The girl next door

The girl next door

What do Barkha Bisht and MTV have in common? Both launched their acting careers with the soap Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi. Barkha then went on to do an extensive run with Balaji Telefilms, and is currently seen in Rajshri's Pyar Ke Do Naam, Ek Raadha Ek Shyaam. We catch up with the fun-loving Barkha at her Malad home where she is busy planning a party for her boyfriend Karan Singh and a few friends...


1. Down-to-earth

Barkha has been living in her 2BHK Malad flat for two years. She says that she has intentionally done up her place with bright, cheerful colours to offset her serious personality. Orange and red dominate her drawing room. The pieces of her Spartan seating have been picked up from Westside and other lifestyle stores.

2. Puppy love

Barkha is lucky in the way most girls are not. She and her boyfriend enjoy joint shopping trips. "We always shop together and, more often than not, agree to buy the same things," she laughs. That includes wrought iron furniture…and Pepper, the stray dog, although Pepper was no mall purchase. "We brought Pupu in during the rains, and he has stayed with us ever since," she recalls fondly.

3. Top Story

An upside to her apartment is the gorgeous view it affords. Her 14th floor windows double up as place to take in a meal, sip hot coffee, or enjoy a novel. Barkha spends hours here. This Pune girl says that her life took a turn-around after she came to Mumbai to pursue her acting career. Her 'Miss Body Beautiful' title at the 2000 Gladrags contest is one of the highpoints of her success.

4. Happy Meal

If she's a stickler for anything, it's hygiene. "I'm a cleanliness freak," she maintains. Living alone in Mumbai has taught Barkha to be responsible. "I can manage my home very well," she says. Barkha is also a very good cook and prefers to have home-made food to restaurant fare. Beau Karan swears by the chicken biryani and mutton served by his lady love.

5. Ready-to-wear

Clothes and shoes are her weak point. The actress buys them all – jeans, T-shirts, skirts, track pants, kurtas… She's not too hot for Indian wear, though. "In fact, I'd rather wear a sari than a salwar kameez," she insists. From the streets to the malls, Barkha can shop any place, any time.


What makes Barkha Bisht look so good?

Hair
Perry Patel of Makeover cuts my hair. I trust him implicitly. I wash my hair three to four times a week and I religiously oil my hair half an hour before I wash it.

Skin
I pamper my skin with plenty of moisturiser. I don't do facials at all as my skin starts breaking out into a rash if I do so. I use wet tissues to rid my skin of dirt and make-up. I also use a face-wash.

Make-up
I don't use lipstick, but I am partial to lip-gloss. When I am not shooting for a serial, I don't wear make-up at all. For parties and social gatherings I use kajal, mascara and lip-gloss.

Work out
I'm genetically lean but I do work out every day for a toned body. I don't eat rice at all. But otherwise I eat regular food. In the evenings, I avoid carbohydrates and prefer to have a diet rich in proteins. Apart from this, juices, milk-shakes and lots of water are a must-have.