From “Half-Splits” to Stardom: How Pooja Batra Paved the Way for Bollywood Tall Leading Ladies

New Delhi, May 11, 2026: In the glamorous world of Bollywood, where “perfection” is often measured by a very specific yardstick, former Miss India International and actress Pooja Batra has recently sparked a conversation that is as tall as her stature. In a candid interview with Harper’s Bazaar India, Batra opened up about the hidden struggles of being a tall woman in the 90s film industry—a time when her height was viewed more as a hurdle than a trait of beauty.

From losing major roles to performing physical “splits” just to fit in the frame with her male co-stars, Batra’s revelations shed light on the evolving standards of Hindi cinema and how she, alongside a few others, cleared the path for today’s icons like Deepika Padukone and Kriti Sanon.

The Warning from an Idol

Batra’s journey into the film industry began with a warning that would stay with her for decades. She recalled a conversation with veteran actress and model Sangeeta Bijlani, whom she deeply admired.

“It was tough. I remember I was told by Sangeeta Bijlani, ‘You don’t have a chance in the movies because you’re too tall,’” Batra shared.

At the time, the industry was dominated by a preference for petite leading ladies who wouldn’t “intimidate” the male leads. Despite being a crowned beauty queen and a talented performer, Batra found herself facing a “glass ceiling” made of height requirements. She admitted that the warning proved true in many ways, as she lost out on several high-profile roles because filmmakers were concerned she would look taller than the “hero.”

“Doing the Splits” for the Camera

Perhaps the most striking revelation from the interview was the physical lengths Batra had to go to on set. To maintain the illusion of the hero being taller, Batra was often forced to perform what she calls “half-splits” during close-up shots.

By spreading her legs wide under the camera’s view, she could lower her eye level to match her co-stars. “I had to do splits for heroes,” she explained, laughing at the memory. “I would spread my legs halfway through the scene so the hero would look taller in the frame.”

This wasn’t the only trick used. During the filming of her debut film Virasat (1997), Batra was often styled in specific color-coordinated outfits designed to visually “break” her height and make her appear shorter. Even her wardrobe was a point of negotiation; she frequently wore her own clothes to ensure she felt comfortable while adhering to the “shorter-is-better” unspoken rule of the time.

The Salman Khan Exception

While many leading men were reportedly intimidated by her 5’9″ frame, Batra was quick to credit one actor for his security and confidence: Salman Khan.

The two worked together in the 2000 romantic comedy Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye. According to Batra, Salman was the only actor who never made her feel like her height was an issue.

“Salman never had a problem. He was one guy who’d be like, ‘Wear your heels, I don’t have a problem.’ He’d be confident in his own skin,” she recalled.

His willingness to stand next to a taller actress without demanding camera tricks or “half-splits” was a rare exception in an era of deep-seated insecurities regarding male height on screen.

Paving the Way for the New Guard

Looking at the landscape of Bollywood today, the change is undeniable. Actresses like Deepika Padukone (5’9″), Kriti Sanon (5’9″), and Sushmita Sen (5’9″) are not only celebrated for their height but often find it to be a key part of their “star” presence.

Batra jokingly noted that today’s tall stars owe a bit of gratitude to the pioneers who navigated the bias decades ago. “I paved the way for tall actresses. They should say, ‘Thank you,’” she joked.

She noted several factors that have helped shift the narrative:

• Cinemascope and Technology: Modern lenses and framing techniques allow for more natural height differences without making one person look “out of place.”
• Global Influence: Batra cited Hollywood icons like Naomi Watts and Charlize Theron as examples of tall women who conquered the industry, proving that talent transcends physical measurements.
• Changing Sensibilities: Audiences today are more focused on chemistry and performance than whether a woman is two inches taller than her male counterpart.

A Legacy of Resilience

Despite the roles she lost and the “half-splits” she had to endure, Pooja Batra looks back at her career with a sense of pride and humor. Her filmography—including hits like Virasat, Jodi No. 1, and Nayak: The Real Hero—proves that she managed to carve out a space for herself in a rigid system.

Today, Batra remains a fitness icon and a frequent face at international events, including the Oscars and Cannes. Her story serves as a reminder that the “shortcomings” defined by an industry are often just unique traits waiting for the world to catch up to them. For the “tall girls” of Bollywood today, that path is now a wide-open runway, thanks in no small part to the splits Batra did yesterday.