Sony’s Pyaar Ka Bandhan has kept viewer interest going and probably it’s got something to do with the show’s leading lady, the 18-year-old Lavanya Tripathi. Lavanya was spotted in Channel V’s Get Gorgeous and was later picked up by Balaji Telefilms to play Araina, one of the lead roles in Pyaar Ka Bandhan.
TellyChakkar spoke to Lavanya on her present and future plans.
Where are you from?
I am from Uttarakhand, was born and brought up there. My parents, my brother and my sister form my family. I am the youngest. My father is a practicing lawyer, my mother was a teacher but she quit her job to take care of us. I did my schooling from Dehradun and recently moved to Mumbai to complete my graduation in Economics in National College and also pursue a career in acting.
How did you get into the glamour world?
I was always interested in modeling and had started it even before shifting to Mumbai. I won the Miss Uttarakhand contest and that gave me confidence. That’s how I started thinking of making a career in showbiz. I wanted to become Miss India.
Though I was just 17 then, my family was always supportive of my aspirations. Somehow, I got a role in Shhh Koi Hai and put in my best there. The crew there praised my acting skills and it was at their insistence that I finally made the decision to shift to Mumbai. It was difficult for me because I do not have a godfather in the industry,but I am a workaholic, so I decided to give in my best effort and work hard. My family was initially skeptical about my career but now they are very happy and proud of me.
You already seem to have endorsed all the big brands…
(Smiles) Yes. I have been lucky to get all the right offers at the right time. I have endorsed Fair and Lovely, Polo Minti, Binani Cement, Hyundai i10, Emami Chyawanprash, Coke, Godrej. I don’t even remember all the names. I have even done ads in the south. But right now I want to concentrate on serials and hone my acting skills.
How did you land the lead role in Pyaar Ka Bandhan?
Unlike others, I didn’t go for any audition. I was sitting at a coffee shop waiting for a friend when Vikas Gupta (creative head of Pyaar Ka Bandhan) approached me and asked me if I would be interested in doing serials. I was not sure how to react. He asked me to come over to his office for a look test, which I did. Thankfully, I passed the test and got the role of Araina. Everything happened so fast, it was like a
dream!
Weren’t you nervous facing the camera?
No. I have been doing my Bharat Natyam and Kathak stage shows for quite some time now. Facing the camera was just another type of a stage performance. In fact, a stage performance is much more difficult because you have to get it right the first time, every time.
Would you do films as well?
Who wouldn’t? But I am not ready for films as yet. I want to polish my acting skills before entering films. I have started serials; I also want to do a few plays before thinking of movies. TV is the best way to polish your acting skills. Though, yes, film offers are coming by.I am just 20 so I have time on my side. I do not want to rush things.