Laya Opens Up on Life in the U.S., Love for Indian Food and Hyderabad

Former popular actress Laya, now settled in the United States, has expressed her deep admiration for India—particularly for the city of Hyderabad—despite her years abroad. In a recent interview, Laya said she was greatly impressed by Hyderabad’s development and stated that even New York cannot match the city’s transformation.

“During my recent visit to India, I was astonished by Hyderabad. The city has changed so much! The flyovers and skyscrapers are amazing. Compared to the four or five old buildings in downtown Los Angeles, Hyderabad has grown tremendously. People are constantly building better structures than one another. If one has enough financial resources and can maintain a good lifestyle, there is no doubt that India is always the best place to live,” Laya said.

She also shared that she misses Indian cuisine in the United States, especially street foods like pani puri and lemon soda.

Reflecting on her professional life, Laya revealed that she began her career as an IT engineer in 2011. She worked with Satyam for a General Electric client, took a four-year break, and then launched a dance school in 2017. “The dance school did very well. We were busy with competitions and shows. However, the situation changed due to COVID-19. Although we conducted online classes, it was difficult to coordinate group dances. So, we started uploading dance videos on YouTube, followed by Shorts and Reels,” she explained.

Laya acknowledged that after stepping away from acting—especially after getting married while still in her prime—there was a period of feeling idle. “It was a big change. Even though it was a decision I took consciously, at times I would think, ‘Who am I now? Just a housewife?’ No matter how financially comfortable one is, staying active, doing some work, and earning recognition in society gives a different kind of satisfaction. It’s not just about earning money—I want to stay active and busy, and create a mark among people,” she shared candidly.