Ridhima Pandit: Even today, I see myself as a struggling artiste

A decade after entering the entertainment industry, Ridhima Pandit still sees herself as a work in progress. Despite becoming a household name with Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant, the actor says the years have only reinforced how unpredictable the profession can be. She shares, “Every single day of these 10 years has been special, but honestly my struggle began long before that. Even today, I still see myself as a struggling artiste. People often assume that completing a decade makes you an established actor. Of course, I am grateful for the love and acceptance, but this journey has been filled with extreme highs and challenging lows.” Over the years, those experiences have also shaped her understanding of how the industry functions. She says, “One of the biggest lessons I have learnt about this industry, which is often described as a place where people salute the rising sun and where friendships are closely tied to success, is that there is a lot of truth in it.” Her own career mirrored that reality early on. Her debut project brought instant recognition, but it also came with the pressure of deciding what to do next. She says, “Firstly, I consider myself extremely fortunate that my very first project, Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant, made me a household name. But along with that success came pressure. At that point I had no clarity about what my next project would be. Looking back today, I feel proud of the decisions I made. Not every project becomes a massive success, but each experience helped me learn and grow.” At present, Ridhima is exploring new avenues. She says, “I have had the opportunity to work in a film directed by Neeraj Pandey, I am stepping into regional cinema with a Marathi film, and I am also exploring the web space. These opportunities make me happy because building a career independently is a big achievement.”