Parul Gulati: I believe the platform is irrelevant as long as your character is substantial and layered

‘I understood that to earn respect, I needed to have something that belonged to me and bore my name’ - Parul Gulati
After being part of TV shows such as ‘Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam’, and ‘Kitani Mohabbat Hai’ (Season 2), Parul Gulati ventured into the web and films in search of diverse roles. She has since appeared in projects like ‘Hey Prabhu!’, ‘Made in Heaven’ (Season 2), and Punjabi films like ‘Burraahh’, and ‘Zorawar’.The actress, who will soon feature in ‘Silence 2’, says, “It’s not that I haven’t abandoned one medium for another. I believe that the platform is irrelevant as long as your character is substantial and layered, providing you with creative liberty. The only difference lies in the time commitment: TV demands full-time dedication, OTT projects are long-term, and movies are for shorter durations. Given the option, I would prefer OTT, as that’s the format I find most enjoyable.”
Amongst her various projects, it is ‘Made In Heaven 2’ that she holds dearest. She shares, “Season one of ‘Made In Heaven’ has been my favourite series ever, and I am a big fan of Zoya Akhtar. I recall reaching out to the casting director, Karan Malli, to understand if I could be a part of the show. All the roles were already cast, but he mentioned he needed an actress for an episode directed by Zoya. Despite being a small role, it received attention and appreciation. I am grateful for the opportunity.”
That sounds like a promising start to her career and an opportunity to collaborate with her dream director. However, life wasn’t always smooth sailing for Parul. After being offered a role in ‘Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam’, starring Yami Gautam and Gaurav Khanna, and experiencing a phase of continuous work, Parul hit a dry spell. She recalls, “I was 17 when someone noticed my pictures on Facebook and offered me the role of Yami Gautam’s younger sister, as they thought I resembled her. That kickstarted my journey. One thing led to another and I was working non-stop. After an initial busy phase, I suddenly stopped getting offers. I had worked on a Punjabi film that didn’t fare well. For extra money, I took up various projects, including playing a mother to a seven-year-old in a commercial, which didn’t sit right with me.”
The slowdown in her acting career led her to explore alternatives and establish a 100 percent human hair extension brand She shares, “I understood that to earn respect, I needed to have something that belonged to me and bore my name. I realised I didn’t have to wait to become a big actress to start a business; I set up my hair extension business around seven years ago and haven’t looked back since (smiles). Before I knew it, I became a businesswoman. Initially, I introduced hair extensions as a fashion accessory for people in the industry. Crafting products to address hair-related issues became my passion. It’s a cause close to my heart, as hair loss can significantly impact a person’s confidence. However, the most important advice is to love yourself the way you are.”
Balancing acting with a business must be demanding, yet Parul has managed to strike a balance between the two. She says, “Acting is like breathing; it’s the air to my life, and my hair business is the water. I cannot survive without either; I need both to thrive.”

As for her acting offers, what lies ahead? “I have quite a few offers but I am choosing wisely as I don’t want to repeat myself. I recently completed the shoot of an OTT film, in which I portray a dark character. I have another series titled ‘Blue Tick’, centered around an influencer aspiring for success in the acting world. Moreover, I am working on two more projects -- a thriller and the other is a dramedy,” she concludes.