Hot Shot

An interview with Aishwarya Ajit

The porcelain complexioned Aishwarya Ajit’s beauty reminds us of her namesake, Ash Bachchan. Effortlessly beautiful and completely unaware of the effect she has on the people around her, this doe-eyed South Indian gal has us wrapped around her finger in no time at all. A TV presenter on Dubai One, Aishwarya hosts the popular lifestyle show Studio One and has, over the course of her young career, made quite a mark on the silver screen. Ash’s work has been appreciated by all and sundry and she has, at her tender age, been nominated for the Best TV presenter at the Masala! Awards. We get chatting with the lovely lady herself about all things Ash…

Where are you from? Can you tell us about your childhood and formative years?
I am a South Indian from Kerala and was raised in Dubai – I am very Mallu at heart (laughs).

I have been here ever since I was four and studied in The Indian High School. Believe it or not, I was very a very unpopular and timid little girl when I was younger and never participated in any extracurricular activities because I had horrid stage fright. It’s funny looking back as my current line of work is extremely attention-grabbing and is all about being in the limelight. However, I was always very beauty conscious even back then; in my head I was a diva even though my hair and clothes were an absolute mess (laughs).

Congratulations! You are nominated as Best TV presenter for Studio One at the Masala! Awards this year. What does this nomination mean to you?
Well I am only 25 and the fact that I have been nominated by the biggest selling Indian magazine in town makes me feel extremely proud. I am an ardent fan of Masala! as well, therefore winning is secondary; I am simply ecstatic about being nominated.

Tell us a little bit about you career so far – did you always know this was the field you would get into?
It wasn’t till I left Dubai, after my 12th grade and went to India to pursue my college degree, that the showbiz bug actually bit me; that’s where all the magic began. My first ever photo shoot was a disaster – I couldn’t emote and I looked like a dead fish in the pictures. It was also the first time that I had professional make-up on and I couldn’t bear the weight of my false eyelashes (laughs). I was very disheartened after seeing the pictures and thought I should stay as far away from the camera as possible. However, my mother was extremely encouraging and she instilled a lot of confidence in me. Today, I love the camera and have ended up doing over 50 ad campaigns in Kerala in the span of four years.

Once I started modelling full-time, my manager told me that I should try my luck in films. It wasn’t meant to be – I figured that movies are only interesting to watch and not to work in – at least for me. In 2007, I was offered a stint on a dance reality show on a South Indian channel and was extremely thrilled about it; that’s how television happened. Since then there has been no looking back. I realised how much I love doing television and how it helped boost my confidence level.

Can you tell us a little bit more about your show Studio One?
Studio One is a daily live lifestyle show. It is your half hour dose of all things fashion, health and nutrition-related. We also feature what is happening in the community along with entertainment, sports, local talent and celebrity interviews to spice up the content. Whether you are an expat or an Emirati, Studio One is your
go-to guide about living in the region.

What has been your favourite Masala! Awards moment?
This is my first time being nominated. I am excited for this moment!

What are you most looking forward to at the Masala! Awards this year?
Well, to be brutally honest, I am most looking forward to winning (laughs). Besides that, I am very excited about attending the function, meeting the Masala! favourites, the who’s who of Dubai and having a lot of fun at the party.

What do you plan to wear to the Awards?
I always get caught by the Masala! camera and have no excuse for not looking good. I haven’t decided on anything yet but now that you have asked, I am going to run to the malls.

You also model sometimes – what was your first foray into modelling and what have you been involved in so far?
I did most of my modelling in India; I haven’t done much in Dubai but I absolutely love posing in front of the camera and always have my photo-face on (laughs).

What kinds of things do you see yourself doing in the future, professionally?
I would like to do television for as long as I can as I am extremely passionate about it. I am also a make-up junkie, love fashion and anything to do with looking good. I may, therefore, take up something along those lines.

Who do you think is the best TV host of all time? Why?
Well this might sound a bit clichéd but I am a huge Oprah fan and absolutely adore Ellen DeGeneres. Jay Leno is great and I am extremely inspired by Tyra Banks. I only wish she wasn’t as outrageous and obnoxious as she is at times(laughs).