Student of the year
Her tall frame and arresting dark eyes speak of the heights she aims for and the grit that mark her every move. After eight years in Ollywood, 22-year-old Archita Sahu recently participated in Pond’s Femina Miss India 2013 contest where she was adjudged Miss Stylish Hair. Archita completed her schooling from DM School, Bhubaneswar, and a BTech (IT) from KIIT University in 2011. A talented dancer, Archita has to her credit many Odia blockbusters. In fact, she is the only actress in Ollywood to bag three State Awards for Best Actress. She speaks to edex about her college.
What did college teach you?
My college taught me the importance of patience. I had to maintain a balance between my career in Ollywood and academics and thankfully, I managed to do that well. I also learnt to make the most out of situations. Both my high school and college were wonderful institutions. They truly were a melting pot of different minds and cultures. Every day I spent there was memorable. KIIT is both traditional and cosmopolitan. It was enriching! And if I can squeeze in a fourth word, exciting with a capital ‘E’!
What was your proudest moment in college?
I always scored well in exams. My proudest moment was when I was given the Best Student of the Year award in KIIT for co-curricular and academic achievements. That award is bigger than State Awards. Besides, there was a practical project in my eighth semester where three girls from my batch and I created a website to book film tickets. Our teachers loved it.
Have you had any embarrassing moments in college?
The initial days in college were embarrassing because everybody thought I was a snob. There were some really awkward moments as fellow students treated me like a celebrity. Then some teachers came to my rescue. They initiated ice-breaking sessions with my classmates. Everything fell into place then.
How did you score points with the opposite gender?
I never had to. We were always a good group of friends, a mix of boys and girls.
Was bunking a part of your college routine?
No. I attended almost all the classes. I did movies and modelling during vacations. I led a very disciplined life during college and there was no scope for bunking classes. It was only studies and practicals for me.
Did you have any rifts with professors? Why?
No. Since I always had 90 per cent attendance and was good in academics, teachers loved me. I finished my lessons on the same day as I could not afford to leave assignments for vacations because I used to work during holidays.
Where did you hang out in college with friends?
To be honest, my friends hated me at times because I could never step out of my home or college. Since I had already done six to seven films before my engineering course began and was continuing to act, I could not go to cafeterias or cinemas. All the get-togethers was at my home. If we wanted to have ice-cream, we would have them in my car.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
Till Class XII, I was into dancing, singing and drawing. When I joined engineering, I had to give up these activities. I took part in some cultural events at KIIT.
— diana@newindianexpress.com