An Untold True StoryI’ve always considered myself a fairly good-looking and well-spoken guy. My early days at law firm. I had crazy amount of attention from females, males and third kind (At the traffic stops). Life was… generous, life was beautiful.

But then, things took a weird turn. My average-looking male friends stopped inviting me to their gatherings, gripped by some unfounded insecurity about my looks. The women in my profession, having apparently watched 'A Beautiful Mind', started applying Nash Equilibrium to their dating strategy. While the bold and genetically-not-so-blessed got laid, I was left alone praying to and playing with Lord Jagannath.

The existential crisis hit hard. Friends vanished. Female attention evaporated. Focus at work dwindled. I was falling out of grace with my seniors, and into the abyss of crippling self-doubt. All because of some 'good-look' that i had no role in acquiring.

That’s when I discovered 'Ganesh Bar aani Restaurant' tucked away in the by lanes of Lower Parel. Chakli with Schezwan sauce became my emotional support snack. Super Strong Magnum Premium Lager flowed like truth at a law school reunion.

Eight months later, I had developed a respectable waistline and beer belly, aggressive male pattern baldness, and a walrus moustache.

And oddly, life got better.

My guy friends stopped avoiding me. Heck! they even introduced me to their dates. The ladies came around too. They found me “hilarious” and loved my "warm energy". I still couldn’t land a weekend date, but at least I was officially a "great friend" material.

Slowly, confidence returned. Happiness crept in.

Today, I feel blessed.

Today, I feel accomplished.

Today, I am happy.

Today, I am fat and bald.

100%. This isn't limited to just law firms, pretty privilege is a thing regardless of the industry you work in. All other things being equal (skill, output, experience), the prettier girl/more handsome guy gets the job. But this doesn't have to stop someone who is not conventionally attractive from achieving success in the corporate world. As long as you're well groomed, and speak well, and provide genuine, valuable output, you're mostly moving up the ranks.

I think it's less about looks in the genetic sense but more about appearance - be fit, look presentable with fashionable, well matched and well fitting clothes, maintain good skin and hair and you definitely make a better impression upon everyone. My partner is obese and a PA is fat too (plus ugly) and yet they command attention by being well dressed and obviously confident, smart etc.

1. Looks are subjective - you can groom yourself well and be fit and 90/100 you would be at par with someone conventionally good looking.

2. Life is very very hard - if you have gained weight, or not looking your best - be easy on yourself. You are surviving and sometimes that’s enough.

3. You will see partners who may be considered overweight, not good looking etc killing it in the profession. Geniuses here may tell you otherwise but if they can you can.

I am a very fair guy with a clipped accent, who also used to be quite handsome (very fat now). I think that these external factors have helped me early in life. In South India, fair skinned girls are considered “pure” and treated like goddesses, but fair skinned guys too can have an edge. From a young age, my complexion was somehow seen as a sign of my being a “good” person. My accent also made a big difference.

But don’t just bash India. You see this colour bias even in the West, East Asia and the Middle East… Korea and Japan are horribly racist.

Definitely true. Not only in T1's, but in almost all firms, looks, being fair skinned, and coming from a lot of wealth helps you rise the ladder quickly. Those from middle class backgrounds and those who are humble and down to earth struggle a lot. Better to leave the country and settle down in Europe / New Zealand rather than slog in a law firm.