SHABIHA NUR KHATOON, OP
Twelve-year-old Pia Khurana is taking her school’s vision ‘be what you want to be’ a step further by following her passion and dreams
Browse through any magazine, switch on any channel, or drive along a stretch of highway, and there they are: pictures of adorable, wide-eyed tiny-tot models who are taking the fashion world by storm. Delhi-based Pia Khurana is one of them.
Born and brought up in Delhi, Pia, a Class VII student of Presidium School, Indirapuram, is an all-rounder, say her parents and teachers. She first came into the limelight in 2016, when she was selected as one of the lead characters for a web series named ‘V3,’ produced by the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI). Apart from that, she has been a part of serials like Savdhaan India, Gali Gali Sim Sim, and was the Runner Up in Pantaloons Junior Fashion Icon, 2015.
So, how did she get the lead role in the web series?
Pia says, “Well, it was a tough one. Many kids from Delhi gave auditions which continued for two months. There were four rounds and the final one was with the director. I enjoyed it all and tried to give my best every time. I feel blessed to be part of the project. Modelling and acting are something which I always dreamt about. I have always been fond of watching TV. I used to tell my parents – ‘mamma TV pe aana hai’. I was always into dance and took part in school annual day functions. Four years ago, I started to take part in fashion shows. I try to learn from each shoot, and use those lessons as my own dictionary to help me at every stage.”
Apart from modelling, acting and dance, Pia loves to write and is a good orator too.
Pia’s mother, Puja Khurana, proudly says, “Pia hasn’t let success go to her head. There are changes in her, but they are positive like she has developed a lot of confidence in herself, she can handle pressure, and she is emotionally stable, the way she talks and carries herself,” Puja adds.
Pia extends thanks to her parents and teachers for their constant support and love. “My parents indeed are my great support which is why I could achieve so much. I would also like to thank my teachers for their blessings. In fact, everyone in my school has been enthusiastically supporting me and that is how I have been able to balance so many things at the same time. Special thanks to Disha Pandey ma’am for her belief in me. I am really thankful to everyone who has given me even a bit of an opportunity,” she says.
Sharing one of the memorable moments in her journey so far, she narrates, “I had a scene in V3 where I had to cry. In that scene, I was missing my father ashe no longer stayed with us and I cried for real instead of using any glycerin. Once the scene was okayed, I received a round of applause from everybody present there and that was really a great moment for me,” smiles Pia.
Pia’s favourite actors are Deepika Padukone and Salman Khan, but the child artiste’s role model is her mother. “My mother is my inspiration as she always motivates me and helps me in everything I do,” Pia says.
The Delhi-based model has been getting academic excellence and chairperson honours awards every year from school.
“She is dedicated and she does not want to compromise on studies since she is a bright student and we are thankful to her teachers for their support. Pia always utilises her time productively and she is very organised. That’s something we are very proud of. Not just studies, she is a part of almost every activity and competition that the school organises,” says Puja.
