Ulka Gupta, who is currently playing the lead in Banni Chow Home Delivery, recently announced her exit from social media. When BT reached out to the young actress, she shared her concerns about quitting social media and how the whole experience was getting too much for her. Ulka said, “Social media is a good tool when you want to talk about your work or integrate it with some project. But over the years, I realised that I was getting too addicted to Instagram and wanted to get rid of my habit. Just like we fast once a week or twice a month, and then tend to enjoy our daily food more after abstaining from it, similarly I felt it was important to get away from social media and get in touch with the real world.”
She added, “I also read recently how Spiderman actor Tom Holland took a break from social media. I was inspired by his decision. I felt that I was caught in a trap — as soon as my shot would get over, I would check my phone to see the updates on Instagram. In the mornings, that’s the first thing I would do instead of saying my prayers and thanking God. Even when I would travel, I would only be checking my phone. Today, every youngster is engrossed in the number of ‘likes’ he or she gets on social media. They are not aware of what’s happening in the real world.”
When asked how she feels after going off social media, she said, “I can do other things now. I get more time to read, play chess, work out, listen to music, learn a new language and learn deejaying. Now, I realise that my entire day was spent in interacting with fans and responding to them, and after I quit social media, some of them texted me saying even they have found newer things to do. I have learnt that social media can take you down the rabbit hole if it’s not kept within limits. You are no longer in touch with the good things of life. Today, I feel a lot more relaxed and energetic.”
