Talking to Prateek Sur, Ahsaas Channa opens up about ‘Half CA’, the response to the show, her filmy family and lots more. She even talks about how she discusses with her mother the kind of scripts that come her way. Also, she discusses the short video of her where she is slamming a guy going viral on social media and how that catapulted her to overnight stardom. Excerpts from the candid chat:

‘Half CA’ has?got some of the best reviews of your career. What has the response been for you? Or rather, what’s been the most unique yet the best compliment you’ve received yet?

Firstly, I’m really overwhelmed with the response. I knew the show was good, well-written and directed. I believed in it. But I didn’t expect the non-CA community to love it and enjoy it as much as they did. I played this game with myself after the release where I made a count of people every day who would come and tell me that they’ve watched ‘Half CA’ and?loved it. And the count was never less than five. For an entire month. People at banks, salons and restaurants came up to me and said they resonated with the show despite not being or studying CA. I’m on cloud nine.

You’ve been a film kid always. Your mom’s an actress and your dad’s a film producer, if I am not wrong. Did you ever have any other ambitions besides being an actress? Like did you ever think ‘I want?to become a CA or an engineer or a lawyer or a doctor, etc’?

Not really. I started off really young. So, I grew up on sets and around industry people. I was growing up and falling in love with my profession every day. There’s nothing else I think I’m capable of doing other than acting.

Being from a film family, do you discuss the scripts offered to you with your mom and dad? Do you take their inputs into consideration?

Yes. My mom and I always read the script together and discuss every project before taking it up. My mom has been my manager for the longest time. She still handles my finances. She’s always in the loop with everything I do. Now that I have someone managing my work, her guidance is constant.

Has there ever been a script that your mom or dad said not to do, but you still picked up?

No. That’s never happened till now. Although ‘Phoonk 2’, the film I did, which was directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was a topic of concern for my mother as I had to play a possessed girl in it. She wasn’t sure how it was going to affect me playing such a character at such a young age. But I remember convincing my mom to let me do that film as I was very excited. But yes, my mom’s decision is the final call.

You have often taken up roles of a sweet girl who can voice out when she wants to. Is it by choice or do you feel that you are offered such roles more often?

I’m offered such roles most of the time. Maybe because of the way I am in real life and also the first few projects I did were of a sweet girl next door. But I’m definitely now looking to break away from that image and do something extraordinary and challenging.

I remember you were doing good shows and sketches on various platforms, but it was that one viral video of yours where you were bashing a guy and saying ‘Main tera muh todd doongi’ that became a pivotal point for you. Do you think after that went viral all over, filmmakers started seeing you differently and you started getting bigger roles or lengthier characters to play onscreen?

Hahaha. Yes, that was one viral moment. It was actually from a mini-series called ‘Hum Tum’. My character in it was different. But I genuinely don’t know what cracks and what producers and directors catch. It could have been anything. I’m just happy that everything is on a good path and I’m enjoying the projects I’ve been a part of.