A face that you can not easily forget. A face that has mastered the art of bringing all emotions to life. A face of beauty, grace and hope is Apeksha Porwal. This former Miss India winner’s journey into the entertainment business was passion-driven and the actress’s perspective on the same is thought-provoking and cathartic! In our exclusive interview with the star, who will be next seen starring in the international English-Arabic show ‘Slave Market’, she shares about her challenges, dreams and routines of life! Get to know Apeksha Porwal closer!
1. From being an Economic Honours graduate to being an actress now, how has your journey of life shaped you into becoming who you are today?
While Miss India was always a dream, acting was a discovery. From being a studious Econ-Hons graduate to co-founding a social startup to winning Miss India to being an actor today, I can safely say life has surprised me in the most pleasant ways. It’s been a wild ride and I can only hope for it to get crazier. I think every single experience, whether good or bad, has led me in becoming who I am today, and while I work to be better every day, I wouldn’t change the journey so far for anything.
2. What/who was your driving force of motivation in becoming an actress? What would you say ignited that spark in you?
I was always curious about acting. I remember wanting to try out for my college drama society, learning the whole scene, and staying back to audition but not having the guts at the last minute. After winning Miss India, I wanted to be sure that acting was something I wanted to pursue, for the love of the craft and the sheer joy of the profession and not for all the other pluses it’s known to bring. So I enrolled myself in a couple of workshops and then went on to do a 9-month diploma programme in method acting at the Jeff Goldberg Studio. It was here that I fell in love with it and knew that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
3. How has your theatre experience been helpful in on-screen performances? Also how different is it to be in a play and in a movie from your perspective?
The thrill and nerves of performing in front of a live theatre audience are something else. While I always wanted to perform on-screen, theatre helped me in a big way to shed my inhibitions because there are no retakes in a play – once you’re on stage you either sink or swim. And that feeling, day after day, show after show, I believe, helped hone my craft a lot more.
4. What are your favourite hobbies/leisure activities? How do you indulge in them for cathartic peace?
I think working out for me is truly like meditation, so I genuinely enjoy going to the gym. I love reading and starting my day with a book on my off days. I also love playing my keyboard in my me-time. And I’ve always wanted to learn horse riding and started learning this year. It’s a feeling I cannot express just through words.
5. If you could do one thing forever, what would it be and why?
Act. I love living through my characters and as long as there remains a character to explore (and there are a million) this is what I’ll want to do.
6. As we have come to the end of the year 2022, tell us your best memories from the year? How special was it and what do you look forward to in the coming year?
This year for me has been about work, from the release of Undekhi Season 2 to shooting for my upcoming shows (details under wraps), I’m grateful for the opportunities, the lessons and the travels 2022 brought. In 2023, I look forward to my upcoming releases, a whole lot of travel and delicious characters to sink into.
7. What genre of movies do you like to watch? Tell us about your dream role that you wish to play one day.
I consume everything from drama to thriller to fantasy but I have a soft spot for period cinema, be it period romance or period war films. Beatrix Kiddo from Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a dream role. So is Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, and Piku from Piku. And they are all poles apart.
8. We all are unique faces with varied dreams trying to leave a mark in this world before we leave. In this context, what makes Apeksha Porwal unique and how does she strive to make her dreams come true?
I don’t know what makes me unique as I like to stay focused on myself and better myself each day, barring comparisons to others. What I do know is that I am relentless in the pursuit of my dreams and strive hard to achieve them no matter what, with blinkers on and an unwavering sense of faith in myself.
9. Life can be a rollercoaster ride with multiple ups and downs. How do you pull yourself back whenever things don’t go your way?
By the sheer acceptance that such is life. Nothing is permanent, be it good or bad, and once one accepts that, there is a certain lightness to the being. When I fail, as I have multiple times, I learn from it, get up, dust off and move on. And I never let success go to my head. The only way to be in this industry, and as such life, is to have a steady head on your shoulders, to not let success go to your head or let failures bring you down.
10. Given a chance to swap life with anyone from the entertainment industry, who would pick and why?
I’d like to go decades past and experience the life of the magnanimous and ever-so-graceful Audrey Hepburn. To be able to experience Old Hollywood and have my very own Breakfast at Tiffany’s moment would be a dream! Even today, her films are some of my favourites and her grace through life is unmatched.
11. If you get a chance to meet your 16-year-old younger self, what word of advice would you give her?
Throughout my teens, I always thought that adults have it all sorted. They looked rather put together, knowing how to handle every situation. I now realize that basically everyone is figuring their way through life, whether you’re 25 or 60. So I’d tell my 16-year-old self to enjoy the chaos and mess of life because that’s how it’ll always be. So we might as well buckle up and thrive on the ride.
12. Tell us about the projects in your pipeline?
I have two very exciting projects in the pipeline. After my first show Undekhi, in which I play a tribal girl out to avenge her sister’s death, I wanted to continue to portray distinct characters and both the upcoming shows are characters the audience has never seen me in before. I have finished shooting for one and wrapping up the other and cannot wait to bring them to the audience.
