Mumbai: Janmashtami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, but for many, his teachings hold meaning far beyond the celebrations. For Anupamaa actress Adrija Roy, one of Krishna’s biggest lessons is to keep doing your best without constantly worrying about the final result.
“I try to follow that in my own life. You cannot control everything that happens, but you can control how much effort you put in. So, I try to focus on my work and give it my best. If the result is good, I am happy, and if it doesn’t go my way, I try to learn from it and move on,” she says.
For Adrija, balance is something that becomes even more important as life gets busier. “Balance for me means knowing when to work hard and when to take a step back. I am very ambitious, but I also feel you cannot keep running all the time. You need your family, your friends and your own time as well,” she says.
Talking about Krishna’s teaching of choosing what is right even when it is difficult, Adrija says, “Yes, there have been situations where I have had to make choices that were not easy. Sometimes the easier option is very tempting, but if your heart is telling you that something is not right, you have to listen to that. It may be difficult in that moment, but you feel better about yourself later.”
She feels Janmashtami also brings a sense of hope. “I think that is one of the most beautiful things about Krishna’s story. Life will have difficult phases, but they don’t last forever. You have to keep faith and keep moving. Sometimes you may not know what is going to happen next, but you still have to believe that things will get better,” she adds.
As for celebrating the festival, Adrija says, “I like celebrating Janmashtami with my family. I enjoy the festive atmosphere and the prayers. I don’t follow a very complicated ritual, but I do try to take some time out for the festival and connect with its meaning.”
Among Krishna’s many qualities, it is his ability to guide people while still being a friend that inspires her the most. “I really like the way Krishna could be a friend, a guide and a leader at the same time. He understood people and knew when they needed advice and when they simply needed someone to stand by them. That quality really inspires me,” Adrija concludes.
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