Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Delightful Miss Donal Bisht

by ASJAD NAZIR

MODEL and TV anchor turned actress Donal Bisht has shown off impressive versatility with an interesting array of projects.


The small screen beauty has delivered winning performances in popular drama serials, including Ek Deewana Tha, Roop-Mard Ka Naya Swaroop and Dil Toh Happy Hai Ji. With more projects on the way, the unstoppable star will continue to rise.

Eastern Eye caught up with Donal to talk TV, acting and inspirations.

What was it that first connected you to acting?

I always had an interest towards this field from a young age. Even when I was growing up, I always imagined myself playing the heroine’s  part – even when I used to work! Since then, I had a gut feeling that I don’t belong here and have a greater inclination towards acting. And hence, I took a big risk and quit my job to pursue my acting career.

How did you feel being in front of the camera for the first time?

I was never camera conscious as I was in the media and was an anchor of a show on Doordarshan. But my heart always belonged to acting, so that confidence helped me a lot. That’s when I learned that whatever you do in life it never goes to waste and you see the results at some other point of life.

Which of your projects is closest to your heart?

I think Ek Deewana Tha because it gave me a different kind of recognition and was my first show as a lead. I was very pampered as my co-actors and unit never made me realise that I am new into this industry. And fortunately, I got to work with a very good set of people.

How do you approach creating a character?

I try to get into the skin of it. I try to study the nuances and incorporate it while playing the character. Also observing has helped me a lot to improve as an actor.

Do you have a dream role you would love to play?

I loved Alia Bhatt in Raazi and her character in the movie. I would love to play something like that.

What do you enjoy watching as an audience member?

I enjoy watching web shows. Also, I have watched around 40-50 films in this lockdown and all were award-winning movies. And mainly, good content is imperative. If it’s films, web or TV, I’ll watch it if the content is good.

Who is your acting hero?

I’ve adored Leonardo Di- Caprio since his path-breaking performance in Catch Me If You Can and love Brad Pitt too, because they have the looks and great acting skills. In Bollywood, I love Ranbir Kapoor and think nobody can beat him.

Who would you love to work with?

I want to work with all the great actors, because it is more of a learning process when you work with the best, like the three Khans of Bollywood. I also aspire to work with Amitabhji (Bachchan), and among the women, Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra. Also, it is my biggest dream to work with Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as he has made quite a few masterpieces.

If you could master something new what would that be?

I am a creative person, so won’t limit myself with just one thing. But I would love to learn and master dancing as I never learnt it professionally. Apart from that, painting is also one thing I would want to master.

What inspires you?

People who achieve it big in their lives! I think that is the biggest motivation for me. No matter whichever field they belong to, but it gives me the push to do better in life and encourages me that if they can do it, then why not me? I think we have many examples in our surroundings and everyone teaches us something or the other.

More For You

Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow's interest in wellness and food began in part due to her father’s battle with throat cancer

Getty

Gwyneth Paltrow returns to sourdough and pasta after years of ‘hardcore’ diets

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that she is returning to eating foods she once restricted, including sourdough bread, pasta, and cheese, after following a strict paleo diet for several years. The Oscar-winning actress, who has become a prominent health and wellness advocate, has been vocal about her diet choices throughout her career, particularly through her lifestyle business, Goop.

In a recent episode of her Goop podcast, Paltrow discussed her food journey and how her eating habits have evolved over the years. She explained that she had previously gone through a "hardcore macrobiotic" phase, describing it as an "interesting chapter" where she became deeply focused on eating extremely healthy foods. This period saw her embracing a diet rich in seasonal and local foods, with an emphasis on fish, vegetables, and rice, while eliminating dairy and sugar.

Keep ReadingShow less
5 Surprising Penguin Facts to Celebrate World Penguin Day

It’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on these fascinating facts about penguins

iStock

Top 5 fascinating facts about penguins on World Penguin Day

As World Penguin Day arrives, it serves as a reminder to celebrate one of nature’s most beloved and unique creatures. Penguins have long captured our imaginations with their tuxedo-like appearance, charming behaviour, and extraordinary ability to thrive in some of the harshest environments on Earth. While these remarkable birds are most closely associated with the icy expanses of Antarctica, their story is far more diverse and fascinating. Here are five fascinating facts about penguins that highlight their resilience, adaptability, and their role in the animal kingdom.

1. Penguins aren’t confined to Antarctica

Although penguins are often linked with the cold and icy landscapes of Antarctica, they are not confined to this frozen continent. In fact, penguins inhabit a wide range of environments across the Southern Hemisphere. While species such as the Emperor and Adélie penguins breed exclusively in Antarctica, other penguin species have adapted to life in warmer climates. For instance, the Galápagos penguin resides on the Galápagos Islands, located just north of the equator, where temperatures are much warmer than those in the icy waters of the South Pole.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harrogate flower show

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society

Getty

Harrogate to host UK’s largest flower show with 40,000 visitors

An estimated 40,000 visitors are expected to attend the Harrogate Spring Flower Show over the next four days, making it one of the UK’s largest events for horticulture and floral art. The event, which opened today (Thursday 24 April), is being held at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre in Harrogate and runs daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm until Sunday 27 April.

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, the Harrogate Spring Flower Show is recognised for hosting the UK’s biggest exhibition of creative floral art. This year’s floral art theme, Swords & Sorcery: Fantasy Heroes, features imaginative displays inspired by fantasy and mythical tales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian community

Menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime

iStock

Breaking the silence: Why Asian women must talk about menopause

Kiran Singh

For many women in the Asian community, the journey through perimenopause and menopause is still shrouded in silence, confusion, and, at times, shame. It’s often seen as something we just have to “put up with” quietly, as though struggling through it alone is a badge of honour. But the truth is, menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime - and it is time we start talking about it, especially within our cultural communities where silence often masks suffering.

We all go through it - so why don’t we talk about it?

Menopause doesn’t arrive overnight. For most women, it begins subtly during perimenopause, which can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s and last for several years. According to the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), over 30 recognised symptoms of perimenopause range from hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and joint pain.

Keep ReadingShow less
How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

AI tunes into dementia needs

How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

THE recent World Health Congress Awards in Mumbai were a revelation. Stepping into that room overlooking the Arabian Sea, I was surrounded by pioneers and individuals shaping the future of healthcare with bold ideas.

Amid the buzz of innovation, one topic resonated deeply: dementia. It was not just the medical complexities, but the human stories, the silent struggles of carers, and the potential for technology to bridge the widening gaps in care.

Keep ReadingShow less