Manchu Lakshmi On Patriarchy

Speaking to scribes, she shared her thoughts about patriarchy and her patriarchal family. She said “Maybe if I weren’t a Manchu, I think I would’ve been further along in my career. That has been a double-edged sword for me with three men in my life who are such strong influences. I love them all dearly, but they’re (makes a sour face). It’s a very patriarchal family that I have. To push through and say, I want something, they’re like, why?”

She continued “If you really notice, Vishnu and Manoj were called M Vishnuvardhan Babu and M Manoj Kumar. I came and used the name Lakshmi Manchu. Suddenly, they became Manoj Manchu and Vishnu Manchu. They were actors before me coming here. Why didn’t you call them Manchus? It was not Manchu Mohan Babu. It was Mohan Babu. Period. I was the one who took my grandfather’s name, and everyone else used it,”

Even earlier Manchu Lakshmi spoke about her family. She said “I’ve only been taught to worship men. The perception of how men should be and how women should treat them. I’ve crossed that phase and now when I look back at how I was…(folds hands). I am very happy where I am.”