Indian film actress and model Riya Sen, popular for films like ‘Style’, ‘Qayamat’, ‘Jhankaar Beats’, ‘Shaadi No. 1’ among others, began her acting career as a child actor in 1991. Sen then featured in the music video of Falguni Pathak’s song ‘Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi’ in 1998.
However, the actor soon started feeling uncomfortable in the way she was presented in films and music videos. Hence, she decided to stop working in Hindi movies, reported Hindustan Times.
In an interview, Riya said, “I realised some of the films I did, after a few hits that I had, they weren’t working for me because I wasn’t comfortable in the roles I was playing. That’s why probably people thought I was a bad actress and I don’t blame them.”
“At that point when I did a lot of Bollywood movies, it was about being sexy, the clothes that you wear, the makeup that you do. I didn’t fit into that.”
She felt terrible being tagged as a ‘bold’ and ‘sexy’ actor at an early age. “Getting those tags, it was just terrible, horrible living with that.”
“I was in school when the tag of ‘sexy’ started coming way. There was so much pressure to always look perfect, a certain way.”
“Even when I went out, people had this perception that ‘Oh Riya Sen’ because they feel what you’re on screen, you’re the same in real life,” she explained. The need to always look glamorous and at par with the industry standards of a Hindi film heroine started making her anxious.
“Everyone wants to be glamorous, no doubt, but I was so young when I came here. I was doing all these roles, wearing a mini skirt, running around and acting ‘cute’.”
“When I’d watch myself on screen I’d be like ‘eeks, I can’t believe that’s me.’”
And that’s when she decided to bid adieu to Bollywood movies. “I found myself very uneasy, very uncomfortable. It wasn’t me. I couldn’t go on set every day, get my hair curled for hours and sit with all that make-up.”
“It just didn’t do it for me. I took a conscious decision to stop working in Bollywood movies at that time.”
The vivacious actor then went on to work in the Bengali film industry and felt much secure and comfortable there. “In Bengali films, I played my version of glamorous, where I played wide-ranging characters.”
“I tapped into my potential in Bengali films, which I don’t think directors in Bollywood were able to understand. I played what they wanted.”
“Today, I know what I can bring to the table,” she exclaimed.
The actor who made it big in Bengali cinema with movies like ‘Noukadubi’, ‘Jaatishwar’ and ‘Hero 420’ said that OTT platforms and web series gave her the opportunity to do challenging roles.
“I’m fitting into this world better than I did in the typical Bollywood formula movies. I’m not saying I’m no more open for Bollywood movies, but I’m very happy where I am. The web series also offers you tremendous space to do all kinds of roles,” she concludes.
As a 90s kid, I have grown up watching Riya on the screen. Hope we can see more of her. All the best, Riya.