Malina Joshi, Miss Nepal 2011, has starred in three movies till date and is set to release two more this year. My City’s Shuvechchha Ghimire inquired about her six years in the Nepali entertainment industry.

How did you get into modeling?

When you see someone getting crowned as a beauty queen, like I saw Aishwarya Rai, you want to walk on ramps and do fashion shows too. My parents, however, were not supportive of my ambitions thus I lied to them when I participated in Miss Nepal.

What were the most important turning points in your career?

A definite turning point was Miss Nepal. I was an MBA student then and was awaiting results of my final semester.

Another turning point was my participation in Miss Asia Pacific 2013. While I had proper experience during my time in that pageant, the same can’t be said about my participation in Miss World 2011. I did not know any make-up artists, hair stylist or designers; I did not even know that the Miss World pageant had five subtitles.

Ritu, the first film I participated in, was also a turning point in my life. Now that I have acted in more movies, I am very selective about the people I work with. I have learnt that the characters you play define who you are as an actress and I need to be careful about what roles I undertake.

What was the transition like when you came to Kathmandu from Dharan? 

The transition was very hard in the beginning. I used to wear kurthas and speak in a tone that was deemed rude. I had to abandon my friends circle to come here, which made the transition even more difficult.

What suggestion would you give an aspiring model or actress?

Rather than judging contestants of Miss Nepal and other beauty pageants, try participating and understanding what it is like to stand in their shoes. Do not presume that you can avoid public speaking by participating in a beauty pageant.

Follow your dreams. Give your craft a 100 percent. Focus on a few things and be more than  mediocre at them. Focus on self-improvement more than competition.

Is there anything that you don’t like about being a celebrity?

I am a foodie and tend to eat when I am stressed. So, I don’t like the fact that I need to watch my diet because of which I avoid sugar, red meat and rice. 

A fan question, when are you getting married?

I see people running after of love, disrespecting each other and undergoing trust issues, which affects them on a deeper, personal level. When I find someone who would not take me for granted, I suppose I will get married then.