Mumbai: Oh my God, Despatch, The Crew, and Special Ops actor Heital Puniwala are not complicated men when it comes to tea. He knows what he wants, exactly what it means to him, and exactly where that love began.
Speaking on the occasion of International Tea Day, which is observed on May 21, he said, “A perfect tea should be perfect in every way.” It should be strong and have just the right amount of sugar; if it’s too sweet or not strong enough, you won’t enjoy it. I am a tea person, but I only have one cup a day. That one cup must be strong, sweet, spicy, and have an aroma that refreshes the soul. That is what a perfect cup of tea means to me; if I get that, my whole day is set.”
That relationship with tea, however, started more as something he couldn’t have as a child. He said, “Tea wasn’t usually given to kids in our house. We didn’t have enough money to go out and buy tea. Even though tea was made every morning at home, we children weren’t allowed to have it. I used to be very fond of tea. You always crave the things you can’t have.”
But there is a childhood memory linked to tea that he still cherishes. He said, “On my way to school, there was an uncle who had a tea stall. Every day, I would greet him with a “Jai Shri Krishna,” which made him very happy. One day, he offered me some tea. His tea was lovely; many people would stop there for a drink during their morning jogs. I told him I didn’t have any money, but he told me not to worry about it and to just enjoy the tea. After that, it became a routine. I’d pass by, greet him, and he’d immediately set out a cup of tea for me. It’s a very fond memory.”
Heital stressed that it’s not tea that matters to people, but the conversations accompanied by it. He said, “What really matters is the company you have while drinking it. That’s the real reason people go out for tea; it’s not about the tea itself. When you’re sitting at a tea stall, the conversation flows, and you learn new things, understand different perspectives, and talk about friendship and life. These conversations are what make tea significant.”
“If someone is feeling emotionally weak and they sit down with others to have tea, that company can really change their energy. It happens quite often—tea does have an emotional effect.”
Ask him who he would share a cup with if he could choose anyone in the world, and the answer comes with characteristic warmth and a touch of humor. He said, “If I could have tea with anyone in the world, I’d consider myself incredibly lucky if it were Narendra Modi. He’s a role model for the country and the whole world; sharing a cup of tea with him would be something else.”
“Another person would be my guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, though I’m not sure if he or Narendra Modi even drinks tea. But if I ever got that chance, it would be the icing on the cake,” Heital ended.
