Shrenu Parikh, who’s at present taking part in the lead position within the present Maitree, is a proud Gujarati at coronary heart. She tells us, “As a state, Gujarat has always been ahead of its time, be it in terms of infrastructure, industries, or safety. I am a very proud Gujarati and I love our culture, traditions, food, people, and the way we celebrate festivals, especially Navratri. The Navratri celebrations in my hometown (Vadodara) are simply unmatched. While Gujaratis can be a bit loud at times, they are very friendly. We know how to live life to the fullest; we are very colourful when it comes to dressing up for festivals and occasions, and I really enjoy it. Be it art, literature, science, or commerce, we are doing well everywhere and that is due to the combination of talent and hard work. Our entrepreneurial spirit has been acknowledged by the world and we also boast of a rich heritage. There are a lot of stereotypes associated with Gujaratis. Not all of us say ‘

Ara ra ra’

while having a conversation, thepla isn’t our staple food and while we absolutely love garba, not all of us have garba tunes as our ringtones! Having said that, I am glad that we are so peculiar, in a good way, that these character traits are known all over the world. I also feel proud about how the Gujarati entertainment industry is growing and I loved the experience of doing my first Gujarati film (

Lamboo Rastoo

, 2018). We have made some wonderful Gujarati films in the last few years and some fabulous shows are being made in the OTT space too. I want to do a few good Gujarati films soon. As for my wish-list for the state, I want to see a Film City here and better traffic management.”