea of beauty. She trusted people easily. After hearing so much negativity, even one kind sentence โSheโs calm, she will go farโ made her believe in that person completely. But the pain was unbearable when those same people later rejected her from projects. She was shortlisted many times, only to be dropped because she was โnot beautiful enough.โ Still, deep inside, her intuition kept whispering that she was meant for something bigger.
Shrit does not believe in the term โself-made.โ She feels no one succeeds alone. Behind every success, there are people who contribute silently. In her journey, a few individuals motivated her despite industry standards. One of them was photographer Vikram Bawa, who gave her positive reinforcement and taught her how to pose, speak, and focus with confidence. Financial struggles were another harsh reality. She openly says that money is extremely important because without it, anxiety and trauma increase. She has experienced what it feels like to be helpless without financial stability.
She struggled financially, worked multiple small jobs to survive, and even faced homelessness at one point, sleeping outside shops and in under-construction buildings. Despite being shortlisted many times, she was repeatedly rejected for not fitting beauty standards. Still, her intuition told her she was meant for something bigger. Over time, she learned to stop seeking validation, stand up for herself, and reject disrespect. Today, she is mentally stronger, grounded in faith, and focused on her goals.
For Shrit, success means respect being heard, valued, and acknowledged by the same people who once ignored her. Her message is simple: either fight and move forward, or adjust and be prepared to step back.
