TOI: Initially people din like Tani

She may have studied to become an airhostess, but destiny had other plans for her. After doing a few modelling assignments and taking part in the reality show 'The Perfect Bride', Vrinda Dawda got her big break in the daily soap, 'Dil Dosti Dance'. TOI caught up with the young starling-next-door in a candid chat. Vrinda spoke about how her career's shaping up and the journey ahead. Excerpts:

Rewinding about her journey so far, Vrinda says, "My entire family is from Mumbai and so I am a true blue Mumbaikar." And what about her Gujarat connect? Vrinda says with a smile, "As a Gujarati, I'm crazy about garba and Gujarati food. Porbandar is my hometown (my great-great grandfather hailed from there), but I've only been there once."

Acting was nowhere on the agenda for Vrinda when she joined college and started to train as an airhostess. She says, "I never had plans of becoming an actor. Even now when I sit at home with my family, we laugh about how I ended up being one. I am the only one in my family who's an actor. Since childhood I wanted to become an airhostess, but that excitement fizzled out when the course got over and I wanted to become a model. I started doing photoshoots, and then people told me I should try acting. I'm glad that I made my debut on entertainment TV as an actress with a show like D3, a show that is based on unique concept.

It's the first dance-based fiction show. Unlike regular daily soaps, it has all the ingredients that would interest youngsters — dance, a bit of romance and lots of fun. And all my co-actors are young people so the environment on the sets is always lively. Dance is my biggest passion, so this was a great opportunity for me as I'd get to dance and act as well."

Vrinda, who shares a "great bond" with co-star Vrushika, finds her other colleague Kunwar Amarjeet, "very helpful as a co-star" and describes him as a "good friend." Off screen Vrinda confesses to being a "a fun girl" and says, "There are certain similarities that I share with my screen character, Taani. Like her I'm independent spirited and hard working. But that's where the resemblance ends. I'm talkative and bubbly, unlike the shy Taani."

Vrinda, who entered the show after Shakti Mohan quit, was initially wary about being a replacement. She says, "When I entered the show I was very nervous. Initially people did not likeTaani, but now they appreciate my character, so it feels good."