A combination of hard work, dedication and luck has managed to give TV star Asha Negi the popularity and love she has today. However, all this would not have been possible if she had not moved out of her home in Dehradun to pursue acting in Mumbai. In an exclusive conversation with India Today Digital, the actress revealed how her parents initially ignored her plans thinking it was a phase. It was only when she went on a hunger strike that they realized her passion, and gave her a few months to look for work.

Talking about how she convinced her parents to pursue a career in acting, Asha shared, “They thought it was one of those stages where I should have a pet at home. I tried so hard But they never took me seriously. This is when I went on hunger strike and starved myself for 2-3 days. My mother could not bear it and she talked to me, I asked her for 2-3 months. And said that if nothing happened, I would come back, which convinced my father and finally, I came to the city.”

The actor also said that her parents were happier when she was doing television as they had not yet adopted the OTT medium, “My mother also used to watch my shows again and again. Today, she is happy that I’m happy where I am.” But he enjoyed it then.”

Talking further about her journey and how she started TV by chance, Asha said, “When I came to Mumbai I was very lost. I just wanted to become an actor (I came to become an actor without thinking much). I wanted to do commercials and films, but there were never any plans for TV. When I realized it was not that easy, I continued giving auditions and then I got a role in a serial. I still maintain that TV accepted me and gave me a lot of love. she used to act so dirty (I was a very bad actor). “I’m very grateful for how things are shaping up.”

The actor, through his social media, often gives glimpses of his roots in the mountains. In our conversation, Asha Negi revealed that she is still a proud Pahari at heart, and listed the qualities she possesses as someone who comes from there, “I think the first is simplicity, it’s something That’s what’s still there. Besides, I’m a little naive and I believe in learning from its lessons and keeping my conscience clean. I’m a mountain girl through and through.”

Asha Negi’s latest show, Honeymoon Photographer, is streaming on JioCinema.