Actor and Entrepreneur Parul Gulati made us fall in love with her performance in much-celebrated shows like Haq Se, Girls Hostel, Hey Prabhu, The Raikar Case, and Selection Day. She also starred in Nikkhil Advani’s TV series P.O.W. – Bandi Yuddh Ke, Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam. She also gave a much-appreciated performance in her music video “ Aaya Jado Daa” with Aparshakti Khurana. Currently, she is seen Voot Select’s latest web series Illegal Season 2. With a beauty that would leave anyone awestruck, she is the perfect combination of charm and brains. She is also the founder and the sole leader of her Hair extensions brand “Nish Hair”. The word impossible doesn’t seem to exist in her dictionary and her fans believe that she is more than a mere mortal.
In a conversation with team WomenShine, she shares some moments of her journey and experiences with us.
WS: OTT platforms and web shows have become so popular nowadays. Being an integral part of this space, what are your thoughts on this?
PG: ”A lot of projects are being made these days because the web is a medium where we will always need new content. That is why apart from new shows, there are new seasons of successful shows. The web is not biased about a few people, rather it is a space where you are hired if you are fit for
the work be it actors, writers, or technicians. That is why the employment rate has also increased. The medium is also synonymous with freedom of expression.
WS: What kind of roles entice you?
PG: I really want to do comedy because I think I’ve done so much heavy drama. But any character that stays with me or is interesting, well written, and also flawed, interests me the most.
WS: When did you know that you wanted to become an actress?
PG: It was not planned at all. I got selected via Facebook. I went for an audition when I was studying and this was my first taste of the entertainment industry. Initially, it was all hunky-dory, but I soon got cast in a Punjabi movie and this encouraged me to focus on acting as a career.
WS: What are your future plans as an actress?
PG: Working in Bollywood is my dream. I think if I am too comfortable in one space, I will stop growing as an individual, so I want to try my luck in Bollywood films and I want to dance and at the same time be part of meaningful stories. So, I will not say I am so satisfied that I will just be working in web shows. The idea is to stay happy but hungry to grow. I would be lying if I say I do not want to be part of Bollywood movies.
WS: Tell us something about your journey as an Entrepreneur.
PG: As a part of the entertainment and beauty industry, I have seen the amount of value, work, and love that hair brings to someone but also the inevitable damage that it takes. Hair extensions have never been a new concept, but high-quality pieces have been inaccessible to the general public. The ones available were predominantly made out of synthetic hair strands and were simply not versatile enough. It was clear that there was an untapped potential here, and that is when the idea for Nish Hair was conceived. I started Nish Hair in 2017 with a belief that everyone, especially women, deserves to feel beautiful and confident and look incredible.
I noticed the need for good-quality human hair extensions beyond the fashion and beauty industry. With countless women suffering from hair loss, hair thinning, alopecia, restricted growth, damaged hair or simply looking for a change in style, Nish hair extensions were to cater to them all. And what began as a team of two and a handful of clients has now grown into a global community, shipping worldwide to women of all walks of life; The Nish Family.
WS: What challenges have you faced during this journey?
PG: It wasn’t easy starting something on my own. Especially in a category that was either seen as a mere fashion accessory or spoken about in hush voices to avoid garnering attention. I remember struggling to simply build awareness about how ‘normal’ it could be to use hair extensions. Most saw them as a taboo topic, an equivalent to wigs, or simply shrugged off the idea in disgust. But I knew from the time I wore my first set of extensions that I loved them and could clearly see in them the potential to help thousands. To me, hair extensions were a way of spreading joy, building confidence, and celebrating freedom in one of the most basic ways possible. I wear mine with a lot of pride and want to ensure that all those who wear them do the same.
WS: Why the name “ Nish Hair”?
PG: It is always a daunting task to think of the perfect name. But I knew from the start that I wanted my brand to reflect me and my love for hair. It is not only something of mine but an integral part of me as an individual. Most people know me as Parul, but to the ones closest to me, I am Nishu. A name was given to me by my mother with a lot of love. So naturally, when she suggested I call my brand Nish, it immediately struck a chord. I knew at that moment, that was it.
Written by Aditi Gupta
Author’s bio: A vivacious and lively girl living in Delhi, on her voyage for exploration of colours in life. A glimpse of what she does: Read, write, eat, Repeat!
