Gucci’s centennial is an iconic moment that brings together a nostalgic appreciation for the rich heritage and the joy of a new beginning. It’s only fitting then that this celebratory moment be catalysed by the spirit of inspiration from a unique mix of women role models—all high achievers in their own right. They own their identity; fashion is purely a progression of that expression, which explains why Gucci is their go-to. Path-breaking, passionate, bold—and that’s just where the overlap begins. Following our conversations with Roohi Jaikishan,Rana Ayyub and Samyukta Nair, we now have Akansha Ranjan Kapoor.
If there’s one thing that Akansha Ranjan Kapoor was always clear about, it’s that she wanted to act. There was never a plan B. It took seven years of auditions and screen tests until she landed her first role, but not once did her confidence waver. “I knew I wasn’t giving up, so it would have to happen eventually,” she reveals. Riding high on the success of her second release, the Mumbai-based actor is all geared up to shoot for her next two films.
ELLE: Tell us a little about your personal style
Akanksha Rajan Kapoor (ARK): My style is casual and comfortable. You will most often catch me in lounge sets, sweatshirts and jeans. I gravitate towards monochrome and neutrals, usually shying away from florals and colourful pieces. Incidentally, my Gucci wallet was the first expensive fashion purchase I ever made and I’ve had it with me for about three-four years now.
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ELLE: You have a very fresh and candid appeal, especially on social media. Tell us more about it.
ARK: I look at Instagram as a visiting card. It is your personality and you get to express it through this medium. I get bummed when people take Instagram too seriously. You will often find memes on my account and I get told, you can’t do this because you’re an actor now. But that’s who I am and that’s why people follow me. It’s never a calculated move—I just share things I find funny! In fact, I have been doing brand collaborations since 2018, way before acting even happened. But I didn’t ever want to be an influencer.
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ELLE: What has been the biggest challenge in life so far?
ARK: Landing my first film wasn’t easy. My whole life had been building up to that moment. All my friends from the industry said, once you’re in the arena and your first film is out, that’s when things get real. Unfortunately for me, that didn’t happen. My film Guilty released and the pandemic hit. I had this fear that when the lockdown would eventually lift, it would have been years from the release and that no one would remember me. Would I get stuck? Would I be a one-film wonder? What would happen to us newbies? Then, Ray came along and now, I’m exactly where I want to be.
Styling: Zoha Castellino, Hair & Makeup: Nishi Singh, Photograph: Sasha Jairam, Assisted by Siddhi Dolas and Deepakshi Singh (For Styling)
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