Healthy Habits from Indian Actress & Influencer: Meet Ratnika Vyas
By Natalie Benoit
“I was very excited to work with her, but she told me ‘you need to get a lip job and you need to get a nose job.”
Actress and influencer Ratnika Vyas recounts one of her less-than-friendly experiences at a shoot after a makeup artist suggests she gets plastic surgery. Vyas says “you have to be incredibly thick-skinned,” to work in the acting and modeling industry. Nevertheless, the Delhi-based public figure isn’t letting harsh comments or scrutiny deter her from her dreams.
Vyas is known for her appearances on TLC India’s “The Bonafide Bride” and multiple different advertising commercials. She encourages followers to pursue the best version of themselves, and she’s what some may describe as a modern-day renaissance woman.
Not only is she an actress, but she’s a live events presenter, model, brand ambassador for Bridge University, and a vlogger for high-end fashion brands. Vyas has spoken for a variety of corporate events and was even invited as a featured speaker for a Women’s Day panel that celebrated women from India. Vyas has modeled and vlogged for a number of fashion and style brands, posting for them extensively on her Instagram. The Indian influencer shares her passion for fitness and experience traveling the world on her Instagram page, which has gained over 20,000 followers.
“My favorite destination has been Kyrgyzstan, which is Central Russia, Asia. What was the most tricky part of going to a place like this was the language. I wouldn't understand Russian and nobody would speak English or Hindi...Imagine taking an extra two days to figure out where to go...and other things had to be figured out on my own,” Vya shared about her traveling experience.
The actress has managed the language barrier she encounters by delving into the region’s market place. “Whenever I go somewhere, I will find the most fashionable places, the famous market streets to figure out where I can get good jewelry and clothes because that’s something I love.” Exploring these market places give Vyas a local perspective on where to find the trendiest and most affordable fashion pieces. It also helps her experience an area’s culture more in-depth and allows her to familiarize herself with the country’s language.
One particular travel story the Indian influencer remembers was her encounter with another young woman in Sri Lanka. The two shared information with one another about their home countries. “I was really excited to talk to her about India. And it’s always nice to know people love the culture of one’s country.”
Nations across the world have placed restrictions on travel and imposed other regulations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, the restrictions and quarantine have affected Vyas’s lifestyle and ability to travel. During the interview, she explained how yoga, meditation, and Buddhism chanting have each allowed her to feel better mentally.
“It really helps me build a lot of positive energy, which helps me feed off of that energy. It’s very easy to get into your lows while you’re not really working. You can feel really, really hopeless, and feel sad,” Vyas opened up. “You have to get into something that really keeps you sane and that’s the most important thing for an artist, you have to keep mentally sane,” she advised.
The Delhi-based figure chants “Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō,” which are religious words chanted among followers of Buddhism. Repeating the phrase brings Vyas peace of mind and helps uplift her, similar to the intentions people seek with self-affirmation.
The live event speaker also practices meditation for mental clarity and mindfulness. She begins the process by turning off her phone and lighting several candles to introduce aromatherapy into the practice. Vyas then sets up in a comfortable position on a carpet.
“You close your eyes and then you concentrate. Now you do that for about 3 minutes or if you’re able to, 5 minutes. You do it in the morning and then you do it in the evening… A lot of people go through a lot in their heads and they’re dealing with stuff.” Vyas believes it’s vital everyone talks to a friend or a therapist when they’re feeling down because “we’re all in this collectively.”
Good physical health is just as important as one’s mental stability and wellness. Vyas explained how exercising twice a day and eating nutritious meals have become part of her regular routine. “Right now I’m into tai chi and yoga. I’m doing a lot of burpees and crunches and then I go and run in the basement, which is a parking lot.”
Even though Vyas has earned herself a large social media platform and a successful career, she believes her journey is far from over. In her Instagram bio, it reads “work in progress.” She clarified the meaning and reasoning for it during our interview.
“I do believe that everybody is a ‘work in progress’ and I’m definitely a ‘work in progress.’ I'm making an effort to be better every day. I'm making an effort to become a better human being every day. It's not just about my craft and my Instagram posts, but about how I am as a human being… I have what I always wanted, but to really understand that it's very important to be grateful in life.”
The Find Your ID NYC creative agency invited Vyas as a guest on the July 8th PYNKTALKS, where she discussed her career and life experience with me. The hour-long interview was cut into two parts, with the first 30 minutes saved on the FYID IGTV. The second half of the PYNKTALKS interview is on the agency’s Facebook.
