Actress Saiee M Manjrekar, daughter of filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar, has opened up about the values instilled by her parents, saying that humility remains the cornerstone of both her personal and professional life. The 23-year-old actress, who made her Bollywood debut in Dabangg 3 (2019), shared these reflections in Mumbai on 25 May.

Lessons from home

'My parents always taught me to stay humble no matter what. I think those values are what truly make you who you are,' Saiee said. She credited her upbringing with shaping her conduct on professional sets, adding: 'The lessons they gave me growing up have helped me become a more professionally sound person on sets as well. I believe respect, discipline, and humility go a long way in this industry.'

The actress noted that staying grounded has helped her build meaningful relationships and maintain a positive work atmosphere on every project she has been part of.

Stepping out of her surname's shadow

Saiee has been candid about the dual reality of carrying a well-known film surname. In remarks shared on 19 May, she acknowledged: 'While my surname may introduce me to people, I believe it's ultimately my hard work, discipline, and persistence that will define my journey.' She added that growth, for her, comes from 'constantly learning, proving myself through my work, and staying grounded through it all.'

The actress said she always wanted to forge an independent identity rather than rely on the comfort of her film background — a conscious choice that has informed the range of projects she has taken on across Hindi and Telugu cinema.

Career so far

Saiee made her screen debut as a child with a brief appearance in the Marathi film Kaksparsh in 2012. Her first leading role came opposite Salman Khan in the 2019 Hindi action-comedy Dabangg 3, where she played Khushi Chautala. She subsequently appeared in the music video Manjha alongside Aayush Sharma in 2020, and later starred opposite Guru Randhawa in Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay.

Most recently, she featured in the Telugu action drama Arjun Son Of Vyjayanthi, directed by Pradeep Chilukuri. The film, a spiritual sequel to the 1990 classic Karthavyam, stars Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Vijayashanti — with Vijayashanti reprising her original role — alongside Sohail Khan, Babloo Prithiveeraj, Srikanth, and R. Sarathkumar.

What's next: India House

Saiee's most anticipated upcoming project is India House, a period drama set in the pre-independence era. The film marks the debut production venture of actor Ram Charan and is being shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu. The project is expected to mark a significant step up in both scale and visibility for the actress.