Alaya F, who is currently shooting for a supernatural thriller, says she feels blessed to be in the limelight. “It does get overwhelming, in a positive way, but that is what you work for. I think it’s more fun than anything because every day is a new experience and I’m really enjoying it,” says Alaya, adding, “You have to realise that you’re blessed to be doing this and putting things into perspective.”

Alaya had the opportunity of working with Saif Ali Khan and Tabu in her debut film Jawaani Jaaneman, which she feels helped her learn a great deal, but sharing screen space with Kartik Aaryan for the upcoming Freddy was also fulfilling. So, how different were the experiences?

Alaya replies, “Actually not very different! Whether it is Kartik or Saif sir or Tabu ma’am, these people really know what they do and they have a very strong hold over the performances. All of them were so generous and it was wonderful to be around them as I was able to learn and grow in that environment. I feel grateful to have worked with such lovely people so early on in my career.”

Alaya doesn’t mind admitting that she is extremely competitive as an artiste. She shares, “I’m very competitive but I think it’s important to ensure that the competitiveness doesn’t become negative.”

Alaya says, “There are people who are doing such wonderful work. You look up to them and want to do better. If the competitiveness is not productive, it doesn’t serve any purpose. It will only add to everyone’s already existing stress.”

Having said that, she ensures that she makes it a point to keep in touch with the work of her contemporaries like Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor and Ananya Panday because she feels they’re all doing incredibly well. “I have a great deal to learn from all of them,” she says.

Alaya’s mother, actress Pooja Bedi, is known for portraying Devika in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992). Ask Alaya if she would play the character if ever a remake was on the cards, and she says, “I think that would be too gimmicky. Besides, we are very different as actors. She was known for different things and I’m very new so I don’t really know what I’m known for. Instead, I would like to play the role that Ayesha Jhulka ma’am played. I think that would be interesting and fun if there was ever a remake of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.”

From flaunting stretch marks, to posting no-makeup selfies, and goofy videos, Alaya feels it is important for her to keep things real on social media. “So many people are being ‘perfect’ that someone has to be imperfect,” she says, adding, “I’m not perfect in any way and I don’t think anyone really is! It is crucial for everyone, especially young girls and boys out there, to realise that many things are filtered and tailor-made for Instagram. And while I’m all for the glamour side of it, I want people to know that looking glamourous is just a part of my job; it’s not who I am in real life! So, adding authenticity to my social media posts is imperative. It is something that just comes naturally to me.”

Many young celebrities have spoken about dealing with mental health issues. Alaya feels it is an important step in normalising mental health. “Everyone is currently going through mental health struggles. Nobody can stay strong through everything and that’s okay. The more we talk about it, the more people realise that they are not alone – and that makes it a lot more comforting!” she adds.

Alaya says the biggest lesson she learnt in 2021 was to slow down and breathe. “I was always someone who felt guilty about taking a moment to myself or not giving 1000% to every single thing that I was doing. I’ve realised that hustle causes a lot of stress. This year, I learnt to take a break when I needed to. This is something that I will definitely carry into the years ahead, because taking time out for myself and my mental health is important,” she explains.

On a parting note, Alaya says she hopes for a productive 2022. “I really wish for great opportunities and I hope that I can do justice to those opportunities,” she says, before signing off.

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Alaya feels it would be exciting to portray a character from the LGBTQIA+ community. “I actively want to do diverse roles and I don’t want to put myself in a certain bracket. Playing a queer character onscreen would be great because the more films there are on queer issues, the more it will help in ensuring visibility for the community, along with normalising the conversation around it. Cinema plays a big part in influencing how people view certain things and it can help change narratives. I would love to play a key character that’s queer,” she asserts.