Actress Parull Chaudhry talks about her experience in the industry so far...

Who is your inspiration?

I draw inspiration from many actors. I am extremely fond of Irrfan Khan and admire his style of work. It’s sad that I will never be able to meet or work with him. Looking at other actors’ work helps me learn a lot.

What do you think about the content on television today?

The content on television has definitely changed. But sometimes some of it is still regressive. I mean dayans, naagins, kaala jaadoo make me feel like we are going back in time. I definitely think we should make better content on TV and it feels great to know that some people are actually experimenting.

What changes have you seen in the industry?

There are definitely a lot of changes. When I joined the industry there was no concept of timing. There was no concept of pack-up timing and we would just go on shooting for a long time. Now, it has become more professional in terms of time management.

What is your take on social media?

People can now reach out to their actors through social media platforms and get to know so much about them. There used to be nothing of this sort earlier. Actors have become accessible to their fans right now, so that’s a huge change.

You are one of the few actresses in the industry who has short hair. Do you miss your long hair days?

The short hair happened out of necessity. I’ve got very thin and fragile hair. With so much blow-drying and straightening over the years had damaged my hair and I had no choice but to cut it short. Luckily short hair suits me but I do miss my long hair.

Do you think looks of an actor matter?

Yes, it does. There are so many people looking up to you so it’s very important that you carry yourself well, you’re well groomed. But when I say looks, I don’t necessarily mean good looks. What I actually mean is taking care of yourself, looking clean and presentable.

You are also an anchor. What do you enjoy doing more—anchoring or acting?

I have been an actor for a very long time and obviously I enjoy it a lot. I enjoy being in front of the camera but anchoring is new and I am enjoying my new journey.

If not an actor, what profession would you have chosen?

I am a wildlife enthusiast so probably I would have been a wildlife documentary maker or a wildlife photographer or maybe working with NatGeo or something. I would also have connected myself with the world of fashion. I have a strong inclination towards fashion.

How is it living in the new normal?

I am still adjusting to the new normal. I really miss my earlier life, going out for a cup of coffee, lunch or dinner with friends or just stepping out with my mom for shopping. Sometimes you would just take a walk and pick up a few things and come back. I definitely miss all of that.