Manushi Chhillar Recalls Emotional Toll Of Retaking Medical Exam After Paper Leak

MUMBAI-Actress and former medical student Manushi Chhillar has opened up about the emotional and mental challenges of retaking the medical entrance examination after the 2015 paper leak, describing it as one of the toughest phases of her life.

Speaking to actress Soha Ali Khan on the latest episode of her YouTube talk show, ‘All About Her’, which also featured psychiatrist Dr. Anjali Chhabria, Manushi reflected on the pressure surrounding India’s competitive entrance examinations, academic burnout and mental well-being.

Recalling the events of 2015, Soha asked Manushi what it was like to prepare again after the examination was cancelled despite months of hard work.

“There are two aspects to this, one is my personal experience, and the other is understanding the reality that most students in the country face. I had parents who had gone through the same journey years ago, so I was mentally prepared for the process. But it was still incredibly difficult because I had to sacrifice everything that brought me joy. I was a Kuchipudi dancer, I loved painting, and I had to put all of that aside for a year to focus entirely on my entrance exam,” Manushi said.

She added that while it was one of the toughest phases of her life, she realized many students faced even greater hardships, with some families borrowing heavily for coaching and students moving away from home to prepare.

Speaking about the aftermath of the paper leak, Manushi said, “When you’re told that after months of preparation you have to continue for another 45 days, you wonder how much more you have left to give. But I also recognize that I had immense privilege and support.”

She credited her parents with helping her maintain balance by insisting she spend an hour every day exercising, saying it gave her an outlet beyond studies and helped protect her mental health.

During the conversation, Manushi also reflected on her journey through medical college, saying she gradually realized the intense pressure students faced did not end with clearing the entrance examination.

“It wasn’t as though I woke up one day and decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. I genuinely loved studying medicine. But by the time we entered college, most of us were completely exhausted,” she said, adding that she later recognized it as burnout.

Manushi, who was crowned Miss World 2017, studied medicine before pursuing a career in films. (IANS)