Three years ago, Kriti Sanon struck a deal with destiny as she signed her first film Heropanti in 2014. Though her Tollywood debut remains less spoken about, she acted in this industry too, and today, she has been in six films overall. This vibrant actor has many more films in store. Today, Kriti Sanon is a name to reckon with, especially after she essayed the role of Bitti in Bareilly Ki Barfi winning the hearts of the viewers and critics alike. And recently, Education New Zealand (ENZ) announced that Kriti will be their first Indian brand ambassador.
Takeaways
During her B.Tech degree in electronics and communication engineering, from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, Kriti began her career with modelling in ads and on the runway. As someone who has tasted success in a short duration, Kriti says, “Studying engineering teaches you to question, apply logic to everything, and encourages curiosity. I follow that even now. If I have questions, I ask them and never follow something just for the heck if it. This has become a part of me. The course was such that I had three exams in four months; that pressure to perform is what I have taken away with me from college. I know that if I have limited time, with a lot to do, I can handle it.”
Memories
Four years of college can never be devoid of excitement, and Kriti too has her set of memories. But her favourite is from being a part of the college dance troupe. “It was a group that had just begun, and I was one of their lead dancers. We had gone to Delhi College of Engineering for the first inter-college dance competition, and we won. We came back and partied in college, and this remains my most memorable moment, till date.”
Since her modelling days began in college, one wonders why those weren’t memorable moments, when she quips, “My first ad was out way back in college. And when it released, I remember it created wuite a buzz. Everyone knew I was modelling, which is of course quite different from the course we were studying.”
Mentors
College years can never go by without your mentors leaving lasting impressions on you. Besides moulding you, they bring out a side which you may have not been aware of.
Kriti says, “My favourite mentor has to be my mom. She has been there for me throughout my school and college years. She is a physics lecturer and has been interested in studies. She is also someone who believes in following your dreams. So, she never discouraged me from modelling, dancing or acting. She believes that education is important, but at the same time, one should follow one’s heart.”
A message
Kriti also believes that we evolve as we interact with people all around us. And for those who get a chance to study abroad, they should grab it with both hands. “International exposure is not just about getting quality education in certain fields, it is also about adapting to different mindsets, and broadening your horizons,” she adds.
As a role model today, Kriti says, she can understand the need to follow your heart. However, she adds, “It is important to finish your basic education no matter what you want to do. It will help you in ways you can never imagine. When we are young, we don’t know who we want to become eventually. So, just experience things; till you try something out, you won’t know if you like it or not. Be it horse-riding, sky diving, music, swimming, theatre, or dancing... try it all till you can figure out what you are passionate about.”