The class of 2020 fame Nibeditaa Paal: I’m not sure if being an actor was the right choice, but I’ve always followed my heart and haven’t looked back.

Nibeditaa Paal has always had a soft spot in her heart for Bollywood films, having grown up watching them. Pal was born and raised in New Zealand, but after finishing her studies in Australia, she chose to seek a career in show business and began her modelling career. She was crowned Miss India Australia in 2015. Soon after, the actress travelled to Mumbai to try her luck, and she was cast in the MTV Splitsvilla reality show. Before landing the web series Class of 2020, she also did some modelling work. More films and online projects are in the works for the actor. Niveditaa discusses what led her to choose her career path, her experience thus far, and her feelings for Shah Rukh Khan.

Tell us about your past and what brought you back to India.
I grew up in New Zealand. I remained there for about ten years, finishing my education. Following that, I moved to Australia to finish my studies. I have a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a public relations and marketing double major. I returned to India after finishing my education to pursue a career in acting. My parents are Mumbai natives who were born and raised in the city.

You were a model in Australia and won a beauty pageant before moving to India. What was it like to win the championship? What impact did that have on your life?

In 2015, I was crowned Miss India Australia, which inspired me to pursue acting professionally. It also made me fall in love with this particular form of performance art. Since I was not a glamorous, but overweight girl, competing in that beauty pageant was truly life-changing for me. I was mocked at school because I was not well-groomed or presentable. I never imagined myself in show business, but when I wanted to get into fitness and began working out, my father was a huge motivator for me. He was athletic, and he was always trying to get me out of my comfort zone. He was finally successful, so I decided to enter this beauty pageant in the hopes of better understanding myself. It did assist me in gaining trust.

What was your first big setback after arriving in India? What has been the road like since then?
The show, which aired in 2017, was instrumental in helping me understand the industry, as well as gaining me an audience, some exposure, and a social media presence. To be honest, I never intended to pursue a career in reality television, but when I received the offer and learned that it was an MTV project with a large youth audience, I figured why not? Our season was extremely well-received. After that, I got the display Class of 2020, which did well as well. Following that, I had the chance to work with Ekta Kapoor on Kuch Toh Hai: Naagin Ek Naye Rang Mein. It’s too bad the show didn’t last much longer.

What was your first experience seeing a movie on the big screen?
As an adult, I believe the first film I saw on the big screen was Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I remember going to the cinema when I was two or three years old, but I don’t recall what movies I saw. On our DVD player, I had also watched a lot of Hindi movies. But the first one, which took place in a theatre, was a huge deal.

Is it true that seeing Hindi films piqued your interest in acting?
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of my favourite films; it’s an iconic film and a beloved classic. There hasn’t been a movie that is more Bollywood than this one. While growing up, I watched this film many times, as well as several others. So, yeah, Hindi films are what inspired me to pursue a career as an actor. The song-dance-drama routine is one of my favourites. I used to sing those songs all the time as a child, and I even danced to them to entertain people. Later in life, I was more focused on my studies, but the beauty pageant victory drew my attention back to the entertainment industry.

Tell us about actors you admire and who influenced your decision to pursue a career in acting.
I’m going to start with Shah Rukh Khan’s name. I enjoy watching him act, especially the way he portrays romance on screen. As a child of the 1990s, I was enthralled by all of SRK’s and Salman Khan’s films. Preity Zinta, who is graceful, sweet, and bubbly, and Karisma Kapoor, who is elegant and stunning, are two other actresses I admire. Both are outstanding performers. I aspired to be like them: a good performer who also looked good on camera. I’ve always loved movies and grew up watching Bollywood. When you live away from home, you don’t have much exposure to your culture, and the films helped me learn more about it. I enjoy movies, and the best thing about Bollywood is its diversity.

How has the journey been so far?
When seen from the outside, Bollywood still appears to be a glamorous place to be. But once you’re inside, you realise how much effort, struggle, commitment, and concentration it takes to stay here… Once I arrived, I realised I had a lot of work ahead of me; I needed to polish my skills; I wanted to be an actor, but my Hindi was appalling. As a result, I began taking diction lessons. I have had to improve my acting, camera presence, body language, and overall appearance. There have been times when I’ve felt like I couldn’t go on, that I couldn’t keep giving 100 auditions per month… However, you must then get back on your feet and note your goals.

Do you believe acting was the best career choice you ever made? Is there a contingency plan in place if things don’t go as planned?
There isn’t a back-up plan in place. To be honest, I’m not sure if being an actor is the right choice, but I went with my gut and haven’t looked back. I enjoy being on set and can stay for up to 18 hours without complaining. I adore everything about it. I believe in this art form and feel a strong connection to it on a number of levels. I’m not sure if it’s a positive or bad thing, but it’s something I enjoy doing, which is why I’m here.