Young actress Tina Kashyap—known as Ujjaini, or more affectionately, Tinni, in Star Plus‘ Sairaab—has a distinct glint of mischief in her eyes. It is World Chocolate Day, and Tina has a confession to make: if chocolate were a religion, she would be its most devout follower.
For Tina, the sweet treat isn’t just a comfort food; it is a way of navigating life. “I think I’m sea-salt caramel today,” Tina muses. “Sweet most of the time, but with a little salty twist. You never know if I’m going to make you smile, tease you, or surprise you. That’s the fun part!”
Her unapologetic approach to her favourite treat is refreshingly rebellious—especially on a day dedicated entirely to celebrating it. “We give chocolate such a bad reputation,” she laughs. “I believe happiness has zero calories. Okay, maybe not scientifically, but emotionally it does! My rule is simple. Eat the chocolate, enjoy every bite, and don’t waste time feeling guilty. Life is already complicated enough. I think Tinni would agree because she believes in finding little moments of happiness even when life gets emotional.”
To her, the ultimate comfort does not come in a fancy box. “If I could only eat one chocolate brand for the rest of my life, it would be Nestle Kitkat,” she admits without a second thought. “It’s impossible to outgrow it. No matter how many fancy chocolates you try, Kitkat feels like home. One bite and suddenly you’re ten years old again, stealing chocolates from the fridge!”
Her ultimate movie-watching chocolate snack? “A giant bowl of butter popcorn with broken Dairy Milk pieces mixed in. Trust me. Sweet, salty, crunchy. It’s a blockbuster combo even before the movie starts. I think even the Sairaab gang would approve!”
But Tina does not want to keep all the sweetness to herself. To mark World Chocolate Day, she envisions a new tradition —a ritual centred around kindness and anonymity. “If I had to establish a new tradition specifically for World Chocolate Day, I’d start a ‘Secret Chocolate Exchange,’” she says enthusiastically, her face lighting up. “Everyone leaves an anonymous chocolate for someone who made them smile that week. No expensive gifts, no pressure. Just a little sweetness passed forward. I think the world could use more surprises like that, just like those unexpected moments that bring people closer in Sairaab.”
For all her love of sharing the joy of the day with someone special, she says, “I’d definitely share my favourite chocolate with Noyonika,” Tina says. “She’s my biggest comfort, and I think the sweetest conversations happen over a bar of chocolate. Knowing her, she’d probably insist on giving me the bigger piece anyway, and that’s what makes moments like these so special.”
Bring a little extra sweetness to the world this World Chocolate Day!!
