Alaya F shares her fitness secrets, her cheat meals, and the workouts she swears by
As told to Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 20, 2020)

My fitness mantra has been to do what is right for your body. There are days when I may have a certain workout planned but I may not feel like it, so I may do whatever I want to do that day. Some days I may not want to do a hardcore workout, for instance, but manage to burn the calories by dancing. So you need to listen to your body and your mind.

Eats and cheats
Whatever you eat you need to eat in the right quantity. I generally can’t skip my coffee and oatmeal every morning along with a seasonal fruit. It gives me a lot of energy to power through my workout. I am not a picky eater so I’ll eat anything that’s on my plate. But I am a big believer in eating whatever you want but in the right quantity. I never deprive myself of something I really want to have. It’s very important to have a cheat meal to ensure your body’s metabolism doesn’t die and I need to keep my body’s metabolism going at all times. It’s like a reward and especially important during the Coronavirus lockdown as it also helps with your mental health. For me, it’s sometimes just reaching for a jar of Nutella or homemade pastas and pizzas without any guilt.

I take my vitamins all the time and also a spoon of apple cider vinegar with water in the morning which ensures I get all the nutrients and fats that I need on a daily basis. If you’re completely avoiding fat or carbs means that you’re not following a balanced diet.

Considering the line of work that I am in, I have to consciously make sure that I look skinny. This is because actors tend to look bigger than they are on screen so I have to be thinner than I should be. But honestly, as long as I have my abs, I am assured, it’s like a sense of security and a mark of fitness. If I start losing my abs, I feel I need to start working out.

Fitness goals
Disha Patani surely gives me fitness goals. Also, everytime I look at Malaika Arora, I feel like ‘I want that body’. Disha apparently totally eats just about everything on her cheat days. They both seem very disciplined with their workouts and have such gorgeous luscious hair and flawless skin and that says a lot since it reflects how healthy they are.

Here are a few workouts Alaya F can’t do without

Handstands
I’m not a professional but I find the fun element in my workout and that really motivates me. Handstands are a pretty fun inversion to try, but they take practice. It’s best to start by learning how to do it with the support of a wall to eliminate the fear of falling.

Instructions: The first step is to start with your hands on the ground and walk your body up and down into the handstand position by moving your hands closer into the wall. And, see how high you can bring your feet up the wall. The next step is to face the wall and kick yourself into the handstand position. The key to this exercise is posture, and yet it takes sometimes practice of months to achieve the stance.


Planks
Planks are a great way to work your whole body, and is a very effective exercise to do as it is a full body workout.

Instructions: You can get into a plank position simply by planting your hand directly under your shoulder, almost in a push up position and grounding your toes to the floor and squeezing your glutes. You can neutralize your neck and head by looking directly at a spot, on the floor or in front. One thing to keep in mind about planks is to maintain the correct posture and not compromise on your breathing. You can start with 30 seconds of doing planks and increase duration as you get comfortable with it.

Splits
They are easy to do provided you do follow the steps properly. Another thing to understand is that your glutes and knees play an important role in properly executing a split.

Instructions: First, you have to do some basic exercises to warm up the legs and allow fluid movement. The next step is to put one leg forward and the other leg back and slowly start pushing the front leg forward and the back leg behind. Do this until you reach your maximum stretch and then hold it for 20 seconds to begin with. Then slowly start going further down until you touch the floor and then try to hold them for a longer time. Also, when you’re doing this, take care to not bend your knees and also don’t be in a hurry, concentrate on your breathing and focus on doing it correctly instead of doing it fast.

Well aware that the first year of her industry debut is a defining one, Alaya F apprehensive about the effects of lockdown on her career
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 20, 2020)

Following an acting debut in Jawaani Jaaneman, the film alongside Saif Ali Khan, Alaya F could have seamlessly found herself choosing between the most promising projects, for her subsequent ventures. Well aware that the first year of venturing into Bollywood is a decisive one, the actor is looking forward to shooting post the Coronavirus lockdown.

"My film released, and then we went into lockdown. I had just entered the industry, and had charted a long [journey] to get to this point. I was in conversation with a few people for some projects, but now I don't know where the films stand. We are in a state of limbo," she laments, but goes on to add that she is in the midst of preparing for a project that she cannot reveals details about.

With her contemporaries venturing into digital space, Alaya says she isn't unnerved with the idea of doing a web show, early on in her career. "I have received a lot of offers, and I am interested in dabbling in the OTT space. If a project resonates with me, I will do it."

In the interim, she is keeping herself busy learning the ropes of filmmaking. The art of editing has particularly caught her attention. "I am trying to relearn skills that I learnt in film school, like editing the final cut, apart from taking to new software like Photoshop."

The youngster also makes it a point to dedicate time to maintaining her fitness levels, with the array of yoga classes available online, catching her attention. "I am learning yoga, but, then again, I am neither a beginner, nor an expert. Given that I have done gymnastics and pilates, I am flexible, and have a strong core, so, I am trying to find a class that is suited for me."

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2020)

She is sassy, confident and strikes you as someone who has come prepped and ready to find her spot among the stars. In a chat with BT, Pooja Bedi’s daughter, Alaya F, talks about how she owes her confidence to her ‘outspoken family’, the initial rejections she faced and how the Coronavirus lockdown broke the momentum, post a successful landing in Bollywood with Jawaani Jaaneman. Read on...

This lockdown has given a lot of actors a chance to slow down and unwind. In your case, your first film had just released and you were raring to go when everything came to a standstill…
Yes, the lockdown really cut my momentum. I was all ready and thinking… great stuff is going to start. And then, everything stopped suddenly. I was sad, but also glad that my film released, people could watch it in theatres and it was appreciated. I have waited for so long and was dying to put it out there for people to see. Whatever I had invested in so far — emotionally, mentally, physically — it all felt so worth it.

In your debut film, you came across as someone who is extremely confident and self-assured. Even during interactions with the media, that is one thing that stood out. Where does that confidence come from? Is it from the years of prep that you went through (film schools in New York, acting classes in Mumbai) before your debut?
A lot of it came from the prep and a lot of it also came from the fact that I have grown up in a family that is very outspoken. In that sense, I have grown up in front of the camera. The prep gives you a sense of security because you know what you are doing. I had prepped for my first day of shoot so thoroughly that I would make people do lines with me while editing a photo, or having a conversation. And after the first day, I remember Saif (Ali Khan) sir telling me, ‘You are very, very prepared. Keep that going.’

Post your training in New York, when you came back to Mumbai to pursue a career in the movies, you didn’t land a role really quick, right?
When I came back, it wasn’t like there were multiple offers waiting for me or even one for that matter. I don’t think I expected that. You hear stories about your contemporaries getting movies quickly and at some point, I was like…wait, is there something wrong with me? Why am I not getting offers? I would do a series of auditions and then people would say, ‘Oh, you are very good, but you know… whatever’. Every time I faced rejection, I would tell myself… ‘Now, I will prove it to you. I will get a film and you will regret not taking me.’ It got me motivated and energised. Now when I look back, I am glad that I did not get some of those movies, because I don’t think I would have been as ready. I got the perfect film for myself and I can’t imagine having started with any other film.

You come from a family of very strong women — your grandmom, late Protima Bedi, was a brave and outspoken woman, your mom Pooja Bedi, too, has always been vocal about her views. Do you see flashes of their personalities in you?
People tell me that they do, but I definitely think that we have calmed down over the generations. My grandmother was an extremely bold and outspoken woman, who was ahead of her time. Even with respect to today’s times, she would have been way ahead. My mother is also very bold, but tamer than my grandmother. And then there is me, who is the tamest of the lot. I definitely see flashes of them in me and I guess over time, we will find out more about the ways I have taken after them.

Year’s promising debutante, Alaya F, on sleepless nights that preceded her unconventional launch
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 13, 2020)

Her debut film, Jawaani Jaaneman, opened on January 31. Flashbacking to that all-important Friday, Alaya F recalls that she read every single review of the film and was baffled. “Not one criticism for my performance; it was too good to be true! So then, the hunt began for one bad review, even among the YouTube trolls,” the debutante laughs, admitting that she called her manager and told her she wanted to be overworked. "I didn’t even need to sleep; it was more important to capitalise on this beginning.”

Buzz is, Alaya has locked a three-film deal with her first film producer, Jay Shewakramani, and one with Vashu Bhagnani, but she isn’t telling much, except clarifying that there’s no Student Of The Year 3 happening. “I’m open to Bollywood, Hollywood, South and OTT. I wanted to be a filmmaker initially and ran away from acting. Now, I want to act for as long as I can, surprise everyone with my choices,” she says fervently.

The Coronavirus lockdown has put the brakes on her 100-metre dash, but Alaya is taking it in her stride as after Jawaani Jaaneman, she got just a two-three-day getaway before it was back to classes and shoots. “There was a lot of guilt associated with being unproductive. Now, there’s no choice, so I’m working on my art, cleaning out cupboards, learning to play the piano and cook,” she shares.

We return to her first screen turn. What’s the most memorable compliment she got? The query makes her chuckle. “That I looked cute with a pregnant belly. It was a very real-looking, heavy prosthetic belly which gave me a backache. I was excited about getting pregnant till I realised the abs I’d taken months to acquire would be covered up,”Alaya says. Her unconventional choice of subject surprised many, including her producer. “I liked the script,” she says. Were there second thoughts? “None related to the project. My biggest fear was that I might not be as good as I thought I was or wanted to be, that I’d let down myself and others. There were many sleepless nights,” she admits, revealing that every time someone went to Jay’s office to watch portions of the film, she’d tag along. “By the time I finally saw it on the big screen with family, friends and the team, two days before it opened, I was so numb that when someone told me I was good, I was convinced they were lying,” she reminisces.

That first screening was memorable because not only her mom Pooja Bedi, with her fiancé Maneck Contractor, was there, but her dad, Farhan Furniturewala, and stepmom, Laila Khan, had turned up with their four-year son Zaan. Also present was her grandfather, Kabir Bedi, with his better half Parveen Dusanj. It was a classic case of you, me and ours. “From a very young age, I’ve learnt that as long as people are happy, you should be happy for them. Mine is a big, open, loving family; I respect everyone’s choices and enjoy a great equation with them. We complicate love and relationships too much, we don’t need to. That’s what my first film was about, too,” she points out.

There’s a strong mind there, that sets Alaya apart from other 20-somethings. After training in New York, she didn’t return to plunge into Bollywood straightaway, but did another two years of training on home ground. “It was important to understand what I was getting into. I spoke to a lot of people, asked questions, maybe one too many. When I found myself getting too comfortable with one acting sir’s way of teaching, I took classes with others even if their ways didn’t align with mine. Every director and project is different and you can’t get into a comfortable space,” she reasons, grateful to Saif (Ali Khan), who played her father, for helping her lose the first-day jitters. “He’s not afraid to praise and didn’t treat me as a newcomer. The Jawaani team became my family and it was the perfect first film. Now, I’m ready to go wherever life takes me,” she avers with the spirit and spunk that has made her an Instagram star. Won’t Bollywood dilute the frank-speak, make her boringly diplomatic? “I have always spoken my mind, always will, but it’s important to be responsible in what you say,” she signs off.

Radhika Bhirani (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 28, 2020)

Actor Alaya F, a self-confessed “workaholic”, is “dying to get back to a routine”, and to her various classes. But she feels only positivity will emerge after the Coronavirus phase ends.

The Jawaani Jaaneman actor tells us, “People are going to come out a lot more motivated. They’re dying to get back to their jobs and do what they love to do. They’ll come back more energised and connected to themselves and to people around them.”

On her increased social media activity, replete with fun videos and intricate artwork, she says, “I’m not one of those people who’re over enthusiastic about it, but it’s an important part of what I do. I’m embracing it more than I would normally do. I also enjoy looking at other people putting out posts as I think the intent is to spread happiness.”

Alaya, daughter of actor Pooja Bedi, even has a message for all. “For youngsters today, especially in fast-paced cities like Mumbai, there’s so much pressure. Such little time to do so much and such little time to spend with yourself. You lose touch with who you are. Now when we’re forced to spend time with ourselves... people are going to come out refreshed and more grateful,” she says.

Debutante Alaya F on her first love and how doodling keeps her calm
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 30, 2020)

After Salman Khan, Bhagyashree and Sonakshi Sinha, Bollywood has found another artist. Alaya F, who makes her acting debut alongside Saif Ali Khan in Jawaani Jaaneman, has been sketching since she was in school and even enrolled for an art class. “I would doodle during really long lectures. The teachers encouraged me as it helped me focus and I answered their questions,” she recalls with a laugh.

The actress won the prestigious Balak Ratna National Art Award when in the ninth grade. “My art teacher asked me to make a nice drawing of ‘Mother Nature’. A few days later, she surprised me with the news that I had won an award. The school felicitated me. I have won many awards internationally in writing too,” smiles Alaya, admitting that she had considered making a career in art before she discovered her love for cinema.

The debutante started off with water colours and acrylics, but now exclusively uses pen, pencil and markers for detailed drawings. She admits they require a lot of patience but are her biggest stressbusters. “Each piece takes hours, even days of work. They are not too large but super intricate. I love drawing, it calms me down. I love reading too, but I don’t get much time for that now, so, it’s just doodling,” Alaya reveals, adding that through the making of Jawaani Jaaneman, she would sit down with paper and pen whenever she felt anxious about the next day’s shoot.

Her mother, Pooja Bedi, gave her one of the rooms in the house as a studio. But now, most of her drawings are in a book. Is there any art form she wishes to master? “I think doodling. People say about my work that it’s not mere doodling as they see a lot of detailing in it,” she says proudly.

Has she discussed her love for art with Salman Khan, whom she recently met during the Bigg Boss shoot? “Briefly. I didn’t show him anything, but I am sure I will, soon,” Alaya smiles, talking about an earlier meeting with the actor during which she got to see one of his paintings up close. “It’s incredible!” she exclaims.

Like him, does she gift her paintings to family, friends or colleagues? “I gifted one to my mother, and one to Nana (Kabir Bedi). I don’t mind giving them away, unless I am super attached to them. But now that they are all in a book, I’ve got selfish. I want to complete the book. Also, I am afraid that people will lose it,” she says.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2020)

In her debut film, Jawaani Jaaneman, Alaya F will be seen sharing screen space with senior actors like Saif Ali Khan and Tabu. The confident young actress is excited to step into the industry and see her dream come true. In a candid chat with BT, she talks about the nepotism debate, stepping into the silver screen, the relationship she shares with her mother, Pooja Bedi, and more. Excerpts:

From dreaming about joining movies to landing a role in a film with Saif Ali Khan, and now gearing up for its release — has it sunk in that you are all set to make your big Bollywood debut?
It is all so magical! It’s surreal to see yourself on big screen. When I saw the film for the first time, I told myself that I would need some time to process this. I enjoyed watching myself on big screen so much that I have already seen the film thrice!

Did you always dream of becoming an actress? How did you prepare yourself to achieve your goal?
I have been prepping for the last four years. For two years, I studied direction and acting in New York. When I returned to Mumbai, I took training in acting, diction, gymnastics, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and dancing, which included forms like contemporary, Bollywood, Kathak, etc.

What’s the feeling of working with a senior and experienced actor like Saif Ali Khan in your first film?
Saif is very smart and witty. You can talk to him about anything and everything. He has been very supportive and is a very giving actor.

At the time of my solo shots, he would be there on the set to give me cues to better my performance. The first time I faced the camera for this film, it was for a scene with him. It was a dialogue-heavy, seven-page long scene, which was a six-minute shot. Nitin sir (Kakkar, director) asked me to do it in a single, continuous shot. It was a crucial scene where I reveal that I am Saif ’s daughter. I was nervous, but it went off smoothly without rehearsing the scene with Saif. The two of us shared a great comfort level.

You hail from a film family. Did you seek support and advice from your mother Pooja Bedi and grandfather Kabir Bedi?
I made a conscious decision to not involve my family members too much in my film journey. Family members tend to get emotional. So, I felt it is better not to mix the two. I told my mother right at the beginning that I would only reach out to her for advice. I am happy that she understood and supported me. Likewise, I go and seek my nana’s (Kabir Bedi) opinion, too. I like making my own decisions. I remember showing my nana my acting videos from my classes, and he would give his perspective on them. I grew extremely close to my nana during my process of becoming an actress.

Was your mom impressed with your training and prep? The way the industry functioned when she entered showbiz was quite different…
She was impressed. She has seen me slog for 14 hours straight, hopping from one class to another. She once told me about how she got her first film. She said that she was 10 minutes late for a meeting, and so she called the director to inform him about the delay and apologise for it. He was really surprised. He was so impressed with her sense of discipline that he cast her in the film without a second thought. That was the time when actors used to come on sets many hours late. Bollywood has changed so much since then. There are so many female-centric films today, and everything is contentdriven. It’s a competitive world out there, and everyone is well prepared. If you are not up to the mark then someone else, who is more prepared, will take your place. Everyone is so dispensable now. I firmly believe ki agar kaam karoge toh kaam milega. I love competition; it keeps everyone on their toes and motivated. You see your contemporaries and learn from their achievements and mistakes, too. It’s interesting to see the paths each one (contemporaries) takes. Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra (Jonas) have inspired me a lot. They are so talented and do such diverse work.

Though you are yet to make your debut, you are already popular on social media. Did you think of that as a stepping-stone to a career in Bollywood?
No, at that point of time, I wanted to be a director and not an actor. So, it had nothing to do with that. In fact, I went to New York to study direction, but later I changed my mind and enrolled in acting classes. When I came back to India and started training here, I was almost disconnected from social media. I lost interest in it. Now that I am an actress, I am making an effort to get back and be more active on social media. However, it is difficult to get back into it once you’ve cut it out of your life. I know it is important, but I don’t take it too seriously.

Recently, while talking about nepotism, you said, ‘Even in our struggle, we are privileged’. It looks like you are ready to take the debate head-on and address it.
Of course! I expected these questions to come my way. However, I feel it’s great that a subject like this is being talked about. It is a reality, and there is no need to run away from it. Addressing it sensitively and acknowledging it is the most important part. For me, no matter what people say, I am still going to act. I am going to do what I love. Hopefully, one day I will be good enough and no one will consider me a product of nepotism. Look at actors like Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor... people don’t look at them as privileged star kids, because they are so good at what they do. Today, we see a lot of talent on the rise in Bollywood. We have star kids coming in, plus, there are talented actors from outside the industry, who are getting great opportunities, too. With more talent around, there are better opportunities and more films are being made.

Earlier in the interview, you said that you share a great bond with your mother. Your parents got divorced when you were really young. How has your relationship with your parents evolved over the years?
My mother allowed me to be my own person. She encouraged me to have an opinion and voice it loud and clear. My mother and I are rarely on the same page, and that makes for good conversations and debates. We look at things differently. I share a great equation with my father (Farhan Furniturewala), too. Both my parents have been there for me constantly and consistently. My dad is extremely excited ever since I told him that I wanted to get into movies. He used to send me newspaper clippings about films under pre-production and ask me to audition for them. Ever since I came back from New York, I spent a lot more time with him. He knows nothing about movies (laughs!). My mother lives in Goa now, while my brother Omar is in Los Angeles, where he is studying business management. Since I live alone in Mumbai, I tend to see my father a lot more. I share a great equation with my stepmother (Laila) and stepbrother Zaan. I hate calling him my stepbrother; he is my brother. He is just four years old and is very cute. I also share a good equation with my mom’s partner (Maneck Contractor). He, too, is excited about my film debut. A few days ago, we went to a multiplex to watch a movie, and when we saw a poster of Jawaani Jaaneman, we all started clicking pictures with it.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 23, 2020)

She is the new star kid on the block, proud of having made it on her own. Alaya F, who debuts with the Saif Ali Khan-Tabu starrer, Jawaani Jaaneman, talks about working with her talented co-stars, and how she got used to having the camera in her face and learned to deal and behave in tough scenarios. Excerpts:

Your debut film is about coming of age. When was your coming-of-age moment?
My growing up moment was when I decided to become an actor and did it by myself and in my own capacity. Dealing with the realities and responsibilities of life has been something. Today, I am financially independent and with my mother, Pooja Bedi, living in Goa and brother away studying, I’m pretty much alone in the city, managing my life and house.

What were your impressions of Saif before and after working with him?
I knew of him as a talented actor, smart and witty. After working with him, I realised he was all those things and more. Now, I’ve also realised that he is so approachable and giving as an actor. He wants what is best for the film. His dedication reflects in everything he does.

Tabu is the other senior co-star you have in the film…
She is a phenomenal actor. When I met both Tabu ma’am and Saif, I was intimidated but they made me comfy and were always ready to help. While shooting with her, I would observe her act and be blown away by the nuances she added to each scene.

What is the biggest draw and downside of being Pooja Bedi’s daughter?
The biggest plus of being her daughter is that I know how to be in front of a camera. I was always used to having the camera in my face and one learns how to be composed and behave in certain situations. I think I found who I was while being in the public eye. As for drawbacks, there are certain expectations. I have tried hard to build my own life, career and image because my mother is very, very, hot. The roles she played were very hot and that was what she was best at and enjoyed doing. As for me, the cinema I want to be a part of is different. I am excited to work and prove myself.

What kind of movies interest you?
I’ve enjoyed Hindi cinema and even Southern cinema, which has some great films. But the new Bollywood today is content-driven and has wonderful roles for women, which excite me. Of course, the old Bollywood has its own charm, but the current phase has lots of interesting content.

Alaya F, Pooja Bedi’s daughter, on the nepotism debate, her independent relationship with her divorced parents and keeping track of contemporaries
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 16, 2020)

Straightaway Alaya F informs you that she did not want to become an actress because everyone told her she should follow in mother Pooja Bedi’s footsteps. “I was good in academics and had bagged several extra-curricular awards, so I could have done a lot of other things with my life. But since I loved films, I decided to be a director and enrolled for a four-year course in filmmaking at the New York University,” she informs.

After a year, during a group activity, when she was being directed by a fellow student, she realised that she enjoyed acting. So, when she returned to India for a summer break, she told her mother over lunch that she wanted to face a camera now rather than stepping behind it. “She told me I was being indecisive. No one took me seriously then, so, I took control and completed all the documentation needed to get into the New York Film Academy. I got admission, made my five-year plan and went to my parents, wanting their approval. That was the best decision I ever made,” Alaya smiles with satisfaction.

The course taught her basic things like how to break down a script and gave her an understanding of characters. “On returning to Mumbai, I was clear that I would train for another two years and did many acting and dance classes, learnt everything from Bollywood to contemporary hip hop and Kathak. To get rid of my Yankee accent, I took Hindi diction classes and signed up for voice modulation,” she rattles off.

And all the effort led to her bagging Saif Ali Khan’s home production, Jawaani Jaaneman, in which she plays his daughter. Alaya is quick to point out that no one came to her with an offer saying, “Hey, we like you, so let’s find a nice script, a good director and a co-star and make it happen.” There were several meetings and auditions. “I got rejected several times, then, was lucky enough to bag this film. I am glad that I got rejected and grateful my debut is happening with Saif sir and Tabu ma’am. It didn’t feel real until I started shooting the film,” she admits.

You wonder about her mother’s reaction and while she agrees that Pooja was very excited, more so because she doesn’t tell her anything about what’s happening in her life—“She didn’t even get to see the trailer in advance”—she is quick to add that she only goes to her for advice when she wants it. “If she comes to me with unsolicited advice, I tell her, ‘Mumma, I didn’t ask for it.’ I believe in sab ki suno, apni karo. Having said that, she’s always there when needed,” she concedes.

Quiz her on her dad, Farhan Furniturewala, and she points out that though her parents are divorced, they are very involved in her life and are her silently supportive buddies. “Since my mother lives in Goa now, I tend to see my dad more often. He has another child with my stepmother whom I dearly love, and lot of stuff revolves around going out with him,” she smiles.

Bring up the nepotism issue and she admits it’s real and there’s no running away from it. “We need to realise that even in our struggle, we are privileged. If we got rejected in 10 auditions, someone else has got the thumbs down 100 times. Their struggle is greater than ours. But just because I’m privileged, doesn’t mean that I’m not going to do what I love and work hard at it,” she asserts.

And what was it like working with Saif? The smile is back, “It was fun, he’s a great guy to be around as he is intelligent, funny and witty and the set was, in general, a happy place.” Alaya goes on to say that when they were shooting in London, even Kareena Kapoor dropped by, but to her disappointment, they didn’t meet because Saif’s actress-wife arrived minutes after she had wrapped up. “But I played with Taimur many times, he used to keep running around, doing his thing.”

Given that she plays Saif’s daughter on screen, did she take any cues from his reallife daughter, Sara, you wonder, and Alaya retorts, “This character isn’t Sara, its Tia. With Nitin sir (Kakkar, director) I tried to put my real self into the role.”

Sounding very grown up for her years, she views competition as healthy and a great motivator. “Sara, Ananya (Panday), Tara (Sutaria), Janhvi (Kapoor), among others, are all extremely talented in different ways and together we’ve so much to offer. I respect everyone and have watched all their interviews several times to learn from their mistakes and take a note of their good points. I’ve also learnt to see them in the limelight,” she asserts.

Any wish-list of actors she wants to work with? She goes off like a shot, “Kartik (Aaryan), Varun (Dhawan) and Ayushmann (Khurrana), they are doing work which is successful at the box-office and I enjoy watching them on screen. It would be fun to perform with them,” she admits, but is quick to add that she has no role models and doesn’t believe in following something that’s already been done. “I admire a lot of actresses, from Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt to Deepika Padukone, but I want to make my own path and hope somebody else follows it one day,” she signs off with a naughty twinkle in her eye.