By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
May 14, 2019
When it comes to planning trips, actress Rati Gupta (“Future Man,” “Unbelievable”) says she gets real nerdy. “I read lists and guides, I email friends with experience for suggestions and I’m all over TripAdvisor,” says Gupta, 35, who plays Anu, Raj’s love interest on “The Big Bang Theory.” “But it’s less to build a perfect set-in-stone itinerary and more to build a wealth of knowledge about the destination. Because life happens, nothing ever goes exactly as planned and it’s easier to bounce back in those moments if you know what your options are.” Based out of Los Angeles, Gupta stays in touch with her fans on Instagram.
Q. You grew up in the Midwest. What stood out for you about going to college in Chicago?
A. Most people correctly associate Chicago with intense cold winters, but one of the more notable things for me is the beach! The shores of Lake Michigan are beautiful and cozy, with great harbors and piers to enjoy the warmer months. Northwestern University even has its own private beach right on campus! My hometown in Indiana is directly across the lake from Chicago, so between those two places and now Los Angeles, I’ve lived by the beach my entire life.
Q. How do you react when people assume that you must speak Hindi?
A. I just don’t give credence to any conversation about those kinds of assumptions. I make it clear that I don’t speak Hindi, or that I was born in the United States, or that it’s not weird that I don’t have an accent, and I move on. Hopefully then the person recognizes the ignorance behind their assumption. I studied French for over eight years in school, but I’ve never really been able to speak it. I’ve also tried to learn Hindi, but can’t quite pick that one up either. My brain always wants to translate back to English, which is the one thing you shouldn’t do when learning a new language.
Q. Many men and women of Asian heritage deal with the, “Where are you really from?” question. How do you respond to their queries?
A. Ah yes, the polite version of, “Why aren’t you white?” If I’m feeling nice, I explain that I’m from outside of Chicago but my parents are from India. Otherwise I say “Indiana” and watch them squirm while they figure out how to clarify the intention behind their supposedly innocuous question.
Q. What untapped destination should people know about?
A. Utah! The entire state is a gem. Over the years, I’ve traveled to different parts for different reasons — to ski in Park City, to hike at Zion National Park and to assist the choreographer on an Indian movie filming at the Salt Flats. Every place is gorgeous and appealing in its own way and there are still parts of the state I have yet to explore that are on my to-go list.
Q. What’s on your travel bucket list?
A. Oh, so many places. Just to name a few, Patagonia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, Brazil, Dubai, Tanzania, South Africa, Tokyo, Sri Lanka.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. When I was five, my parents took me and my brother to India for a family wedding and I hated it. Being constantly bombarded by strange family members made me uncomfortable. I was a very picky eater, so not having access to pancakes or french fries was also quite traumatizing. I was too young then to appreciate the country, but I’ve gone back a couple times as an adult — traveling to different cities with friends instead of camping out with relatives — and have grown to enjoy my time there more.
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. I started to travel solo regularly after I turned 30, first as a challenge to see if I could do it, and then later as a necessity to maintain the rewarding sense of empowerment and independence I gained from it. And the one common thing I’ve learned from that trajectory is that you are more capable than you think you are. I am a cautious and often shy person. I never thought I’d be able to travel to another country by myself or hike a volcano or skydive over the Great Barrier Reef, but now I have. Traveling is scary, but when you get past that belief of “I can’t,” there are so many wonderful, life-altering gifts waiting on the other side.
Q. If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a casual meal at a street cart or fine dining at a nice restaurant?
A. I’m the type of person that likes to try everything on a menu, so I love a good street food market where I can get a variety of foods from different stands. The scene in “Crazy Rich Asians” at the Newton Food Centre was like food goals for me.
Q. Where is the most romantic destination?
A. This small village in the south of France called Èze. I went there with my mom, which is kind of weird for a romantic destination, but I love my mom! We spent a day there hanging out at the gorgeous castle-like hotels, eating at the Michelin-starred restaurants, and taking in the most heavenly views of the Mediterranean. If I ever decide to get married, I’d probably want the wedding to be there.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. Sydney, Australia, reminded me so much of Chicago, a chill metropolitan city with a coastal culture. I lived there for a semester during college, and the transition could not have been easier.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. My phone for internet and camera, a book to read and a journal to write in, and for international trips, a robust first-aid kit with antibiotics and various digestive system medications. When you have multiple gastroenterologists in the family like I do, it’s kind of embarrassing to get taken down by a stomach bug.
Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A. Best: Lying on a secluded beach at night, hours outside of Sydney, watching shooting star after shooting star flash across the sky. Worst: A monkey peeing on me in Bali.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
A. The trip I have stashed in my mind, saved for a special celebratory occasion, is a summer spent beach and island hopping around the Mediterranean – Ibiza, Mallorca, the Amalfi Coast, the French Riviera, all of the Greek islands. Just a few months of lounging in the sun, dancing the nights away and eating the most delicious food.
© 2019 JAE-HA KIM
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