Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Khushi Du­bey: From gifted child star to a popular leading lady

Khushi Du­bey: From gifted child star to  a popular leading lady

Khushi Dubey discusses her career and new thriller series

Being confident as a yo­ungster got Khushi Du­bey noticed and a photoshoot for a major advertising campaign, which, subsequently, led to her being cast as a child actor in the Vikram Bhatt directed film Ankahee (2006) as a six-year-old.


Not being afraid in fr­ont of the camera led her on an interesting jo­urney, from child st­ar to a lifelong acting ca­­reer, and gaining fa­me from key roles in po­­­pu­lar serials like Naagin.

The 22-year-old has now landed a lead role in new romantic thriller serial Aashiqana, which has received a positive response since premiering on streaming site Hotstar.

Eastern Eye caught up with the exciting talent to talk about her journey, being a child star, Aashiqana, inspirations, and hopes.

How do you reflect on your days as a child star working on film and TV?

Wherever I used to go, I had so many people coming to me for autographs and everything. That was a different experience altogether. At school, my friends, and teachers, especially my principal ma’am, really appreciated my work. That appreciation always felt really special.

What about when you gained fame with serials like Naagin?

I remember while shooting for Naagin, a fan came from Israel with a very huge teddy bear. There were many moments like that, and I used to love it. Of course, I had to balance my shooting with education, as both were important and also, I was good in studies. When I grew up, I took up lead roles and that is a completely different feeling because all the pressure of the show and everything depends on you, from the show’s ratings to the love of viewers. Everything depends on the kind of efforts you put into that show. So, it has been beautiful, but there is a bit more pressure now.

How did you feel about landing a lead role in Aashiqana?

I think my role in Aashiqana is a dream come true and one any actor would love. I was happy, delighted, and especially excited, when I got to know the show is being produced by Gul (Khan) ma’am. We have such a talented team. The entire concept of Aashiqana with a murder, romance, and thriller element is great. These are some things I personally like a lot. I was really speechless when I got to know about this role.

How did you feel about it being streamed on Hotstar?

Hotstar is one of the best streaming platforms we have right now. I myself am addicted to Hotstar and shows on it like Hostages. Streaming platforms are something youngsters are very much addicted to. They love watching series which have drama, thrill, and action. Our show has a blend of all of these things.

Tell us about your character?

My role is Chikki Sharma. When Gul ma’am explained about the role, she told me that she is going to represent all women and is very layered. The character is emotional, hardworking, funny, and very brave. I also have so many action scenes in the series, which I haven’t done before. So, getting to do all of that, including stunts and fight sequences, has been beautiful. I could not have asked for something better.

Lead inset Khushi and her Aashiqana co star Zayn Ibad Khan 2 Khushi Dubey with her Aashiqana co-starZayn Ibad Khan


What is Zayn Ibad Khan like as a co-star?

Zayn is wonderful, very supportive and extremely hardworking. He also has a great sense of humour, so we share a great bond. He has helped me a lot whenever I have faced any difficulties on set. That is all you could expect and ask from a great co-star. And he’s a gentleman. I really hope that the kind of bonding we have, efforts we are putting into show and chemistry we share, translates for viewers and people like it. We have already seen so much love coming from viewers. The audience really loves our chemistry. I really hope that this continues and we promise to keep you entertained.

What is the plan going forward?

I don’t have a fixed plan and am just going with the flow. I would love to be a part of more such shows, which have a great storyline and an impactful character for me to play. I would like to take on diverse genres and experiment with characters away from my personality. Like Chikki in Aashiqana is so different from what I’m like in real life. She’s really talkative and extroverted, whereas I’m a little reserved. So, these roles give you so much opportunity to grow as an actor. Whether it be movies, web shows or other TV content, I would love to do all these things.

Do you have a dream role?

I have many dream roles actually. I love the role that Kareena Kapoor played in Jab We Met as Geet. I loved Vidya Balan’s role like the one in Kahaani. There are so many more! I also feel that the one I’m playing right now, as Chikki, is also a dream role.

Who would you love to work with in the future?

I love working with my current team because I really appreciate the kind of efforts the direction team, creative team, and our producer Gul ma’am is putting into this show. Also, my co-stars and editing team, so everybody actually. It’s so lovely working with them. I would love to work with Zoya (Akhtar) ma’am again as a director, because she is a great filmmaker. I loved working with her. In terms of actors, I would love to work with Shah Rukh Khan. Also, Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra again. They are legendary actors, and anybody would want to learn from them, and share screen space with them.

What kind of content do you enjoy watching as an audience?

I love watching murder and mystery stories, with a thriller element. I also enjoy romantic stories. It’s almost like describing my own show. But these are the kind of genres I really like.

What inspires you?

Many things inspire me. Seeing a good actor truly become a character and start living and experiencing the journey, really inspires me. Actors like Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut, who have played versatile roles, inspire me a lot. Humility also inspires me. Seeing stars who have become humbler as they have climbed higher inspires me, whether it is Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor sir or Farhan Akhtar, with whom I have worked. They are so down to earth and hardworking, which is amazing.

Why should we tune into Aashiqana?

Aashiqana is a complete package! It is a blend of romance, thrill, drama, action, mystery, and murder. It has every thrill you can think of in a web show. We have tried to cover all age groups. The beautiful storyline has two lead characters who are completely different from each other. The girl is bubbly, brave, innocent, and emotional, whereas the police officer guy is stubborn and reserved. Yet, he is very strong and brave. She aspires to become a police officer too and is a strong symbol of girl power. They are up against a cold-blooded killer. We have all the elements to intrigue audiences and develop interest. The directors, producers and the entire team are doing a great job.

Instagram: @_khushidubey

More For You

Michael jackson

It was part of a global promotional campaign for Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album

Getty Images

From a McDonald's to a nightclub: The strange afterlife of Michael Jackson’s giant statues

Key points

  • Ten giant Michael Jackson statues were built in 1995 to promote his HIStory album
  • The 32ft figures appeared around the world and followed him on tour
  • Some remain visible in places like Switzerland, Italy, and South Africa
  • Others have been removed or stored due to controversy after Jackson’s death and allegations
  • Owners now face challenges selling, relocating or preserving the monuments

A colossal promotion campaign

In June 1995, Londoners witnessed an unusual spectacle: a 32ft statue of Michael Jackson being floated down the River Thames. It was part of a global promotional campaign for Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album. A total of ten fibreglass statues were made, all modelled on the album cover image, and they accompanied the singer on his worldwide tour.

The statues were the product of a transatlantic effort. American sculptor Diana Walczak worked closely with Jackson to design a clay prototype. In the UK, artist Stephen Pyle oversaw the construction of the fibreglass versions, assisted by sculptor Derek Howarth and a team based at Elstree Studios. Built in just four months, the statues bore some differences from the original prototype due to limited access.

Keep ReadingShow less
Prabhu Ram storyteller

His debut novel, Nectar on the Seven Hills – The Pure Seed

Om Books International

Prabhu Ram: Banker by day, storyteller of myths by night

By day, Prabhu Ram is a senior executive at a top investment bank in London. But when the suit comes off, another world unfurls – one filled with ancient sutras, secret societies, forgotten kingdoms and cosmic adventure.

His debut novel, Nectar on the Seven Hills – The Pure Seed, is a bold, genre-blending odyssey that bridges the sacred and cinematic, the mystical and the modern.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brown Girls Do It Too; Poppy Jay & Rubina Pabani Break Taboo

Set against a cheekily colourful bedroom backdrop

AMG

'Brown Girls Do It Too' by Poppy and Rubina breaks taboos with comedy and heart

From the moment Poppy and Rubina stepped onto the stage of Soho Theatre in central London for Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come, the energy was electric, the laughs non-stop, and the message loud and clear: British Asian women are done with silence.

What began as a ground-breaking, award-winning podcast that sparked online backlash for daring to talk openly about sex and relationships within South Asian communities has now evolved into arguably the most unique and fearless live show of the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
How Pooja Singhal Reinvented Pichvai Art for London’s First-Ever Show

Pooja Singhal on reviving Rajasthan’s Pichvai art with Feast Melody and Adornment in the UK’s largest showcase

pichwaitraditionandbeyond.com

Pooja Singhal on reviving Rajasthan’s Pichvai art and bringing it to London for the first time

For the first time, London’s Mall Galleries will host a major exhibition dedicated entirely to Pichvai paintings, an intricate devotional textile tradition from Rajasthan. Titled Feast, Melody and Adornment (2–6 July 2025), the show brings over 350 artworks to a British audience, highlighting the evolution and global revival of this 400-year-old art form.

Curated by Pooja Singhal, founder of Udaipur-based atelier Pichvai Tradition and Beyond, the exhibition is being hailed as the most ambitious contemporary presentation of Pichvai to date. In fact, it marks a powerful shift in how Indian temple art is being experienced: not in hushed museum archives, but as a vibrant, living tradition reaching new audiences.

Keep ReadingShow less
Louvre workers strike over overtourism

The strike highlights long-standing concerns among Louvre staff

AP

Louvre workers strike over overtourism and understaffing, forcing rare closure

The Louvre Museum in Paris, the world’s most-visited art institution, was forced to shut its doors to the public for most of Monday, 17 June, as workers staged a spontaneous strike in protest over chronic overcrowding and deteriorating working conditions.

Thousands of ticket-holding visitors were left waiting in long queues beneath the museum’s iconic glass pyramid, with no clear explanation provided on-site. Many expressed frustration over the lack of communication and the disruption to their plans.

Keep ReadingShow less