OTT in India has unofficially surpassed the barriers of success in comparison to the big screen, be it with its non-stoppable popularity or good scripts. The recent show on everyone’s radar is TVF’s Kota Factory. And the show’s lead, Ahsaas Channa, has indeed made quite an impact in the OTT space! Known for her roles in various web series, she’s garnered attention for her acting skills and versatility in shows like Girls Hostel and Hostel Daze.
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Her journey began as a child actor, sharing the screen with Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, and Sushmita Sen. Known for her memorable role in My Friend Ganesha, which gives major nostalgia to the older Gen Zs and Millennial’s today. With a wealth of experience, she’s ready to break away from college-centric roles and dive into more mature, diverse characters. Ahsaas Channa is eager to explore new genres and take on fresh challenges in her ever-evolving career. ELLE sat down with the star for a conversation about her acting, future projects, and more.
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ELLE: How do you feel now that people recognise you when you are out in the city?
Ahsaas Channa: I feel very happy. I mean right now I think in today’s world people come and talk to me and they say my name and that has changed. Earlier when I used to do TV and stuff people would go and just say, oh you’re an actor, what’s your name, we’ve seen you on TV, we’ve seen you in this episode, but now people know me by name which is what has changed drastically. They know me for the powerful characters that I’ve luckily gotten a chance to play, like Shivangi’s character. She’s badass.
And the other characters also, I mean like in Half CA Archie’s character is very relatable because she’s a girl next door and she’s a person who’s always worried. She’s always anxious so there’s one set of people who relate to her so I’m just very happy that people recognise me as like good character and they relate to it. I’m thrilled that people now recognise me by name rather than just as an actor on TV. In the past, they’d see me and say, “Oh, you’re an actor, what’s your name?” It’s gratifying that they appreciate the characters I’ve played and see me for my work.
ELLE: Coming to Shivangi, what made you choose your role and the show in the first place?
Ahsaas Channa: I didn’t choose the role; it chose me. In 2018, I got a call from a casting agency about a TVF show on Kota. I knew Kota was a city in Rajasthan, but I had no idea it was a coaching hub for IIT aspirants. They mentioned Raghav Subbu was directing it, and since I’d worked with him on Hostel Daze for Amazon Prime, I agreed to audition. I auditioned for both Vartika and Shivangi’s parts but felt a stronger connection to Shivangi. After the audition, they got back to me in a couple of days, saying I was selected, probably due to my prior work with Raghav. That’s how I was introduced to the world of IIT and JEE, which I knew nothing about as an art student.
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ELLE: Now that Shivangi has left Kota and her mom knows about Uday, which game plan will Shivangi’s relationship take?
Ahsaas Channa: I mean, Uday says that you know, he will; they both will work this out in a long-distance relationship. And because we see Uday’s madly in love with Shivangi, and he’s the one who, I mean, he’s the reason that this is even working out. I think it will definitely work. I mean, if anything, Uday will make it work no matter what. I can see Uday come to Shivangi City randomly, at least once a month, just to surprise her and make it work. Even if she’s not available, I think he’s that clingy (in a good way). He would come to her city and make sure that he sees her at least once a month.
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ELLE: Kota Factory is such a phenomenon among all the students, and your other shows have also been centred around student life. Do you ever want to play something else, like a more mature character who doesn’t have a school or college background?
Ahsaas Channa: 100% I think that is the plan now because I mean as much as I’m happy I have been happy doing all these roles and I’m very grateful but I still feel like I need to now break away from the entire college universe and do explore a whole different kind of genre and whole different universe altogether. I mean I think I’m just going to take a break from college and the education universe. And hopefully, get a chance to explore other worlds and other characters and more mature characters and a different genre only in general.
ELLE: OTT takes a lot of time and effort—more than a film takes these days. How do you like to re-energise yourself to wear similar clothes or go back to the set?
Ahsaas Channa: I’ve never struggled with boredom or monotony on set. Luckily, the shows I’ve worked on haven’t taken more than 20 days to shoot, so it’s always been fun and quick. I enjoy every moment, and even when returning for a second season, the excitement remains the same. Living the character keeps me engaged, and I never feel like I’m doing the same thing over and over. This is the first time I’ve even thought about it, but honestly, I’ve never felt bored or struggled with my roles.
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ELLE: What do you love to do in your free time?
Ahsaas Channa: I love watching films and consider it part of working on my craft since I’ve never been to acting school. I’ve learned acting by being on set, meeting other people, playing different characters, and watching a lot of content. When I’m not working, I’m either watching a film or hanging out with friends. I often spend time with my mother, who’s also busy, so we cherish the time we get to watch films together and discuss them in detail. I value her opinions and insights. Overall, I lead a pretty simple life, enjoying films and family time.
ELLE: Who are your dream characters you would love to work with, in a film or a show?
Ahsaas Channa: For the longest time, my dream character was Geet from Jab We Met. I’ve played similar roles in Sisters and The Interns, but I’d still love to play Geet in a film, as I know all her dialogues by heart. Lately, I’ve been inspired by strong and unique characters from Fleabag by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mrs. Maisel from The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel. I’m eager to take on challenging roles that are different from what I’ve done before.
ELLE: What’s the next project you are working on, and what are you most excited about to be back on screen?
Ahsaas Channa: I’m currently in the middle of shooting Half CA season two, and we’re on day three of a 25-day shoot. It’s exciting, as we’re exploring more of the world of chartered accounting this time. Additionally, I’m part of Mismatched season three, where I’ll be playing a new character named Vinny, who is opposite Taruk. Vinny is a lovely character, and I’m really excited about this storyline. I hope to take on diverse projects and look forward to sharing more in the future.
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ELLE: When are we going to get to see you on the big screen?
Ahsaas Channa: I’m waiting for it as much as anybody else. I’m just waiting for the right script. I’m auditioning, meeting people, and reading lots of scripts. I hope something cracks, hopefully, this year.
Also, read: From Panchayat To Kota Factory, Here’s How These 7 Brilliant Small Town Stories Revolutionised OTT
