'Want To Tell Stories I Believe In': Atiya Tara Nayak Isn't Just Here To Act

Remember that phase as a kid when you picked a new dream job every other day? Atiya Tara Nayak skipped that phase and went straight to "Acting. Period." She chased this ambition all the way to acting school in New York and back, and now her characters are already getting the audience talking. I mean, it's literally in her name; she was born to be a star.

Stepping into the industry at a time when female characters are undergoing a powerful shift, Atiya represents a bold, ambitious, and refreshingly unfiltered wave of women in entertainment. 

"When I entered the industry, I was very sure that whatever I do, I should believe in the project," Atiya expressed in an exclusive conversation with SheThePeople. 

"I was really lucky to have something like Ziddi Girls as a debut, because it literally represents everything that I believe in and stand for," she reflects.

Soon after, Atiya ventured into the crime-thriller space with Search: The Naina Murder Case, a genre she personally loves watching. 

“It’s a great time right now,” she says about the evolving landscape for female-centric narratives. “I still think there’s a lot more scope for women-led and feminist stories, but we’re getting there.”

Characters With Flaws & Growth

Despite the vastly different worlds her characters come from, Atiya finds a common thread of rebellion and personal growth between them. 

She brings a sense of 'Atiya-ness' to each role, a quality she describes as "sensitivity, vulnerability, resilience, and strength" that makes her characters relatable and layered.

As a young movie buff herself, Atiya is conscious of how female stories are evolving. "Audiences today want women who are multi-dimensional, flawed, and layered; not just eye-candy side characters," she says. 

Social Media and Self-Expression

Atiya acknowledges how social media has changed the entertainment landscape. While follower counts can influence casting decisions, these platforms also open new doors for artists.

"On social media, you don't need to wait for somebody to give you an opportunity," Atiya notes. "You can create your own script and just record something and put it out there, which is amazing."

For Atiya, growth isn’t about likes or followers, it’s about authenticity. "When you feel more confident in front of the camera and more willing to take certain chances, that's when you realise you're growing," she says.

Looking Ahead

While her work in Ziddi Girls and Search has already made waves, Atiya is excited to explore a wide range of projects. “I want roles that challenge me, that are fun and silly, but also have emotional depth."

With her youthful optimism and readiness to experiment, Atiya Tara Nayak is ushering in a unique perspective in storytelling, where women are leading the screen with bold and relatable narratives.

Reflecting on her journey so far, she offers advice to her younger self: "Relax, worry less. We're constantly thinking about the future or some past mistakes instead of just living in the now. That's something I've learned to do now."