Ethically we must be responsible as a blogger. Our fan followers believe in us and follow what we promote. So I make sure before I promote any beauty product, I try it out once during the daytime and see it’s result. If I find it worth, only then I promote the product. If I’m travelling somewhere and providing them information regarding that place then I make sure whatever information I’m providing to them is correct.
RK : First of all, thanks a lot for accepting our invitation for an interview. Please say something about you. About your career as a fashion blogger influencer & model. How did you get started?
Aarya : I started my career as a model and an actor. I have acted in some of Bollywood and South films. My first Bollywood film was “ My friend Ganesha” and one of the well-known television shows which got me fame was “ Devon kaDevMahadev”. However, in 2015 I quit my modeling and acting career in order to study about business continue my family business. In 2018 , I began making tik-tok videos just for fun and some of them got viral. So I started posting my tik-tok videos on Instagram as well which led to an increase in the number of my fan followers on Instagram. Once I started getting famous on Instagram , some brands started approaching me for blogging and influencing . In this way I started my blogging career. Although initially I wasn’t very serious about my blogging career but once I saw potential growth in it, I started taking it professionally.
RK : You have an exceptionally unique look. Where does your style savvy come from, and where do you get your inspiration?
Aarya : Since my childhood, style and fashion has been an integral part of me. I always loved to not just dress well but also look fashionable. I generally don’t get influenced by a single person. I follow the latest trends but at the same time understand what suits me, makes me feel good and comfortable.
RK : Do you see yourself as an “Blogger & influencer”, and if so, what does that mean to you?
Aarya : Definitely, I do see myself as a blogger and influencer. Besides being a fashion blogger, I am also a travel blogger. At present I’m promoting plenty of big and famous brands. Yes, being a blogger and Influencer means a lot to me. Right now blogging industry is booming and I’m glad to be a part of it and be able to reach out to people. I believe as a blogger and an Influencer I have certain responsibilities towards my fan followers , so I have to be careful with my blogs and posts. Since our fan followers get influenced by what we post or blog, so whenever I blog or post something I make sure I keep my fan followers in my mind.
RK : How do you get involved with your followers and find the best way to give them the content they want?
Aarya : In order to get involved with my followers, whenever I get time , I go on a live chat . Besides, I receive lots of DM and messages. I try to filter and answer as many questions I can about my travel, promotions, personal life and my next journey. I also come up with giveaway contest in which many of my followers participate and I try to give them the best result.
One of the best ways I find to understand my followers is through their comments. Recently I covered Tomorrowland and many of them have been asking me similar questions like, how to get the tickets, how to register. So I’m planning to make a video in which they will get all the answers to their questions. In this way I try to reply my fan followers with my content, where they get information about the latest trends in fashion, beauty, travel.
RK : In your opinion, How important are ethical standards for the fashion bloggers & influencers?
Aarya : Ethically we must be responsible as a blogger. Our fan followers believe in us and follow what we promote. So I make sure before I promote any beauty product, I try it out once during the daytime and see it’s result. If I find it worth, only then I promote the product. If I’m travelling somewhere and providing them information regarding that place then I make sure whatever information I’m providing to them is correct.
RK : How do you select brands you work with? When was your first collaboration with a brand?
Aarya : Fortunately, most of the brands I’ve worked with were all good. To create a brand is not an easy thing. The product has to be really good to become a brand and all of this requires hard work. Therefore I respect every brand. To understand the brand I read their comments, public reviews, their results. I have to also look at their pricing keeping my followers in mind whether they can afford to purchase it or not if I’m promoting them. Last but not the least I do check how much social work they are doing and how well they are coping up with their followers. So I have to look at various aspects before I select a brand. My first collaboration was with the brand Daniel Wellington watch.
RK : What has been your best fashion purchase ever?
Aarya : My best fashion purchase was a YSL handbag which I bought from Toronto. It was the most expensive but best designed bag I ever bought.
RK : If you had to name one thing, what would be your favorite thing in your wardrobe right now?
Aarya : My all-time favourite thing in my wardrobe is my passport because the passport allows me to travel around the globe . I love to travel a lot and once in every month I choose the place I want to travel and pack my bag .
RK : What are the three essential elements of fashion that every girl should have?
Aarya : According to me the 3 elements every girl should have for fashion are..
1. Fit – whatever we wear should fit us well
2. Know your body- it is very important to know our body type and choose to wear such clothes that will enhance the best part of our body.
3 Attitude- Wearing fashionable clothes is not enough, we must also carry it with confidence and ease.
RK : You are the girl who fueled her dreams to make it a reality! From a Successful actress to a successful fashion blogger & solo traveller , how has the transition been?
Aarya : My transition from being a model, actor , business person to a blogger and solo traveller has been really great because every field has taught me a lot . I always loved solo travelling and I already used to travel from before . I don’t like to travel with my friends or family. I love to travel just by myself and take up challenges. I’m soon going to start my YouTube channel of solo travelling. So yes, I’m quite excited with the fact that I’m going to turn my passion into profession.
RK : Being a solo traveller, How much do you research and plan your adventures before going on a solo trip? What do you think is the most difficult part of planning a solo trip?
Aarya : Definitely research is very important before I decide to travel. I have to note down all the main points, where to go, how to explore the place, in which hotel I would stay, how to book tickets, transportation to go from one place to another.
The difficult part of being a solo traveller is you have to manage everything on your own. Specially when you are sick you feel very helpless. Abroad, to get any medical treatment you need to have health insurance. Once during my solo trip to Los Angeles, I feLT quite ill and in such a condition you have to do everything on your own. So I had to wait till the next day and somehow managed to get treatment.
RK : What is the best thing about being a solo traveller?
Aarya : Best thing about being a solo traveller is that you don’t have to depend on anyone. You can plan your trip the way you want, the way you like. Since you have to take care of everything on your own and handle difficult situations on your own, it makes you more independent and brave. You get to spend quality time with just yourself where you can think peacefully about yourself without being distracted by any one.
RK : What are a few of the destinations topping your bucket list now?
Aarya : Destinations on the top of my bucket list are Turkey, New York, Florida and London.
RK : What is one of your biggest travel mistakes and how did you handle it?
Aarya : One of my biggest travel-mistakes was when I was travelling to Canada and Toronto. While returning from Toronto, I missed my flight. I was sitting in a restaurant waiting for my flight , during which the flight got changed. In Toronto they don’t have a system of announcing if the flight changes. You have to keep checking on the board which I did not. So when I reached the gate, I got a shock when they informed me that my flight was from another gate which has already left and they have kept my luggage outside. Being a solo traveller you have no option but to handle any type of situation on your own. So again I had to book my ticket and that too I got via London. I waited in the airport for 8 hrs for my next flight. However, I was confident I will be safe and able to handle the situation as I was in the airport itself.
RK : Give us 5 fun facts people might not know about you yet.
Aarya : 5 fun facts about me are..firstly I’m a good cook . Whenever I visit home I cook for my family and also I cook my food myself.
Second, I love to eat street food like dosa, chaat.
Third, I’m a biker and I love to ride bikes, I own an avenger bike.
Fourth, I have a decent sense of humour.
And fifth I’m a trained classical dancer in “Bharatnatyam”
RK : We (Retro Kolkata) are trying to build one single stage for all the artists, because we believe that artists are the most beautiful creation of God and geographical boundary can never break their unity and harmony. Please say something about our initiative and any special message for your followers
Aarya : It is truly commendable that you are building one single stage for all the artistes, where people can read and know about all the influencers and bloggers. I feel honored to be a part of your magazine and it would be great to intervene with you guys.
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