Mumbai, 11 March 2025 (UTN). Vaishali Arora, who plays the role of Ria in Rahul Kumar Tewary and Rolling Tales Production’s Udne Ki Aasha, shares her thoughts on celebrating Holi, childhood memories, and how the festival has evolved for her over the years. Talking about her on-screen character, Vaishali says, “I think Ria is always up for exploring new things. So, I assume she must have played a lot of dry Holi back in the day. But now, if her family asks her to celebrate a wet Holi with water, I think she’ll give it a thumbs up and say, ‘Okay, I think I can try that.’ Being Ria, she will definitely go along with whatever her in-laws suggest and whatever she feels will be fun.”
Sharing a nostalgic take on Holi during her childhood, she recalls, “Earlier, when I was a child, we only wore worn-out clothes for Holi—old, ill-fitted, and ugly ones—because it was easier to discard them after the festival. But when I moved to Bombay, I realized there’s a whole Holi look that people put together. People actually go shopping for new, crisp white clothes, which are clean and beautiful. Under that influence, I have also started buying new outfits for Holi. I usually pick white kurtis or tank tops and pair them with shorts, sneakers, and earrings.”
The actress admits she has a soft spot for festive treats. “During Holi, I only binge on sweets! Well, to be honest, I generally binge on sweets anyway, but Holi gives me an even bigger excuse. I also indulge in a lot of fried food—sometimes cheese balls, lots of chips (which I don’t usually eat), and definitely a lot of sweets.”
On Holi skincare and hair care, she adds, “Skin and hair definitely take a toll during Holi. The best thing I do is apply a generous amount of coconut oil to my skin and a thick layer of sunscreen on my face. I also oil my hair beforehand to make it easier to wash off the colors later.”
Recalling a funny moment, she says, “Once, people put so much color on me that it wouldn’t come off, and I ended up looking completely dark. It was really funny! Sometimes, I even had color on my teeth.”
Despite all the fun, Vaishali prefers dry Holi over water Holi. “I’m not a huge fan of playing Holi, but if given a choice, I’d prefer dry Holi with gulal. The water Holi gets too messy, and it’s not something I particularly enjoy.”
When asked to describe herself in a color, Vaishali chooses red. “Red is loud, timeless, slightly aggressive, and expressive. So, if I had to choose a color that represents me, it would be red.”
Vaishali Arora’s take on Holi reflects both nostalgia and evolution, making her celebrations a mix of tradition and modern influence.
Mumbai-Reporter,( Hitesh Jain ).
