Before becoming one of the country’s top actresses, Kriti Sanon’s entry into the entertainment industry began with what she describes as a completely random decision. An outsider with no established film family backing her, Kriti reveals how an unexpected opportunity in modelling eventually helped her discover her calling as an actor.

“Yeah, I mean, I think first it started with I want to do modelling, it was just so random because some people just said, oh, you have the height and, you know, you have the body and all, you should try for modelling. And I never really wanted to be a model. And I never really thought of it as a profession. But I was like, okay, let me just give it a shot. It was such a random thought in my head that let me just give it a shot. If nothing else, it'll be an experience,” she said via a PR note.

Kriti recalls how she happened to come across a fresh face contest while looking for ways to build a modelling portfolio. After submitting pictures clicked by her sister, she unexpectedly got selected. “And just randomly, my sister has clicked some pictures. I don't know how I got selected. She's clicked some pictures and I've posted them. Not expecting anything. Got selected,” she added.

The decision initially came as a surprise to her parents, particularly her father, who felt it could distract her from her studies. However, her mother encouraged her to take the opportunity. “My dad was like, but, you know, because I was very studious. So, he was like, it's a distraction. Why does she have to do it and all? My mom was like, it's fine, just go for it. I sign the contract.”

It was while doing television advertisements that Kriti gradually realised her interest lay in acting. “And then I think when I started doing TV ads, I really felt I could act, whatever little bit of acting was required. And I enjoyed the process. I enjoyed the moving camera,” she said

That experience slowly turned into a dream of pursuing films. “And I think somewhere in my head, I started dreaming of becoming an actor slowly.” Eventually, Kriti had the conversation that would change the course of her life. “I want to move to Mumbai and I want to give this a shot. I want to try for films.”

Kriti made her Hindi debut with the 2014 film Heropanti which also marked the first film of Tiger Shroff. She was recently seen in Cocktail 2.