An Interview With Manasvi Mamgai
From the pageant stage to major film sets, Manasvi Mamgai has crafted a career built on bold choices, cross-cultural storytelling, and a fierce commitment to authenticity. In this interview, she reflects on her journey through the worlds of pageantry, Bollywood, and Hollywood, and how each chapter shaped her voice as a producer. We talked about identity, risk, representation, and the power of following instinct, even when the odds are unclear.
Photo Credit: Mili Ghosh
You’ve gone from Miss India to Hollywood producer. What is something from your pageant experience that still serves you on a film set today?
Grace under pressure. Pageants taught me how to stay poised and think fast in high-stress situations, and film sets are full of those. In pageants, your heel might break, your hair could catch fire (true story… well, almost), and you’d still need to look like world peace is around the corner. On a film set, it’s pretty much the same energy. Only instead of sequins, it’s production delays, budget stress, and managing egos – all while keeping the vision intact.
As someone who has worked across Bollywood, Hollywood, and pageantry, what is something valuable you have learned from each of these industries, either individually or collectively?
Pageantry gave me confidence, Bollywood taught me adaptability, and Hollywood taught me structure. Each world has its own rhythm. Bollywood runs on emotion and spontaneity, while Hollywood loves precision and planning. Switching between the two has trained me how to flow with unpredictability yet keep the day moving.
How do you navigate your cultural identity in professional spaces that often expect people to fit into specific molds?
By not shrinking myself to fit the room. I’ve been told to tone down my accent, to act “less Indian,” to play the exotic stereotype. Eventually, I realized that the more I leaned into who I am, the more power I brought with me. Authenticity is not a weakness; it is leverage.
In your experience, how has the perception of South Asian talent evolved within global media spaces?
Dramatically. Ten years ago, we were either cab drivers or convenience store owners. Now we are seeing more prominent roles, more creators behind the camera, and a redefining of beauty standards. We are moving forward, but there is still a long way to go.
How do you view the current state of representation in entertainment, and what areas do you feel are still underexplored?
Representation has come a long way. We have made strides in visibility, but depth is still missing. I want to see more complex South Asian characters, heroes, and anti-heroes, without the story revolving around their ethnicity. Stories from the diaspora are still underexplored. There is so much richness, contradiction, and truth in that space. It is not just about adding faces; it is about adding layers.
When you are considering new projects, whether acting or producing, what guides your decision-making process?
It starts with instinct. Something makes me sit up and think, this feels alive. I look for things that challenge me and force me to level up. But sometimes the project chooses you. It may not be what you were planning, but it just clicks.
What is a risk you took that initially felt terrifying but ended up becoming a turning point in your career?
Walking away from a predictable path in India to start over in a new industry, in a new country, where no one knew me. That was terrifying. I had to rebuild everything—my life, my network, my credibility. That taught me resilience and how to bet on myself, even when the odds were unclear. Looking back, that risk created an entirely new chapter I would have never written if I had played it safe. Captivated would not have happened if I had not taken that risk.
You are producing a film starring Al Pacino. Was there a moment on the set of Captivated when you stopped and thought, I really made it?
Seeing Al Pacino dive into the character with such intensity has been an experience. He is completely immersed, down to the smallest detail. He would workshop lines, adjust the costume, and even discuss what kind of watch the character would wear or how he might hold a glass. It has been a masterclass in building a character from the ground up. That level of artistry and commitment makes it clear why he is a legend. That is when it hit me. I was no longer just dreaming about this world. I was in it.
What first drew you to the story of Captivated, and what inspired you to get involved as a producer?
The story felt bold, unsettling, and strangely intimate. It was not just a psychological thriller; it was a deep character study, and those are rare. The script asked uncomfortable questions, the kind that linger. Having never produced something of this scale before, it felt like the right moment to grow both creatively and entrepreneurially. And honestly, the way it came to me felt like one of those moments of synchronicity. Right time, right story, right people. It just aligned.
What kinds of stories do you think the world needs more of right now, and what subjects do you feel are still difficult for people to tell?
I think the world needs more stories that are not afraid to be messy and honest. Stories that live in the grey areas, full of contradictions and quiet truths, because that is where most of real life happens. I want to see vulnerability without it being mistaken for weakness, ambition without being painted as ruthless, especially for women. More raw honesty, less polish. That is where the magic is.
What kind of legacy do you hope to build through your work, and are there any themes or issues you feel particularly called to explore in the future?
I want to build a legacy that expands what is possible for women, for South Asians, and for anyone who has ever struggled with self-doubt after being told they do not fit the mold. If I can shift the narrative even a little and create space for more voices to be heard, that is the kind of impact I would be proud of.