A combination of business and pleasure —  that’s what brought actress Tridha Choudhury back home for a short trip recently. She jet-setted off to Europe couple of days later. Tridha’s currently in Poland and will be off to the UK to shoot for a travel show. “Nostalgia brings me to Calcutta. It’s a perfect place for me to forget about the crazy pace of my profession and bond with my family,” says the Mumbai-based pretty girl, before settling down for a t2 chat at the Aauris hotel on Robinson Street…

How’s life in Mumbai?

Life in Mumbai is amazing. The competition keeps you motivated. I have been grateful to the city for giving me so many opportunities. Bombay feels like a second home now. I have adapted to the lifestyle of the city.

Your Instagram is full of travel inspiration. Which are your top five destinations in the world?

Italy, South Africa, Poland, Bali and Spain.

Which is the city where you’ve had the best food in the world?

Gnocchi with truffle oil in Capri, Italy!

What’s your favourite food?

Salmon! I love every form of it and I also love Bhetki Machher Paturi.

Which are the best places for a solo trip?

Definitely Bali. It offers an array of natural spots for a solo female traveller to explore and the place is extremely safe. Also, Spain, because it offers a range of B&Bs along with great adventure options.

What kind of  a traveller are you — a backpacker or the one who carries two big suitcases for a few days?

Definitely the latter! I pack almost six pairs of shoes. I need to look classy all the time. 

How do you stay fit while travelling?

By walking and hiking! It is the best way to explore a new place while burning calories. Also, eat modestly and avoid too much sugar. I was recently gifted a Fitbit (step tracker) to measure my fitness level and now I keep on competing on the app. It’s an interesting way to stay motivated.

You have said before that social media helps you with paid travels — that’s really exciting…

Social media is huge these days. Marketing for brands has become so much easier through influencers. Agencies approach me for paid promotions and sometimes I agree.

In Bali

Insta clicks

What tips do you have for young people who want to be travel bloggers?

Choose a unique genre for the blog — even travel blogs need a sub-genre. I’m working on mine. It should be live next year. My Instagram is primarily handled by me because it needs frequent posts and updates on my stories.

How would you describe your personal style?

Style should breathe elegance. I like the idea of pastel hues coordinated with contrasting accessories. My mother has always been my style icon. I can wear whites for days.

Recently, I’ve been collecting printed scarves and that should be a trending style alert!

You were in Calcutta to celebrate your dad’s birthday...

My father is my true inspiration. He’s a motivational speaker, so he does a fine job of guiding me. We celebrated his  birthday at a nice Oriental restaurant. He loved the ambience!

What projects are you working on in Mumbai?

I’m working with Prakash Jha on a project. It requires patience and a lot of dedication.

Any plans on doing a Bengali movie anytime soon?

Bengali movies are unique and brilliant. I started with that (Mishawr Rawhoshyo) and I look forward to a great script. I’d like to do a commercial film for a change because I love to dance. I’d like my Bengali audience to watch me in a great dance number. People have always seen me as part of urban films and I’d like to do something different for a change. 

Acting in web shows is the in thing these days. Do you enjoy working more in movies or web series?

It’s a great way to portray stories in a detailed manner. I have done a couple of them and would absolutely love to do another. But movies are my first priority. Currently, I’m working on some good projects in the south Indian film industry. As an actor, you have to perform in the same manner in every platform, so they are of equal importance to me.