There is never a dull moment when Kriti Sanon is on screen, and now, on her entrepreneurial journey too, the actress has been on a path to creating a niche for herself. This week, beginning a new and special Celeb Talk, The Pioneer’s Tejal Sinha interacts with the National Award-winning actress, who gets candid about her skincare routine, brand Hyphen, and many more during her tête-à-tête.
Let’s just go back to 2014—when, just the way Tiger Shroff was allured by the beauty of his leading lady, Kriti Sanon, in Heropanti, didn’t we all get awestruck for a moment? Well, that was also the moment we realised she’s here to not just stay but also enrapture hearts, inspire, and make one-and-all proud. And she made it yet again this year, winning the National Award for Mimi.
So have the feelings really sunk in? Sometimes it does, and then, “There are days when I feel like maybe I don’t realise how big this moment has been in my life. I feel very blessed, and there is this huge sense of gratitude in my heart whenever I think of the moment when I received the National Award from the President and what I saw in my parents’ eyes — the feelings that we all shared at the moment. I feel extremely blessed to have seen this moment, which every actor craves in their career, and to have been able to see it within a decade of being in the industry is just very overwhelming and does make me want to work harder.”
And thus she looks ahead to doing much more as an actor and a human being. Well, it’s just the beginning, and she really desires to do a lot more for people to remember her. She definitely has made a mark! Having always believed in dreaming big and not having any boundaries or limits, “never say never, even if it is for the Oscars! Though that’s not something I have put down in my diary, maybe I should. Having said that, I think my goals are not really what motivates me. I think that is something that I just think of and dream about, and I make myself believe that I can get there. It is the excitement of playing a new character in a different film and challenging myself to continuously grow and evolve as an actor. I have been trying to do things that I have not tried before and pushing myself with challenges. The idea is to keep looking for amazing characters and scripts and pushing myself to get better.”
Now that she’s a National Award-winning, there also comes a certain responsibility, and people begin to expect more. The Mimi actress agrees to it too, and so she does wish to become a lot more mindful of the work she’d do.
Having said that, she says, “I don’t want to limit myself to a certain kind of genre and do roles only like Mimi or only do films that are only based on me. The idea is to give the audience a variety of genres and roles, but at the same time, make sure you are adding value to them. Then, if the audience is going to watch me in the film, they should feel proud, and they should feel like my being in the film adds credibility. Whatever film I do, the fate of the film is not in my hands, but at least my part as an actor shouldn’t disappoint anyone.”
Now, as we look at her journey, this talented hub has been on the entrepreneurial path too, and she is doing so well! And trust me, she’s enjoying all of it! Just like they’ve always said, when you love something, you find time for it, and so her mind has always been into everything she does. The Chief Customer Officer shares, “When I am acting or in front of the camera, I’m fully there. When I am back home after the shoot, I look at Hyphen, the products that are coming, and what we are doing. I search for ingredients, and I’m constantly having Zoom calls to learn about Hyphen’s activities by contacting my team so that I can be constantly involved in the process. I’m fully involved in every aspect of it, whether the product or the look of it, the marketing, the ingredients of every product, and the concerns.”
Being the Chief Customer Officer, she makes sure to take some time out, go online, interact with customers, see reviews of products on social media, and ask what they would like Hyphen to create. Talking of skincare, how could we not ask about her top picks? If you wondered too, then here you go: Barrier Care Cream, The VIP Lip Balms, and All I Need Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++. “The Barrier Care Cream is a staple in my routine, offering comprehensive care and protection for my skin’s health. The VIP Lip Balms, especially the lip screen with SPF 30, are a game-changer, giving my lips protection from the sun and a glossy effect. And of course, the All I Need Sunscreen is a non-negotiable step in my daily skincare routine, providing essential sun protection and nourishment for my skin. These products have become integral to my routine, ensuring that my skin gets the care it deserves. I think for me, skincare is self-care. It is something I have always been aware of. Even as a child, I always wore SPF when in school or college. I have become a lot more conscious of taking care of my skin, my hair, and everything. For me, I think when I focus on my skincare routine, I am taking care of myself, and I feel good about it. It’s almost therapeutic, and it’s the “me” time that I have to give myself no matter what happens.” Simplifying skincare and not complicating it is what our Delhi girl aims to bring with her own skincare brand. Basically, what sets Hyphen apart from other skincare brands, she says, is its unwavering commitment to quality, affordability, and accessibility. “We believe that effective skincare shouldn’t be a luxury only a few can afford; it should be available to everyone. Additionally, our parent company, PEP Technologies, has invested 30 crore INR in the growth and development of Hyphen. We are here to make quality skincare accessible to a wide audience and to make a real difference in the skincare industry.”
Again, there is Blue Butterfly Films, where the Adipurush actress has been embarking on her journey as a producer with Do Patti. And with the first ones always special, “This film holds a special place in my heart, as I’m not just acting but also producing it. It’s by far my most challenging role, and I’m genuinely thrilled about the project.”
The Ganapath actress has always been drawn to scripts that tell unique and impactful stories, regardless of the genre. It’s been all about the content and the potential to connect with the audience. Thus, being engrossed in several film projects, each offering distinctive and exciting roles, she signs off this exclusive tête-à-tête on a brighter note, saying, “I’m currently shooting for Do Patti. We are done with 65% of the film, and it’s been a great journey so far. Next year will start with the Valentine’s Day release of the Maddock film with Shahid, and then The Crew with Bebo and Tabu Ma’am. There is a lot to look forward to! And regarding Hyphen, there’s a lot in the pipeline. We’re working diligently to make Hyphen the fastest-growing 100-crore D2C brand in India.” So, stay tuned for some fantastic skincare innovations and much more on the cinema front!
