Mumbai: Actor Amal Sehrawat, known for his work across television and the digital space, has always found comfort in the little moments that allow him to pause and reset. From his memorable roles in shows like Choti Sarrdaarni and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai to his work in digital projects such as Untouchables, Home and Crackdown, the actor has experienced the hectic pace of the entertainment industry. With International Coffee Day being celebrated on October 1, Amal opens up about his love for coffee, his favourite way of having it and the conversations he associates with a simple cup.
Amal reveals that he is very much a coffee person, but for him, the beverage is about much more than just caffeine. “Yes, I am. For me, coffee is less about the caffeine and more about the ritual. I like those few quiet minutes when I can sit with my coffee and not think about the next thing I have to do. Especially when life gets hectic, that little pause feels valuable. Sometimes it’s actually the simplest moments that help you reset,” he shares.
When it comes to choosing between hot and cold coffee, the actor has a clear preference. “I’m definitely more of a hot coffee person. There’s something very comforting about holding a warm cup, especially early in the morning or when I finally get some downtime after a long day. I like it strong, smooth and not too sweet,” he says. For Amal, however, the perfect cup of coffee also depends on the company and the mood. “And honestly, the perfect cup also depends on the mood, sometimes it’s a quiet coffee by myself, and sometimes it’s sitting across from someone and talking for hours,” he adds.
A packed shooting schedule makes those small breaks even more meaningful for the actor. Talking about his coffee routine during hectic shoot days, Amal says, “On a shoot day, mornings can be pretty intense, especially when you have an early call time, so that first coffee definitely feels special. But I also enjoy having one in the middle of a long day when there’s a small break. You suddenly get five or ten minutes to yourself, you have your coffee, take a breath and then you’re ready to go back to work. Those little pauses become quite precious when your schedule is packed.”
If given the opportunity to sit down for a relaxed coffee with a Bollywood celebrity, Amal would choose someone whose career he has admired for years. “I’d pick Amitabh Bachchan. I’ve always admired his journey, but what fascinates me even more is his ability to keep evolving. I’ve had the opportunity to work with him, but if we were just sitting over coffee with no schedule around us, I’d love to hear him talk about the early years of his career, the changes he has seen in the industry and how he has stayed so disciplined through all of it. I think I’d probably spend more time listening than talking,” he says.
For Amal, some of the most memorable coffee moments are not necessarily linked to a particular celebrity, location or occasion. Instead, it is the conversations that happen naturally that stay with him. “Some of my favourite coffee memories aren’t really about a particular person or place. They’re those conversations that start casually and suddenly you realise you’ve been sitting there for an hour. You talk about work, life, relationships, dreams, and sometimes absolutely nothing important. I love that kind of conversation because there’s no agenda,” he shares.
Describing the kind of coffee moment he would love to recreate, Amal adds, “If I could recreate one coffee moment, it would be exactly that: a quiet place, a good cup of coffee, someone I’m comfortable with, phones away and nowhere we need to rush to.”
For an actor whose professional life often revolves around tight schedules and constant movement, perhaps it is these uncomplicated moments, a hot cup of coffee, a meaningful conversation and a little time away from the rush, that make the biggest difference.
