Bollywood actor Archana Puran Singh continues to charm her audience with candid, light-hearted YouTube vlogs, offering glimpses into her personal and professional life alongside her family. In her latest video, she took fans along for a traditional Gujarati Thali meal in Mumbai as part of the Navratri celebrations, where she openly reflected on her early days of struggle in the city, a time when “every rupee counted.”
Recalling the ₹10 Dosa Days
While settling into the restaurant, Archana took a moment to reminisce about her financial struggles before she found fame. She vividly recalled an old eatery in the same area.
“Ek waqt tha jab yaha Vihaar bhi hota tha aur ₹10 ka dosa hota tha aur mere paas sirf ₹10 hi hote the and ₹1 on tip,” she shared. “My friends used to ask why I didn’t have Lassi, and I used to say because I only had ₹11 and I could only spend that much, and that was also enough for me.” (There was a time when Vihaar used to be here, and a dosa cost ₹10. I only had ₹10 and ₹1 for a tip. My friends used to ask why I wasn’t having lassi, and I would say that I only had ₹11, and that was all I could spend. But even that was enough for me).
Her heartfelt recollection underscores the stark contrast between her life then and her present success, reminding viewers of the difficult journey she took to establish herself in the film industry.
Praising Her Daughter-in-Law’s Hearty Appetite
The vlog also offered a moment of warm family banter as Archana watched her daughter-in-law, Yogita Bihani, enjoy the meal. Comparing Yogita’s hearty appetite to her own when she first met her husband, Parmeet Sethi, Archana quipped that Yogita was a perfect fit for the family.
“Isse better bahu nahi aa sakti thi ghar mein kyunki jaise main khati thi jab yeh (Parmeet) mila tha mujhse… Mere ko itni knowledge nahi thi ki aise banta hai, vaise banta hai, mujhe bas pata tha taste,” she joked. “Paranthe khao toh 7-8. Makhan ke sath khao. That is what he was impressed by. I am now impressed by her. Yeh mere se bhi better khati hai.” (There couldn’t have been a better daughter-in-law for our family, because I used to eat the same way when Parmeet first met me. I didn’t know how dishes were made; I only knew about the taste. If there were parathas, I would eat seven or eight with butter. That was what impressed him. Now, I am impressed by her. She eats even better than me.)
A Career Spanning Decades
Archana has often been open about her struggles, including revealing that her mother sent her to Mumbai from Delhi with just a single suitcase. She made her Bollywood debut at the age of 20 in BR Chopra’s Nikaah.
Over her expansive career, Archana has featured in a wide array of successful films, including Agneepath, Saudagar, Shola Aur Shabnam, Aashiq Awara, and Raja Hindustani. Her memorable supporting roles include appearances in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Mohabbatein, and Bol Bachchan.
More recently, Archana has maintained her presence on screen. She was seen in Karan Johar’s Nadaaniyan, which featured Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor in the lead roles, a film that received criticism following its release. It is currently streaming on Netflix. On the small screen, she continues to be a familiar face, recently appearing as the permanent guest on Kapil Sharma’s The Great Indian Kapil Show, where she joined Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Her vlogs, like her latest one, offer fans a genuine connection to the star, blending nostalgic reflections on her humble beginnings with candid moments of her life today.