After the premiere of Bandwaale on Amazon Prime Video, actor Shalini Pandey sat down with Galatta India for a candid conversation that moved beyond her upcoming show and into her personal travel experiences. In a travel-themed segment during the interview, Pandey spoke about her approach to vacations, solo trips and how travel has influenced both her personality and her craft.
Shalini Pandey says solo travel helped her “know myself better” as she talks about trips, street food and staying offlineNot Much of a Planner
Pandey admits she prefers flexibility over fixed itineraries. “I do basic bookings and all you have to do. I don’t want to be homeless,” she said with a laugh. “But after that I am on the go. I want to explore. I’m not a planner, planner for sure.”
A Vacation Depends on the Mood
When asked about her ideal getaway, the actor said it changes with what she needs at that point in time. “There are times that I really want to go on a trip, but I don’t want to be disturbed at all. I want to be by the sea and just have quiet time,” she shared, adding that after intense work schedules and constant interaction, solitude becomes necessary.
At other times, she seeks the opposite. “There are days when I want to go and talk to strangers. I love listening to stories. I love interacting with different people,” she said. Exploring cities, understanding culture and tasting local food are equally important to her.
Beach, mountains or cities? “Everything,” she replied simply.
How Solo Travel Changed Her
Pandey credits her first solo trip as a turning point. “Unless you do that one solo trip, you don’t know what you really like. Can you be with yourself? Do you like being with yourself?” she reflected.
According to her, travelling alone strips away compromise. “When you’re with someone, everything is mutual. But when you do that one solo trip, that’s when you realise who you exactly are.”
She describes the experience as life changing. “Feeling different, I don’t know. But feeling like I know myself better, and I like myself better — that way I have. Travel is life changing actually.”
Unforgettable Encounters
One of her most memorable travel moments came from meeting strangers in a culturally unfamiliar place. Seeing a town through the eyes of locals left a lasting impact. “When you see it through their eyes, it’s a very different experience. And the love and warmth they gave me — I will never forget that,” she said.
Interestingly, Pandey is not someone who collects souvenirs. Nor does she overpack. “I’m a very light traveller,” she noted. For Pandey, travel feeds directly into her work. “It’s life. You’re taking in from life. And my job is to go and play a character and make it look real,” she explained. “So I do think I take a lot from real life — and that means a lot from travel.”
Street Food, Luxury and Italy’s Villages
When it comes to food, she follows instinct rather than caution. “I go anywhere. Local food,” she said, though she added that she enjoys luxury experiences too, depending on her mood. One destination that stands out for its cuisine is Italy. “I went to the smallest villages of Italy and the food that I’ve had has been life changing,” she said.
Unlike many travellers, Pandey doesn’t document everything. “I am not on phone at all. If someone is travelling with me, they click me. But if I’m travelling alone, there’ll be no pictures sometimes,” she revealed.
She does, however, click photographs of animals — many of which never make it to social media. “You can’t post everything,” she concluded.
Speaking of Bandwaale, it started streaming on Amazon Prime Video from February 12, 2026.
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