RISING Star

From the small screen to Bollywood, this ambitious girl from Indore has been turning heads ever since she stepped into the limelight.

- TASHIKA TYAGI

An ambitious small-town girl making it big in the city of dreams, Mumbai—this is probably the most cliched Bollywood film plot ever, but for a cinema buff like Ankita Lokhande, it was simply what she always wanted to do. From being one of the most popular faces in Indian television history to making her mark in Bollywood by starring alongside Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi, Ankita is inching towards her childhood dream with each step. In an exclusive interview, she talks about her growth as an actor and what drives her to be better with each project she takes. Edited excerpts...

You were born in a Maharashtrian family in Indore with no background in the entertainment industry. How did you decide to enter this stream of work? Did your family have any inhibitions about you working in this industry?

Being passionate about acting and dancing, I always wanted to get into the entertainment industry. It wasn't planned but I feel I was destined to get into this industry. When I decided to shift from Indore to Mumbai, my family supported me throughout as this was something I always wanted to do. Initially, I wanted to come to Mumbai after my 12th grade but there was no opportunity back then. Then Zee India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj happened and my family pushed me to pursue it and take that chance, no matter what the result. My family really motivated me to get into this industry and my passion was so big that everything eventually fell in place. I am proud of my journey and really thankful to my family for supporting me throughout.

From staring as Archana in Pavitra Rishta to Jhalkaribai in your debut Bollywood film, Manikarnika, we have seen you grow as an actress who has aced every role. How has the journey been for you, personally and professionally?