Indian television sensation and film actress, Priya Ahuja is popularly known for portraying the character of Rita Reporter in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. She married the show’s director Malav Rajda and has a young and cute son Ardaaz. Having over a decade-long experience in the industry, Pooja has not restricted herself to just acting but is a jack of all trades! She is a mom influencer, fitness enthusiast and fashion guide for about several thousand social media users. From New Year plans to life plans, here’s Priya Ahuja for you- real and candid!
- Tell us about your journey into the industry and how since then, you have been climbing the ladder to success.
It’s been almost 17 years since I’ve been in this industry as an actor. The journey has been really beautiful. I feel I’m blessed. When I came, the first year was very difficult for me as an artist.
I did not get much work, but then gradually I started up with a DD national show. So then luckily I got back-to-back work from Meri Awaz ko Mil Gayi Roshni to Kum Kum, then Zara, and then I went and met Asit (Producer) for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. And then the rest is history! As they say, it was one of the best shows on television and I was so super lucky to be part of the show.
- What does fashion mean to you and how would you describe your personal style?
Fashion means something which looks good on you and where you are comfortable. For me, comfort is extremely important. So anything that suits me and I am cozy in is fashionable for me.
- Do social media trolls and bullying affect you? How do you deal with the negativity spread through these social channels?
If I say social media trolls, they don’t bother me at all. I would be lying. But yeah, they don’t affect me much. With time I have learned how to deal with such people, and how to deal with my emotions when somebody trolls me. But yes, somewhere when people comment on my child, I as a mother get affected. So that is one part that I’m still working on because being a mother is something extremely sensitive. And when somebody just comments on your motherhood, what kind of a mother you are, and what things you are going to teach your child, then you feel bad. Because here you sacrifice your sleep, your work, and your life for your child, and somebody random who’s sitting just behind a computer screen comes and comments and judges you. Of course, now all that also doesn’t affect me much, but I completely feel that I’m a super strong person and also have an amazing partner who is there by my side all the time. So yeah, now it hardly matters.
- Being a mom, actor, fitness and fashion influencer, how do you manage time to do it all and be it all?
So I’m a human who plays all these characters, parts and all these things like being a mom, an actor, a fitness freak and a fashion influencer. All these are part and parcel of me as a human. So balancing comes because, as I said, I have an amazing partner ( Raida) who loves me, and who supports me. And whatever I do, is always there with me. He’s my biggest support system. Of course, when you have a wonderful partner by your side all the time, you can play a lot of roles in your life parallel and without any hiccups.
- Children can teach a lot to adults. Tell us about your lovely son, Ardaas and how his presence has helped you evolve as a mom.
Kids are actually not kids. We often think once we become parents we can teach a lot to our kids and be their light in a dark tunnel but actually, it’s the other way around. There is a lot to learn from kids and I still learn a lot from Ardaas. We think we can’t leave the kids that are the reason why most moms find their comfort spot around the kids and pause chasing their career dreams. However, it’s the kids who don’t leave us. They will be there to love you regardless of what you got to give back.
- You are back to work after a break, do you see any difficulties in grabbing a role or character of your choice? Do you think the industry has been fair to all opportunity seekers?
Once you get married and have a baby, you are often expected to play characters that fall under a certain age group. The industry believes that now you should play the roles of mom or married woman only. This happens in the industry and is happening to me as well. Though there is nothing like I won’t play any age group or have any particular thing in my mind that I want to play this kind of character or that kind of character. But as I always say, I want to play a character that’s worth it, which will make a difference in my life as well, And of course, in the story of that particular show.
- Who would you call your support system through all the thick and thin of life?
Malav is my support system all the time, 24/7 for almost 14 years now we are together and he’s my biggest blessing. He has always been there through all thick and thins in my life. Personal, professional, everything. Everything. When Ardaaz was born, just after the pandemic, our son was just three months old. We were all by ourselves in the house. Malav was super cool. He was taking care of Ardaaz so beautifully. He took care of me so beautifully. He’s just a wonderful man and I’m super, super blessed to have him in my life.
- What are your plans for the New Year both on a personal and professional front?
Malav and I were planning on a trip to Maldives but because of some reasons we won’t be able to make it happen so have planned to spend New Year’s eve with our friends at their bungalow. But just after that, we are planning to go and see my parents because it’s been a while since Ardaaz’s birth. In fact, we have not visited them and we only wanted to take a dash to their place and unfortunately, my mum is not keeping well so we’ll be visiting my parents.
- How do you plan and execute each of the content on social media? What goes behind each reel and how do you come up with those topics?
I always try to make my content look good and interesting to the audience who are giving me their time by watching my reels, my videos and my content on Instagram. And of course, I’ll give a big, big credit to my very dear friend Mithil Patel who helps me in creating the content from shooting to executing, to getting different outfits and helping me with different fashion heels and all. She’s a big health care and more or less she manages all my shoots and everything so that I can take care of her dance well. And there have been times when I am shooting and she takes care of my son when my husband is also shooting. So I’m quite blessed to have a couple of truly amazing people in my life.
