Mumbai: In a family full of engineers, Aastha Singh chose the stage. The Delhi-born actress, who made her feature film debut as Jyotsna in Dharma Productions' Chand Mera Dil alongside Ananya Panday and Lakshya, opened up in an exclusive conversation with Sangri Today about her unconventional career choice, her first glimpse of herself on the big screen, and an exciting Amazon Prime web series in the pipeline.

An Unconventional Path from a Conservative Family

Aastha's journey began far from the film sets of Mumbai. "I come from a conservative family where literally everyone is an engineer — my father, my uncles, my cousins. No one in my family, in my generation or the generations before, had ever done anything of this sort," she shared. "I knew I was taking an unconventional career path. I wouldn't say it was all flowery in the beginning, but my parents took their own time to understand what I wanted."

Through it all, one person stood firmly by her side — her elder sister. "She has been with me through and throughout. Her support meant a lot to me. And now my parents have also come on the same page, so I'm very happy with whatever is going on," she said with a smile.

From School Stage to the Silver Screen

A professionally trained Kathak dancer, Aastha credits her confidence to years of stage exposure from the age of six. "My parents always pushed me on stage — I used to dance, sing, and be part of school plays from a very young age. The theatre practice I did in college taught me what it takes to be on that stage — the preparation, the presence, the entertainment you have to provide. None of it was learnt in one night," she recalled.

Like many outsiders, she began with advertisement commercials and auditions. "When you're starting out, it's a tricky business. You take whatever comes on your plate. But I always knew I would eventually work in films," she said. That belief paid off when an audition through Panchani Ghagri Casting led to two rounds of auditions — and the role of Jyotsna in Chand Mera Dil.

Playing Jyotsna — and Bonding with Ananya Panday and Lakshya

In the film, Aastha plays Jyotsna, the caring and protective best friend of Chandini, played by Ananya Panday. "We all have that one best friend in life, so I related very hard. Jyotsna only wants the best for Chandini, supporting her through all the clashes in her life. While playing the character, I could genuinely feel that warmth," she explained.

Her off-screen equation with Ananya mirrored the on-screen friendship. "On my very first day on set, Ananya and I just sat together and started talking — about our lives, our journeys, our interests, the way friends talk. We were playing best friends on camera and sharing that same chemistry off camera. She is very sweet," Aastha revealed.

About co-star Lakshya, she said, "He has been in the industry for ten years, so he's a very experienced actor and a very chill person. Whenever I had doubts, I would run to him and ask how to do something in front of the camera, and he would guide me like a cool senior. Between takes, we would play games and talk a lot."

"Working with Dharma Was Surreal"

Bagging a film with Dharma Productions, produced by Karan Johar and directed by Vivek Soni, was a dream come true for the actress. "I've watched Dharma films since I was a kid, so this was a big deal for me. I was ecstatic, excited, and nervous at the same time," she admitted. "Vivek sir has this ability to make people feel calm around him. He treated everyone so well on set — I was always charmed."

Recalling the film's premiere, she described the moment she first saw herself on the big screen: "My sister was sitting right beside me and I told her to pinch me. I asked, 'Is this real?' I come from outside the industry with no connections — whatever I have done is purely on the basis of the time and work I have put in. It was a magical moment."

On Rejections: "Every Rejection Pushes Me Towards the Right Opportunity"

For Aastha, rejection has never dimmed her spirit. "Rejections are part of the industry; you cannot avoid them. What you can do is put in the work and stay extremely optimistic. I live by one line every single day — whatever is meant for you will happen for you, and it will not be taken from you," she said.

Asked about her acting dreams, she didn't hesitate: "I would love to play a character from historic India, maybe the Mughal era or the freedom struggle — and I'd want Sanjay Leela Bhansali to direct it. I'm a big fan. Or a superwoman in the Marvel universe, if I get a chance!"

She also looks up to Alia Bhatt as her biggest inspiration. "I have watched almost all her films. She is very hardworking, and I love the choices she makes."

What's Next: An Amazon Prime Web Series

Aastha confirmed she has already wrapped her next project. "After Chand Mera Dil, I've worked on an Amazon Prime web series where I'm playing a key character. It's a genre I've never explored before but always watched as a kid. Hopefully it will release by the end of this year — fingers crossed," she shared.

Her Message to Aspiring Actors

Beyond films, the actress describes herself as a sportsperson, swimmer, and self-confessed foodie who loves chhole bhature, rajma chawal, Chinese food, and ends every meal with jalebi-rabdi.

Her advice for newcomers dreaming of Bollywood is simple and heartfelt: "Don't pay attention to the rejections — pay attention to the work you're putting in, because the more you work, the more work it brings you. Wake up every day with the thought that you're getting to do what you love. And take a stand for yourself. Even if people around you aren't supporting you, it's fine — when you become something big, the same people will be asking about you. So be at it."

With a Dharma debut behind her and an Amazon Prime series ahead, Aastha Singh is clearly an outsider writing her own script — one role at a time.