Actress Ravleen Roop shares what keeps her connected to her roots

Gurnaaz Kaur

New in the business of acting, Chandigarh girl Ravleen Roop has completed a Punjabi film as a lead opposite Ninja and also has a Bollywood flick with Nawazuddin Siddiqui that is soon to be released. All in one year, she has changed the course of her life. From studying engineering to choosing acting, it all seems surreal. This proud Punjabi gives an insight into her life…

What in your opinion is the strength of Punjabi community?

I strongly believe that the strength of our community lies in its roots and value system. Punjabis are proud of their tradition and culture. It is our culture that has taught us to be selfless and to act with sympathy and compassion towards others.

Punjab is rich in folk tradition. Is there a song/story that you love the most?

I really enjoy Punjabi folk songs and my all-time favourite is Kala Doria.

Share some of your growing up memories...

Growing up in Chandigarh, we used to stay with my grandparents. One of my sweetest childhood memories is eating the delicious food made by my grandmother,especially during the festivities. She is an excellent cook.

What was it like living in the UK? Things you did to stay connected to your roots?

It was a great experience living in the UK. London is one of my favourite places in the world. It is my second home. One thing that I love about London is that it embraces different religions and cultures. I used to visit Gur dwara every other week to stay connected to my faith. Also watching Punjabi movies and eating Punjabi food kept me connected to my roots.

What have been the biggest highs and lows in life and the lessons learnt from them?

My biggest high in life was grabbing my first acting project. It was a moment of joy and pride. Ups and downs are a part of life. The lows in my life have made me stronger, more ambitious but they have also taught me to stay grounded and appreciate what I have.

How did you choose the profession of acting?

My family is full of engineers. I am also an electronics engineer with a double masters. However, I was always drawn towards creativity and used to enact movie scenes in front of the mirror since childhood. I soon realised that acting was my true calling.

What do you like the most about your job?

My journey as an actor has just started. I have been very lucky to have completed two movies that early on in my career. I got an opportunity to work with some of the most talented actors. The fact that I get to portray different characters on screen is the most exciting part of my job.