Ritu Arya's Ethnicity: The Actress Explores Her Indian Heritage Onscreen

One of Ritu Arya's decisions to get into acting was because she wanted to represent her culture and heritage, and today, she is making the Indian community proud with her successful acting career on the small and big screens.

Ritu Arya is a British-Indian actress who grew up in London, England. Despite growing up in an English-speaking country, the actress, with an Indian background, reportedly speaks Hindi and Punjabi.

Since appearing in the American television series "The Umbrella Academy," wherein she portrays Lila Pitts, there has been a growing interest in her origins.

During an October 2020 interview, the television star divulged how people have reacted to her role since appearing on the show during its second season:

"It's been crazy. I’m just overwhelmed with how many women have reached out and said how inspired and proud and empowered they feel, to see a South Asian woman play a role like that."

Fans' Positive Reactions to Ritu Arya's Gig in the Upcoming 'Barbie' Movie

Ritu Arya is currently starring in the upcoming film, "Barbie," alongside Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Greta Gerwig, Simu Liu, and Emma Mackey. The movie premieres on July 21, 2023.

Just like the reception she received for her acting stint on the comic show "The Umbrella Academy," fans have also expressed their excitement about having an Indian character in the movie.

Twitter users took to the platform in anticipation of the movie premiere to share their thoughts about the cast, particularly Arya. One user wrote, "INDIAN BARBIE THIS IS HOW I WIN."

Another person commented, "HOW DID IT JUST REGISTER IN MY MIND THAT WE'RE GETTING AN INDIAN BARBIE." Meanwhile, a third individual stated, "Ritu Arya Indian Barbie guys. We finally have it WE'RE A BARBIE NOW."

Ritu Arya on the Importance of Representation Onscreen

The actress, who starred in the action-comedy film "Polite Society," spoke candidly about what representation means to her onscreen in an April 2023 interview:

"Representation is a huge reason why I even got into acting. I wasn't seeing people that looked like me on my screen, and I thought, 'Well, I'll be the change,' and that's a huge motivation."

"Representation means so much to me. [..] I think that we are making great strides forward, but there is still so much further to go," Arya further explained. As a child, the movie star participated in school plays and watched Bollywood films. She developed an "obsession" with Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan.

"Polite Society" gave her another opportunity to explore her Indian heritage with her lead role. It is a British movie that celebrates South Asian culture and is inspired by Bollywood. When speaking of her experience in the project, Arya said in a May 2023 interview:

"It feels really special to get to be part of it. […] I wish and I hope that there'll be more from this because why not? It's such a rich culture. […] I'm just super proud."

Meet Ritu Arya's Indian Family

The actress, whose acting debut was on the BBC One medical drama series "Doctors," shared pictures of her loved ones on social media. Some include her Indian roots.

In August 2016, Arya posted a photo of her and her father on Instagram. The snap showed the two sitting on a couch, and the caption read, "Doing some serious raksha bandhan for my dad from his big sis."

The British Soap Award nominee shared a picture of her brother during his Indian-themed wedding alongside his bride that same month. "Feeling very proud of my big bro and new sis," she wrote.

Arya has also paid a heartfelt tribute to her mother online. When her mom turned 60 in September 2020, she posted photos featuring her and the rest of the family members, including throwback shots from her parents' wedding.