Congratulations on becoming Mrs India Worldwide. What does the award mean to you?
It is a great honor for me to be the torch bearer for this coveted title. It means that I have been chosen to be the first one, to be the one who will break stereotypes and the one who will carve a path for others to follow. As much as this award means victory, it brings with it a great deal of responsibility. This title is a matter of great prestige for me.

What motivated you to join this competition?
After being crowned as the First Ever Mrs. India USA in 2014, I had a wonderful journey for 1 year. I got a chance to represent my title at various prestigious events and places not just locally but also internationally. So when Mrs. India Worldwide pageant was announced, I was excited to participate first of all to mark success for all married women who believe in full-filling theirs dreams after marriage and also for the possibility to make a difference globally. And with prior experience, I believed that pageants have always provided me with the right platform to promote my passions and beliefs.

Could you tell us a little about your work?
I am a Senior Scientist at Novartis working in the field of cancer research. With my background, Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, my focus at Novartis is to design and develop systems for delivering anti-cancer agents. I am a part of Development group so my work is closer to the patients.

Is there a specific kind of cancer that your work will impact?
Not a specific type of cancer. I am working on developing drug delivery systems which will have the capability of encapsulating any needed anti-cancer drug.

Any advice for young women considering a career in scientific research?
I have always believed that education is utmost important. My advice would be to complete education first. For pursuing scientific research, what helped me personally was joining a research lab while I was still studying. That gave me a practical sense of the industry and how my work is going to affect humanity. Joining the lab, not only gave me hands on experience but also strengthened my interest further. When you realize that your research will do good to humanity, it doesn’t take a lot to ignite the passion to work towards it.  

How do you manage work life balance?
Being a Scientist, dance instructor, model and actor, all at the same time, is the most adventurous part of my life. I like to dedicate fixed time to each of these to make sure I am contributing something towards each goal. I believe that by using simple principles like time management and prioritizing I have been able to maintain work life balance.

Where do you hope to be 10 years from now?
Cancer being one of the leading causes of death in the world, in 10 years from now, I see myself taking a great deal of responsibility in curing cancer. Being a dance instructor, I see myself helping as many people as possible to express themselves through dance. I also see myself excelling in modeling and acting aspect of my life. By doing all this, I see myself setting an example and motivating women to pursue their passions and hobbies after marriage.

What are your hobbies?
Favorite ones are dancing, acting and modeling. I also enjoy F1 racing, zip-lining, playing pool, etc.

Any advice for our readers?
No dream is small or big. You just have to believe in it and work towards it. There might be a time when maybe you can’t work on it due to circumstances. But do not let it go, keep thinking of it. And when the time is right, just go for it..!

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