Actor, model and television host Mini Mathur was last seen in ‘Call Me Bae’, starring Ananya Panday. The 53-year-old recently emerged as the winner of ‘The Alliance’, taking home the winner’s trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh.Beyond her work on screen, Mini has earned a reputation for speaking candidly about issues such as ageism, sexism and women’s health. Whether it is menopause or beauty standards, she has never hesitated to voice her opinions. A few months ago, she also reflected on her experience with Botox, revealing why she decided to try the cosmetic procedure nearly 15 years ago.Sharing her thoughts on cosmetic enhancements, Mini said such procedures are often driven by changing beauty standards, much like keeping up with fashion trends. She pointed out that practices like threading and waxing have become commonplace because people want to look and feel their best, and if that boosts their confidence, others should not be passing judgement.“My problem is with the judgement when you are telling me how I should look, feel, and what I should be doing with my body. That is a problem,” she noted.Mini clarified that while Botox may not be for her personally, she has no issue with people who choose to undergo the treatment. However, she believes there should be greater awareness around young people opting for cosmetic procedures due to the influence of social media.“If you do it really early, your face is gonna age with completely different vectors…. You don’t need it at 20 or 30,” she added.Recalling her own experience, Mini said, “15 years ago, I was going to do a show that was deep in the jungles, and there was a lot of shooting in daylight.” Because she frequently frowned while filming, a deep line appeared on her forehead.“So the team told me that this line really shows up like a black line, so please get it fixed. I said okay,” she recalled.She then consulted a doctor about the issue. “The doctor said, ‘I can freeze it’. I said, ‘Freeze it’. I couldn’t emote. I was like, ‘I want to. I’m feeling sad, but I don’t look sad,’ and I was acting at that point in time. This is horrible.”The experience left her deeply disappointed as she struggled to express emotions on screen. “Thankfully, it lasted only for three months,” the actor added with relief.

Mini further revealed that no one had informed her beforehand that Botox would restrict her facial movements and affect her expressions. Looking back, she said, “It was the worst decision of my life. I looked the same, happy or sad.”Despite that experience, Mini clarified that she still takes care of her appearance and chooses cosmetic treatments carefully. “Why shouldn’t I maximise the way I look?” she asked, adding that decisions about one’s face or body should remain a matter of personal choice.She also praised Gen Z for valuing authenticity over perfection, saying she admires how the younger generation finds “authenticity really cool.”