Finding her funny bone on TV

Alina Padikkal began her journey as a television host when she was in Class III. Her first show was Butterflies, a programme for kids, broadcast on Asianet. In 2005, she won the Kerala State Award for best anchor. Now, Alina is a 22-year-old and is still active in the arena. “Those days, after school, I used to go to the channel studios when my peers went to tuition classes. I have taken only three years’ break during the tenure to pursue my degree course,” smiles Alina, who is now an anchor and actor.

She hosts a cookery show and a comedy show and is the leading lady in the serial Bharya telecast on Asianet.  

For Alina, each venue is an experience. The comedy show Komady Circus made Alina realise that she could handle humour. "The only concern I have while doing Komady Circus is how celebrity guests would take the jokes I crack. Luckily, everything has been running smoothly so far,” she says.

The offer to act in Bharya came unexpectedly.  “I had got many offers to act in serials and movies. But, I didn’t take them up then. When the offer from team Bharya came, I thought I’ll give it a shot.”

“I know the team. They were looking for a heroine, who looked different from clichéd appearances,” says Alina, who plays a character with a negative tint. “Nayana (character’s name) is a new generation wife who is quarrelsome, immature and who blows her own trumpet. Before joining the set, I had this feeling that acting was easy. Bharya changed my perspective. You have to focus on so many things when you act. Now, I am used to it. When it comes to acting, I don’t copy anyone’s style. I just live the character on screen.”

Alina has associated with most of the leading Malayalam channels as host. However, she cherishes the time she spent in Kiran TV. “In Kiran TV, I kicked off my journey with a kids’ show and then was promoted to a youngsters’ show. Every show was an experience. Days in Kiran TV were different because it helped me build a good rapport with callers. After some time, we could recognise the caller from their voice. That was something different,” says Alina, who is doing her MBA in Bengaluru.

Although shuttling between college and shooting locations keeps her busy, Alina enjoys that pace. “It is difficult but there is some fun in doing it. I like to be busy in life.” But she doesn’t want to be in the limelight forever. She wants to set up her own empire. "I will either do civil service or business. I also like automobiles. I want to pursue that too.”