Mumbai: Bollywood actress Malaika Arora says she measures her self-worth by recognising her true self beyond the spotlight.

Asked about the meaning of self-worth in an industry that thrives on external validation, Malaika told IANS, “Self-worth, for me, is knowing who I am beyond the spotlight. It’s valuing my journey, my choices, and my truth, not just the applause or opinions.”

The actress also spoke about her changing relationship with makeup over the years. “Earlier in my career, makeup felt like a necessity for the camera. Today, it feels like a form of self-expression,” she said, adding that she has learned to experiment more. “I’ve learned to enjoy the process, to experiment more, and to use makeup to highlight rather than hide.”

When asked about her off-camera look, Malaika said, “Off camera, I keep it simple and minimal, but I always love that one bold element, whether it’s a strong lip or defined eyes.”

Malaika began her career as a VJ for MTV India before moving into modelling and appearing in advertisements and music videos, including Bally Sagoo’s 'Our Naalo Ishq Mitha' opposite Jas Arora, and Bollywood chartbusters such as 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' from the 1998 film Dil Se…

She later appeared in hit dance numbers including 'Munni Badnaam Hui' (2010), Mahi Ve (2002) and 'Kaal Dhamaal' (2005), and acted in films such as 'Kaante' (2002) and 'EMI '(2008).

Malaika has also made her mark on television as a judge and host, appearing on shows including 'India’s Got Talent', 'MTV Supermodel of the Year' (2019) and 'India’s Best Dancer' (2020).

IANS