Priya Prakash Varrier, who recently earned the title of the Most Searched Personality of the year in the country
Anjana George (BOMBAY TIMES; December 15, 2018)

As she says ‘hello’ on phone from her home at Thrissur, Priya Prakash Varrier sounds jetlagged. She was in London till a few days ago for the teaser shoot of her upcoming Bollywood movie. The young actress can’t divulge much about the project, but as we quiz her about emerging the Most Searched Personality of the year in the country recently, she instantly perks up.

“I am happy, but I know I still have to do a lot more to be a successful actress,” says the artiste, who topped the list beating the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan, Nick Jonas, Sapna Choudhary, Anand Ahuja, Sara Ali Khan, Anup Jalota and Boney Kapoor. It has been almost ten months since she took the internet by storm with a classy wink in the song Manikya Malaraya Poovi, from her yet-to-be-released debut film, Oru Adaar Love. Her life has never been the same again, but Priya says she is enjoying it all, ever since. “I am living my dream now. I am doing what I wanted to do since my childhood. I am busy and I’m enjoying every bit of it,” she says.

Oru Adaar Love will hit screens on February 14 next year. Meanwhile, her Bollywood debut is also under way. “It is a multilingual movie in Hindi and Tamil. We have only shot the intro teaser as of now,” she explains. The first year B. Com student at Nirmala College, Thrissur, who has over 6.2 million followers on Instagram and 6.7 lakh followers on Facebook, is currently busy with her assignments outside of movies as well. “I am also trying not to miss my classes. I go to college whenever I am in Kerala,” says Priya.

Fame and recognition, according to her, bring in many responsibilities too, she observes. “I am just taking baby steps in the industry and I know I have to work hard to earn a place here. It is great that recognition came my way through just a glimpse into my debut movie, and I term it luck. I have miles to go ahead and I definitely want to be a successful actress,” she says, signing off.