“Hope has been the only loyal thing to me”, says actress-entrepreneur Parul Gulati as she talks about her acting journey, which started when she got spotted on Facebook by the makers of a television show. Interestingly, Parul is now playing a social media influencer in the new web series #Bluetick (Verified) streaming on the new OTT platform Epic On. We chatted with Parul about the show, her role, and her entrepreneurial journey as the owner of a hair extensions brand.

How did #Bluetick (Verified) happen?

Parul Gulati: It happened with one audition message — it's a new show about young people for a new platform. The audition scene was where my character created her social media account for the first time. Her thought behind this was to become a heroine. Since she doesn't know better, she used social media. The audition scene reminded me of how I came to Mumbai and got spotted on Facebook, allowing me to step inside this big city and live my Bollywood dream. I loved the similarities it had with my personal life. So at that moment, and then, later, a meeting with the team and reading all the episode scripts was when I knew I was ready for it.

How did you get spotted on Facebook?

Parul Gulati: Back in the day, we had Orkut. Facebook was new then. I used to love posting my photos on Orkut. But my brother looked at the account and said, “You know, it's not safe to post photos.” So, I made an account on Facebook without telling anyone at home. I was still in school. I posted one selfie as my main photo and did not post random pictures on Facebook.

I got a message from a TV show that they thought I was perfect for a particular role. I thought that it might be a scam. But then I did my research and my gut feeling said that this could be something big. So, I just took a leap of faith. I came to Mumbai, I auditioned for it, and they offered me the part. So, getting my first break was like a film’s story.

And what was that TV show?

Parul Gulati: It was called Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam and had Yami Gautam in it. I played her sister. They cast me because they thought I looked like Yami.

Back to #Bluetick, tell me something about Pallavi — your character in the show.Parul Gulati: We were shooting two timelines, before and after Pallavi became famous on social media. It was exciting and challenging to keep it true to the character and its world in both timelines, while not setting false hopes for any young girl watching the show who wants to become a social media personality.

So, I had to work on the character’s body language in both timelines. Before, she’s a lazy daisy, and afterwards, she has a nice persona. Here, I tried to draw inspiration from my life experiences. When no one's watching you, you’re different. But once people start recognising you, there’s a little shift.

How important is validation for you?

Parul Gulati: It is essential because validation feels good. For us, it happens so much in the public eye. However, too much of anything is never good, whether praise or hate.

Is your social media presence an extension of who you are in real life or is it merely a professional tool for you?

Parul Gulati: It is an extension of me. I don't plan too much about what I post. Maybe on my brand page, I do, as it can also be a professional tool to talk about your upcoming projects or promoting one’s brand. It's like our little office. But on my personal account, I just try to be careful not to set wrong expectations for anybody watching or hurt someone's emotions.

Does it ever get exhausting to put yourself out there regularly?

Parul Gulati: It used to feel like that. You are seeking to get followers, recognition, or a project. But after a point, you come to terms with it being just a part. You can't give so much attention to it, as this won’t define you. Initially, it would bother me that I was not getting likes and followers, the project I was promoting was not getting enough attention, or only my sexy photos were getting likes but not my work. But I didn’t give up, and now, I don’t care so much.

You did P.O.W. Bandi Yuddh Ke on television produced by Nikkhil Advani. But big roles have eluded you. What do you think didn’t work out?

Parul Gulati: I don't know. It has got a lot to do with luck. In my case, I get selected based on my auditions, so I only have that much to choose from. When you don't have work, sometimes you end up picking something because you love the art and the craft. So, sometimes I just pick something because I want to act. But the show’s success is never in my control. The truth is not many of my projects have been a banging success.

But as an actor, I keep on working. That’s the only thing I know. And if my work is good and my luck shines, I will get my due someday. If I keep on expecting, then it becomes sad. During the 2020 lockdown, I had six releases but none in 2019. I thought 2020 would be my year, but I ended up sitting at home despite the six releases. I really don't know what works and when.

Did that put you in a low phase? How did you come out of it?

Parul Gulati: I pushed myself to work more. There was one project I wasn't so sure of, but they said, “We have written this keeping you in mind.” I didn’t know whether somebody would say that to me again, so I did that show. But it's still not released. So, I felt dejected. But you have to keep your head above the water so that you don't drown. I'm gonna fight till my last breath because acting gives me joy.

How did your entrepreneurial journey start with Nish Hair?

Parul Gulati: I’ve always had a dream that the day I become the biggest actress, I'll start my company. A Punjabi film of mine was about to be released and I knew it might not do well — that I should not wait to become the biggest actress. I should start my business right away. I’m very impulsive, so I just got up and started this business.

Nish Hair also didn't work until 2020 or so. 2020 is when it actually saw some success because I was sitting at home. I worked on Nish Hair because there was nothing else. I could not go out or shoot. So, I just kept working on Nish Hair — making new products, making new videos — and that worked. If you put in hard work, something works out. It will work for me in acting, too, one day.

Now that your business is blooming, do you ever feel like leaving acting to focus solely on business?

Parul Gulati: Many people have asked me, why don't you just do one thing? Acting is my first love. I am still passionate about it. How do I give up on it? I didn’t come to Mumbai to sell hair. I came here to become a lead heroine.

It's just that the work is genuinely slow…. So, when I get an audition, I give it my all. But if there's no audition, all I can do is focus on my business. Once I thought that maybe I should give up on acting. But hope has been the only loyal thing to me. It came back and said to just keep working.

Maybe I’ll earn enough from my business to produce my own movie!