In recent times, several actors, including Abhishek Banerjee and Aahana S Kumra, have openly criticised social media influencers for stepping into showbiz and snatching acting roles. But for Alaya F, the journey has taken the opposite path. She started as an actor and, due to circumstances, later embraced the influencer space.

Reflecting on this transition, she shares, “The world shut down right after my first film Jawaani Jaaneman released in 2020. I had to find a way to stay relevant, to remind people that I existed. During that time, social media became my lifeline.”

At 26, Alaya admits that platforms like Instagram have been a “blessing” for actors. She adds, “Now, you don’t have to rely on films for money. You can choose projects out of passion because social media handles the financial part.”

This year has been a mixed bag for the actor. While Srikanth performed well at the box office, her more commercial film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan didn’t hit the mark. When asked how she handles such ups and downs, she says, “In this industry, your position and reality are always shifting. The only constant is change, and I’ve grown a lot more comfortable with it. Initially, it made me anxious — feeling the pressure to prove myself — but now I’ve learned to stay calm. I want to make more thoughtful choices going forward.”

Alaya admits she often feels like an underdog in her career, too. “I still feel like I’m fighting to prove myself, and that’s actually great because everyone loves an underdog story. I have so much more to show and so much yet to achieve. That excitement keeps me driven and makes the journey worthwhile,” she says.