Bring on the challenge: Yana Gupta

She didn’t quite make it in to the big screen. Barring an item number or two and a sprinkling of roles in films, the model-turned actor eventually found fame in the television industry. After proving her strength in Khatron Ke Khiladi earlier, Yana will now be seen go-karting, bungee jumping and para gliding in Life Mein Ek Baar, a travel-adventure show on Fox Traveller that will be aired from next week.

“The schedule was very exhausting but the experience was awesome. We shot in various exotic locations in South Africa for almost three weeks. And because we had to shoot during the day, it used get really hot and hectic,” says Yana, who is presently busy holidaying in London. “I needed this break. I have been working a lot. Apart from Life Mein…, I was also travelling around for various shows, performances and events,” she adds.

The first season of the reality show with Purab Kohli was a big success but when Yana approached to do the next one, she had no clue about it. “I hadn’t watched the first season at all, but I wanted to do it because I love adventure. When they called me, I said yes  immediately because I thought it would be challenging. I’m quite an adventurous person and love trying out new things. If I’m uncomfortable and scared of something, I challenge myself to do it. And this show gave me the chance to experience some of those adventures which are on my bucket list within two weeks. It was amazing,” shares Yana.

What were the stunts she loved doing? “A lot of them in fact. I did bungee jumping from one of the highest points in Cape Town, learned to fly a helicopter, para gliding — I have done a few of these earlier but I wasn’t really comfortable, and when I was asked to do it on the show, it turned out to be an amazing experience. But something that I had never done before and totally loved doing here was go-karting,” chuckles Yana, adding, “Now I feel so much stronger and braver that I can show off and challenge my friends.”

Incidentally Yana is not going to be alone on the show; the other female contestants are Barbara Mori, Archana Vijaya, Diandra Soares and Kirat Bhattal. And no, there were no catfights, in case you were wondering. “I don’t know why people think where there are women, there are catfights. We all got along very well and had lots of fun together.
Everyone was down to earth and without any attitude; we made good friends. But on a personal level, I connected very well with Barbara,” she says.

Before winding up this conversation, Yana says that she is also looking at doing a few Bollywood projects. “I’m on a break for the next two weeks. But I have few offers that I have to look into once I get back,” signs off Yana.