THE GIRL BEHIND THE ACTOR

In this unfiltered chat, actor ALAYA F. talks to Sukriti Shahi on staying positive, taking struggles in her stride, and her wish to make it big

- Sukriti Shahi

Entering Bollywood with an unconventional debut in Jawaani Jaaneman, the talented Alaya F. has had to work through her own share of struggles and setbacks, but that hasn’t kept her down. Always wearing a contagious smile and brimming with infectious energy, Alaya is refreshingly candid about her life and learnings so far. A star at the age of 22, Alaya is no different from most of her generation. Like any other youngster, she is hustling to live her dream and to make it big. What sets her apart from her counterparts is her fearless attitude, and her determination to speak her mind. Be it about her love for films, her passion for art, or finding the positive side of social media, Alaya lets us into her world.

Your first break in Bollywood…

When I got Jawaani Jaaneman, I was told that it is an unconventional role. I remember thinking to myself that, today, roles are so diverse that there’s a lot for a female actor to do. I loved the script and the people involved in the project. Luckily, they liked my audition too, and chose me to play the character. I must mention here that I auditioned for multiple projects, and didn’t get all of them. I trained in New York first for two years, then I came back to India and trained here for another year-and-a-half. It’s only after that that I started auditioning for various roles. It was a long process before I got the role. I feel Jawaani Jaaneman and I chose each other in a lot of ways, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I can’t imagine anything being more apt for me as my first film.

About the pressure of belonging to a family of legendary actors...