Frumpista to fashionista

Roshni Chopra

When this writer heard a rumour that several followers of Roshni Chopra had called Sabyasachi stores asking for the exact outfit she wore on her Instagram, we knew that she was one to take note of. When we speak to Chopra on a weekday evening, she is sipping wine, and chatting with us from a room with a sea view. "I take that as a compliment. If people think they can take something I wore, and make it theirs, there is nothing like it. That's what I aim to do."

Chopra, once a familiar face on TV - she is most remembered for her role as Pia in Zee TV's Kasamh Se - took a break to focus on raising her two sons, nine-year-old Jaiveer and five-year-old Reyaan with husband, filmmaker Siddharth Anand Kumar. Ever since, she has been sharing fashion and lifestyle content on her Instagram, and today, has a following touching 346k. Her aesthetic is girly, pretty, coordinated and clean. That she is 40, just adds to her charm. "I was always fond of beautiful aesthetics. I used to cringe at the clothes I had to wear on my shows, and would carry my own! I think the fact that what I do is mostly easy to follow, makes me relatable. I have been through different stages in my life. From frumpista to fashionista - I have done it all. I don't have time to do shoots at fancy locations. I do stuff in my balcony when one of the kids is having a bath." The fact that her balcony looks like a readymade Instagrammable location is something Chopra has worked on. "Everything has to be balanced and clean. It has to be visually pleasing and harmonious. I don't want to be here to flex, so it should add some value to the viewer's life. It also needs to be fun, no matter what age or stage you are at."

Roshni Chopra with filmmaker husband Siddharth Anand Kumar, and sons Jaiveer and Reyaan

Influencing alongside the Gen Z is something that Chopra says she most enjoys. "I am very inspired by their irreverence. They don't care too much. Our generation thinks too much and asks too many questions, which dilutes the true intention. But, I have developed my own unique voice - I don't follow trends if it doesn't suit me. The good thing about social media is that it's very personal and it's my vision. It's not an ad! I also want to interact with people who are interested in my value system."

Her followers often ask her how she balances her life on social media, while managing a home and raising children. Chopra says her media life is not separate from her personal, and hence, everything is part of the package. "It's inclusive of the husband, the kids, the fun and the drama. That's my authentic story."

If and when the whole social media race - which has become harder with changing algorithms, and the advent of Reels, which older content creators are finding difficult to adapt to - gets to her, Chopra, who endorses many brands on her page, uses a tried and tested hack to get back on track. "I just take a step back. I don't force it. That I'm able to do this is a benefit of not being born on Instagram, as I am not attached to likes. That's me as a person as well, or I would have chased that Bollywood career. I am blessed as my content does well - I have nothing controversial, so if people like it, they like it. If they don't, that's fine too."

Is there more in the future than just social media? Chopra smiles, "I think the forward draft for that is interesting to explore. Is there a reality show? I am figuring it out. For now, I am overloaded with work. The biggest hope I have for the immediate future is that schools reopen for my boys!"