Donal Bisht made her acting debut with TV show Airlines

Were you a journalist before debuting as an actress?

Advertisement

Yes, when I was a journalist, while at the desk or while entering the office, I always told myself that I don’t belong here. I used to enjoy acting in short films made by students during my college days. And then I realised that I always wanted to be in front of the camera. Although my parents were apprehensive at first, they were convinced when I became the anchor of Chitrahaar and soon I moved to Mumbai to pursue acting.

How are you making your quarantine productive?

Since quarantine could get a person to be lethargic, I ensure that I stay fit with regular exercise. My gym instructor teaches me ways to workout through online classes. Also, interaction with the media keeps me engaged.

Tell us about your recent mental health campaign Open Up To Donal.

The lockdown has been really tough on all of us. So, I decided to help people out by getting them to open up to me, and in return, I tried solving their problems. My social media was soon flooded with all kinds of emotional queries and I tried my best to answer all of them.

What helps you evolve as an actor?

These four years I was doing back to back shows. I never got the time to watch movies that I got to do in this free time. I’ve never been to an acting school, so I am getting to learn a lot from these movies. I’ve watched over 40 award-winning films during the lockdown and it has deepened my understanding about acting.

Are there are any hobbies that you are exploring since the lockdown began?

I started cooking and even invented my own dish- mango muesli muffin. The quarantine has turned me into a very good cook. Now I can make a lot of other dishes like aaloo puri, paneer ki sabzi and paranthas. And when I recently travelled to Delhi, I baked a cake for my family and it turned out very well.