Saiee Manjrekar opens up about her father Mahesh Manjrekar’s tough love and timeless lessons

Saiee Manjrekar and Mahesh Manjrekar

For actress Saiee Manjrekar, growing up in the home of Mahesh Manjrekar — one of Indian cinema’s most respected actors and filmmakers — didn’t mean a life of shortcuts. Instead, it meant growing up with tough love, discipline, and lessons that would prepare her to stand on her own feet.

Reflecting on her journey, Saiee admits her father was her biggest influence, but never her ticket into the industry. “My father has always been my biggest inspiration, but never my shortcut. I remember a very straightforward chat we had when I first spoke about acting, he told me, ‘If you want to be an actor, it has to be your decision. I will never put you in a room with any friend of mine or make a call on your behalf.’ At first, it felt daunting. But today, I see how important that lesson was. I learnt to face rejection, to audition with strangers, to stand in lines like everyone else, and to earn every opportunity on my own merit. It made me value every role so much more.”

Those words, she says, shaped her perspective in ways no privilege could. The challenges of navigating auditions without a famous father’s backing taught her resilience and made her cherish every role that came her way.

But her father’s influence wasn’t just about how to enter the industry — it was also about how to carry oneself within it. “On screen, my father taught me how to respect the craft. Off screen, he taught me how to respect myself, my co-workers, and the journey, even when it’s hard. He’s shown me that being an artist is not about arriving at a destination, it’s about constantly learning, evolving, and staying true to your voice.”

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For Saiee, these timeless lessons became her compass. Instead of relying on fame or connections, she’s learning to navigate the industry with patience, determination, and a sense of self that feels unshakable.

In her own words, Mahesh Manjrekar never made life easy — but perhaps that was the greatest gift. His tough love helped her find her independence, and his wisdom continues to remind her that in art, as in life, the journey matters more than the destination.