I won't trade my identity for a template of what an actress should be: Aarohi Patel

Time of India

10-07-2025

It was in 2015, that a young girl, all of 20 played the role of Pavan in Premji: Rise of a Warrior. The film won several state awards and put
Aarohi Patel
on the map of Gujarati cinema. She played Antara in Love Ni Bhavaai in 2017 and Vaani, two years later in Aum Mangalam Singlem.
After 10 years and several films behind her, Aarohi celebrates a milestone today.
However, according to the actress, this was 'never a part of the plan' . We sit down with Aarohi at her office and where she spends most of her time. In a chat, she talks about how she doesn't consider herself a nepokid, why she is grateful to the industry and more.
How do you look back at a decade in D-Town? Did you always envision your journey like this?
It has been magical, but with a lot of hard work, dedication, and learning.
I did not anticipate my journey to be like this. When I did Premji…, I was still studying B.Com. I wanted to complete my master's and go to New York or London to study filmmaking. Love Ni Bhavai happened when I was studying for my master's. I got a call from Vipul Mehta for Chaal Jeevi Laiye! just a day before I was supposed to appear for IELTS. Everything just happened on its own.
My plan was to work behind the camera and so, I studied commerce and then master's in Development Communication, so that I could get insights into media.
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I interned at a radio office, then in print media, and became an assistant director and later, an editor. I wanted to explore everything because acting was never a part of the plan. Every offer was more tempting than the previous one.
You've been very selective about films. Do you feel you could have done more films?
It's a wrong perception that I am selective. But I will take up a film only if I feel it's worth it. My passion has always been my production house and my editing jobs.
I have never wanted to trade my passion for editing for visibility in films. I fell in love with acting while shooting for Premji…. I do feel that I am yet to explore many roles and different stories.
You have often been called a nepo kid. How do you cope with that?
Nepotism is when we benefit from our parents' contacts, but the urban Gujarati film industry was established in 2015, the year I made my debut. My father (Saandeep Patel) also established himself around that time.
So, I am not a nepo kid. My parents have been working in the industry, making serials and films for the past 30 years, but they were not known to the audience, or the new age industry. My dad was motivated when he saw Vijaygiri Bava, Abhishek Jain and Krishnadev Yagnik making urban films.
I don't think the fans have that perception. In fact, I have done fewer films as compared to other actors. I am a very patient person and probably that is why my industry peers feel that life has been easy for me.
I have seen my parents achieving great heights and then face some lows too, so I know how quickly things can change in the industry. So, I don't expect much from the industry. I only trust my hard work and dedication.
You've always had the same set of industry friends. Have you ever been blamed for groupism?
No. I can only hang out with people I am comfortable with. I spend most of my time with my college friends and not so much with industry people.
But I feel comfortable around my co-stars and producers, directors that I have worked with.
You seem to have defied what an actress should be like…
I was carrying the no makeup look back in 2015 too, as I feel lazy to wear makeup. Now, it is suddenly a thing. I've been wearing oversized clothes, which is now a trend for Gen Z. I feel proud of it. If I have dark circles, I have them. I am not ready to trade my identity for a template of what an actress should be.
Professionally, what are your plans in the next 10 years?
I want to be a part of something that goes global. Gujarati films have to represent India at the global level in the next 10 years.
The industry also gave you your husband (Tatsat Munshi), isn't it?
When I was about to begin shooting for Chaal Jeevi Laiye!, I got a call from Ankit Gor for Non-Alcoholic Breakup. He thought I would never do it, but I did it and that's when I met Tatsat for the first time.
That's how the journey began.
'I would love to relive the shooting period of Chaal Jeevi Laiye!'
I would love to relive the shooting period of Chaal Jeevi Laiye! because we shot in Uttarakhand in an almost no-network zone. I signed the film when I was wondering what to do with my life. It was just the 40-50 people from the crew. The way I found myself there, it was a life-changing experience. I came back with no baggage. After Love Ni Bhavai, there were a lot of expectations from me, which I never asked for-how to walk, how to talk and what to wear.
There was a lot of noise around me; I was losing my identity and I would end up being just another girl or actress, and I was not ready for the change. I would have lost my individuality. This film came at the perfect time.
Favourites and wish list:
· Fave onscreen pair:
Sagar and Antara (her and Mallhar in Love Ni Bhavai).
· Favourite co-star:
Bhavya Gandhi. He is an amazing person and as someone with so much fame, he treated me well.
He is humble, kind, and sweet.
· Want to be paired opposite:
Mayur Chauhan and Mitra Gadhvi.
· Closest song:
Khune Thi Khune Thi
· Weird or funny messages from fans:
'Aarohi didi, will you attend the premiere today? We will come to meet you' and 'I really like you and my wife has no idea that I have messaged you.'
· Favourite characters:
Pranali from Ajab Raat Ni Gajab Vaat and Vaani from Aum Mangalam Singlem.
· A character that resembles her real-life personality:
I am a combination of Vaani and Antara. Antara was too ambitious, while Vaani was too naïve.