‘I didn’t know that acting could be a medium’
Sobhita Dhulipala, who shot to fame with the web series, Made In Heaven, started her career as a model. Belonging to an academically inclined family, being part of the beauty business and showbiz seemed like a distant dream for her. Looking back at her teenage years, the actor says, “I grew up in a smaller town and I was protected from a larger media exposure. Today, a 20-year-old is so bright but I wasn’t.”
She further adds, “After my college, I was drawn to the idea of the beauty business but I didn’t know what part of it I liked. Because I had no background or access to it, I had to do it in whatever way it was possible, which is why, I became part of beauty pageants and modelling.”
Talking about participating in a beauty contest for the first time, she shares, “When I was in college, I was very excited to be part of the pageant. But it was so new and I didn’t know how to go about it. It was a little intimidating and I felt lost. I was also in that phase of life where I was confused as to what I should do ahead.”
She reveals that for the longest time, she didn’t realise that acting was her true calling, and it could be a kosher profession. “I always had a passion for storytelling. I used to read a lot of books and write. I was a classical dancer. I just didn’t know that acting could be a medium,” the Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) actor says.
Sobhita says that she was happy to have “gained some clarity” on what she wanted to do. “I don’t regret modelling at all. During all of this, I went in for my first film audition and realised that it was my true calling. I don’t look at the film industry as gloss and glam. I love telling stories and I hope it reflects in my choices,” she signs off with a smile.