In a sea of similar faces and opinions, actor Akansha Ranjan Kapoor stands out with her takes on everything from fashion to propriety and why the term ‘feminism’ should be rephrased as ‘common sense’… And her Instagram presence is evident proof: sun-kissed snapshots of her bare-faced skin, confessions of a fraught relationship with her body while growing up, flexing effortless style in athleisure and midriff-baring outfits, and a defiance of gender expectations… All while she’s been busy with the release of her second film—Monica, O My Darling—that has caught the attention of critics and cinema-goers alike. Akansha is well on her way to paving a special path for herself.
“I think everyone should know they are beautiful,” she tells India, the 29-year-old’s ebullient confidence worn as a badge to be flaunted. And with good reason. Akansha has battled, and overcome, the negative self-image from her growing up years, and her evolved ideas on self-love are ones she wants to share with the world. In a candid conversation, Akansha continues, “I was always a chubby kid, so having to deal with that as