LIKE NOTHING SOLID A THEATRICAL FILM’

Actor Alaya F talks OTT versus bigger theatrical projects and reflects on her journey so far

After having done a mix of OTT and theatrical projects including Freddy (2022) and Jawaani Jaaneman (2020), actor Alaya F knows that each platform has its own merits. “There is nothing like a nice big theatrical film to reach proper India. OTT is wonderful, I love their content. But a solid theatrical film can really expand your reach. That’s something I am looking forward to,” she tells us.

Besides Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, the 26-year-old will star alongside actor Rajkummar Rao in Sri, a biopic on industrialist Srikanth Bolla. She shares, “My character is Swati, the protagonist’s wife and love interest in the film. It’s a happy part. Rajkummar is the kindest person and just so good at what he does.”

After four years in the industry, Alaya knows ups and downs are inevitable. Her mantra? To master the art of detachment and give her absolute best. “As long as I can be satisfied that I have done the best I could at that stage of my life, I feel like that’s as much as you can do,” she explains.

Alaya, whose last film Almost Pyaar With DJ Mohabbat (2023) didn’t do well at the box office, has learnt that one can’t let numbers decide their self-worth.

“A film coming together has so many factors relying on hundreds of people. You can’t base your self-esteem or worth on it. I just focus on enjoying the process, whatever the result is,” she goes on to say.

“This industry is so fast, you don’t really have time to sit and reflect. Luckily, nothing overly dramatic has happened in my career so far. I have never even been the victim of heavy trolling, so it has been a pretty chilled out journey,” she ends.

A film coming together has so many factors relying on hundreds of people. You can’t base your selfesteem or worth on it (box office numbers).

ALAYA F, Actor