“Aviator, actor and producer, automobile and fitness enthusiast, biker, adrenalin junkie, adventurer, traveller and student” – that is how Gul Panag describes herself on Instagram. But her handle on the photo-sharing app proves that she’s also a doting mother, an influencer and a body positivity advocate. While her Instagram profile is flooded with the cutest vacation pictures, it also has thought-provoking notes on “bad days.” Gul Panag believes that actors are powerful influencers and hence they should use social media to make an impact.

In an exclusive conversation with Times Now Digital, Gul Panag spoke about mental health awareness, body dysmorphic disorder, false beauty standards and more. She also revealed that she has been told she would receive more offers if she starts sharing glamorous pictures. 

Gul Panag recently featured in a short film, titled Manoranjan, where she’s seen playing Lalita, a housewife who has delusion disorder. The actress has not only acted in the film but she has also written the story and bankrolled it. When asked about what filmmakers and actors can do to highlight mental health awareness, she said, “It is difficult to specifically make a film for the purpose of mental health (awareness). But because filmmakers and actors are such powerful opinion makers and influencers, we, through social media, can make a great impact. That is really where the impact can be made because public figures can choose to be role models.”

However, she added that celebrities are only seen perpetuating false beauty standards with their glamourous looks. “On social media, it is inevitable, you will compare yourself to others. And when you only put up the most amazing, the most glamorous photos, you are helping sustain this myth about unattainable and unrelatable beauty standards. So the responsibility, to a large extent, lies on influential people to break that myth down. Maybe their job is to be glamorous but 24×7 if you keep posting such pictures then you are creating and furthering a subculture where people are constantly telling themselves, ‘Oh my god, I am not good enough, I am not thin enough, I am not rich enough’,” she added.

The Family Man actress also said that when she was growing up, magazine covers were “bombarded by perfection” and today, social media is. “It’s very very dangerous. I understand brands will reach out to you if you look glamourous but…

“I have been told before, ‘Listen, if you posted more glamorous pictures, we would get more brands.’ But my whole take is that if I am misleading people about who I am in real then that’s not the place I want to be. I would rather have brands support the courage I live my life with. And there are brands that do that. If some glamourous brands do not think I am not worth working with them then it is their loss. They are perpetuating this unrealistic culture.”