‘It’s A Different Kashmir Now’

‘One
day,
I
would
love
to
have
a
house
there.’

Vedang
Raina,
who
was
recently
seen
in

Jigra,
recently
visited
the
Kashmir
Valley
and
came
back
refreshed.

He
shares
his
experience
with

Subhash
K
Jha,
“Kashmiri
food
is
my
favourite!
I
love
Rogan
Josh.
The
walnut
pies
in
Kashmir
are
also
really
good.”

Have
you
been
mobbed
after

Jigra
release?

I
haven’t
really
stepped
out
yet,
so
no
mobbing
(laughs).

But

Jigra
changed
my
life
way
before
it
even
released.

I’m
grateful
to
be
a
part
of
this
project
and
work
alongside
some
really
great
minds.

I
feel
blessed
to
be
in
this
position
so
early
in
my
career
and
at
such
a
young
age.

Which
is
the
best
compliment
you
have
received
so
far?

That
this
did
not
look
like
my
debut
at
all.

I
work
really
hard
to
get
appreciated
for
my
work.

I’m
glad
people
liked
my
performances
and
saw
some
promise.
It
really
means
the
world.

You
recently
visited
Kashmir.
What
was
that
like?

It’s
one
of
the
best
places
in
the
world
to
visit.

One
of
my
favourite
vacations
I’ve
had.

Did
you
go
with
friends?

I
went
with
my
family.

My
parents
didn’t
live
in
Kashmir
either
but
they
used
to
go
there
often
as
kids.
They
had
family
there.

It
was
special
to
visit
the
places
where
they
spent
their
childhood.

They
showed
me
around
Srinagar
like
it’s
their
home.

What
are
the
locals
like?

They
are
very
warm
to
all
visitors.

Did
you
meet
your
kith
and
kin
in
Kashmir?

I
don’t
have
any
relatives
there
anymore.
Quite
sad,
actually.

Did
you
get
a
chance
to
try
the
local
cuisine?

Oh
yes!
Best
food
in
the
world!
Kashmiri
food
is
my
favourite.

I
love
Rogan
Josh.
The
walnut
pies
in
Kashmir
are
also
really
good.

Would
you
like
to
go
back
to
Kashmir?

Most
definitely.
I
love
Kashmir.

One
day,
I
would
love
to
have
a
house
there.

Did
you
feel
safe
in
Kashmir?

It’s
a
different
Kashmir
now.
Yes,
I
felt
safe.

Where
do
you
feel
at
home?

Now,
it’s
Mumbai.
But
Srinagar
somehow
feels
like
home.

Rainawari
in
Srinagar
is
where
my
father’s
side
of
the
family
is
from.

What
next?

I
want
to
keep
growing,
improving
and
evolving
as
an
actor.

I
want
to
keep
challenging
myself
and
keep
working.

Hopefully,
I
will
get
interesting
opportunities
to
do
that.

Photographs
curated
by
Satish
Bodas/Rediff.com