By Abhigna Ghosh
Sejal Kumar is a popular name in the fashion vlogging industry. With a subscriber base of more than a million, she always catered to her fans and followers with freshly-brewed content.
The Delhi-based content creator ventured into acting with Engineering girls season 1 back in 2018. The first Season broke the internet and amazing fans with its engaging storyline. Her dreamy character Kiara was an instant hit owing to how relatable she was.
Now, Kiara is back along with Sabu and Maggu in a brand new season of Engineering Girls 2. The show is all set to air on 27th August exclusively on ZEE 5. The trailer has already created quite the rush and the audience is excited to know where the journey of the three girls is next headed to.
In a candid chat, Sejal Kumar opened up about her character in Engineering girls and gave us a glimpse into the fondest memory from the set.
How was your experience shooting for Engineering Girls 2.O
Sejal: We actually finished shooting for the series way back in 2019. For some reason, the release was delayed. But yes, even then the experience was great. Given the amazing cast and team we had, it was a lot more fun. Everybody on set, including Barkha, Krithika, and our director Apoorva, were all really amazing and I had a blast shooting for it.
Did this series bring back any college memories?
Sejal: We were shooting amidst the college students and the entire vibe of the set definitely brought back some good old memories of my college days. I wouldn’t say my college life was exactly the same as Kiara’s but yes, it was definitely relatable to my own life.
Generally, engineering college-based series are mostly male-centric. How do you feel about being a part of a female-centric engineering college show?
Sejal: I think it’s really amazing that even for college and hostel-based shows, we are now putting forward women’s with their perspective and experience.
And the best part is along with shifting to this type of content from the industry end, the audience is actually receiving it well and giving it the same love and appreciation. So, I hope things keep going this way and we get to see many more shows like this.
Did you connect to your on-screen character Kiara at any level?
Sejal: I think the way Kiara is someone who takes initiative, follows her dreams, and keeps going regardless of whatever she faces is something on which I relate to her. Also, the biggest similarity between us is that growing up, I wanted to be an actress and so does Kiara in this series. So for me, it’s like coming to a full circle.
What is your best memory from the sets of Engineering Girls 2.O?
Sejal: The entire experience was amazing because the entire shoot was held in a college. The college students were there and they were interacting with us, inviting us to visit their hostel. So the set was always bustling with young energy and I think that’s something that I really enjoyed.
What is the biggest obstacle you have faced in your career as a vlogger?
Sejal: Being a vlogger I faced obstacles at every step and even today I think my journey is not free of challenges. But speaking of my initial years when I was just starting out, I think the biggest challenge you face is when you start something new, people don’t support you or even believe in your dreams. When I started vlogging, it was a very new concept and not a lot of people knew about it.
Having a taste of both worlds. what do you like more vlogging or acting?
Sejal: I started vlogging right from my college days and I am never going to give up on this. I really enjoy the freedom that comes with it. I get to create my own content and present my own style. But at the same time, acting is something that I have always wanted to do. The acting was an inner calling. Being on the sets and telling a story through a completely different character is something that I really enjoy. So, yes I enjoy both and I am just going with the flow right now.
OTT is booming in India right now and it certainly has created a lot of opportunities for actors. What is your take on this?
Sejal: I think it’s really great because OTT opens up a lot of opportunities for everyone. The content is very diverse and it provides a brilliant medium for sharing your story. And I think this goes for all digital formats. I always knew that digital format in India be it YouTube or OTT will be huge because it caters to a section of the audience, that is the youngsters who mainstream TV couldn’t satisfy. I feel the boom of OTT is amazing for all actors and artists out there.