Operation Mayfair’s Hritiqa Chheber: Social media helps me understand the demands of the audience | Exclusive

The actor is thrilled that her debut film, in which she shares screen space with Jimmy Shergill, has been released on Netflix

Hritiqa Chheber

She’s a model, actor, and fashionista with a huge following on social media. Hritiqa Chheber, who took a chance by quitting her "boring" corporate job, found her true calling as an actor.

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Hritiqa, who calls herself a "natural actor", is excited as her debut film, Operation Mayfair, which also stars Jimmy Shergill, was recently released on Netflix.

The actor is sure that being exposed to a global audience via the OTT platform is going to give her career a boost. Excited about her future prospects, Hritiqa had a candid conversation with OTTplay soon after the OTT release of her film.

Excerpts from the conversation...

Model, actor, fashionista — which role do you enjoy and relate to the most?
I relate to being an actor because I love acting. I never thought that I would become an actor; it is something that happened gradually. I was working in the corporate sector and quit because I was bored of it. I then started getting modelling offers, which led to offers to star in music videos. I was absolutely raw and didn't know how to be in front of the camera. But I learned the art, discovered the actor in me, and started enjoying it.

Your debut film, Operation Mayfair, released on Netflix recently. How much does having a film on an OTT platform help you personally as an actor?
I get mass recognition. It’s an honour to work with such a huge company and great label and then have your film released on Netflix. Everyone watches Netflix, and there is no better global platform. It's a great experience, and I’m sure that it's going to help me in my career.

You've starred in music videos, but acting in a film is a completely different ballgame. What was the experience like?
Videos and films are completely different. In music videos, you don't have to hold your expression for a long time, and no one is scrutinising you. In films, you have to be expressive to hold your audience’s attention. In my debut film, I learned a lot by looking at senior actors. But as the days went by, I realised that acting comes naturally to me, so I didn't really have to put in too much effort. I just had to be myself. I think I was born to do this.

What else do you have lined up as far as acting opportunities go?
My entire focus now is on acting, and I am talking with different people. I will reveal the details once the time is right.

There are pictures of you playing golf on your Instagram page. Do you play it often? And do other sports interest you?
I am a member of a golf club and am learning the sport. It's a game that requires focus, and I really enjoy it. I was an athlete in school and college and played a number of sports, like volleyball, throwball, javelin, etc. I enjoy outdoor activities and sports. In fact, I am even learning tennis, but I can’t tell you what that is for yet.

What is your fitness regime like? How important is it for you?
My fitness regime is very simple. I am not a hard-core workout person. I know the importance of stretching, so I mostly do some yoga. I try to swim whenever I can and keep myself fit by playing sports like golf, which requires a lot of focus and energy. It keeps me fit and mentally sane.

You seem to be bitten by the travel bug…
Travelling is life, like acting is my life; I can't give up on it. My profession involves a lot of travel, and I enjoy it. I was born to travel. I love discovering different cultures and meeting new people.

So, what destinations are on your bucket list?
I want to go to Spain and Japan. I really want to visit Tokyo, but I don’t know when that will happen.

What's your social life like?
I am a homebody. I spend my time playing sports, swimming, reading, and doing yoga. I love staying at home and watching films. I am not a very social person, and I like my me-time.

You have over 2.4 million followers on Instagram. What does popularity on social media mean to you?
I like to communicate with my audience and let them know what I’m doing. People want to see what I am doing in my day-to-day life, and I like to give them a glimpse of that. After my film was released, I received a lot of messages from people, so I got to know what they liked and didn’t like.

They even tell me what they want to see me do, so that way I get to know the demands of the audience, which I will try to cater to. Social media also lets me in on the current trends.

Young girls see beautiful women like you on social media and tend to feel that they are lacking something in themselves. What would you like to tell such girls?
As we grow up, we discover ourselves and understand our flaws. Everyone is beautiful in whatever God has blessed them with. You don't need to be conscious of your looks. People used to tell me that my nose is a little slanted and make comments about my physical appearance. All you need to do is love yourself. I started loving myself, and that’s what makes me glow. I believe that every girl is beautiful.

Operation Mayfair also stars Jimmy Shergill, Anjali Sharma, Ankur Bhatia, and Anatara Banerjee. It is available to stream on Netflix.

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