Tamannaah Bhatia on owning the ‘Milky Beauty’ tag: If we look at ourselves in a certain way, then nobody can respect us

In a recent interview ahead of the release of her Telugu film Odela 2, actor Tamannaah Bhatia defended her role as sadhvi Shiva Shakti and addressed the long-standing label “milky beauty” associated with her. Speaking at the pre-release event in Hyderabad on March 23, Tamannaah responded to a journalist who questioned how she could portray a sadhvi despite carrying the “milky beauty” tag — a name popularized by her fans.

Tamannaah stood her ground and expressed that such labels should not undermine a woman’s capabilities or versatility. “Why did you look at a milky beauty and thought she can’t be Shiva Shakti? Your question has the answer in it,” she said. She emphasized that director Ashok Teja chose to look beyond appearances, highlighting, “He [Ashok Teja] does not look at milky beauty that it is to be ashamed of or feel bad about.”

She asserted that glamour in a woman should be celebrated rather than critiqued, and women must start by celebrating themselves. “Glamour in a woman is to be celebrated, and we women must celebrate ourselves. Then we can expect other people to celebrate us. But if we look at ourselves in a certain way, then nobody can respect us,” she stated.

Tamannaah praised director Ashok Teja for recognizing the multidimensional nature of women. “Here we have a wonderful gentleman [Ashok Teja] who does not look at a woman like that. He looks at women like she’s divine. Divine can be glamorous, lethal and powerful. A woman can be many, many things,” she added.