SHEFALI SHAH, 49
Actress
“Happiness to me is being with my loved ones, all of us safe, healthy and happy. There’s food, banter, laughter, music, dance…or just doing nothing at all. But all filled with love and laughter in unison. And the peace that comes with it. It’s the feeling of knowing all is well in my world. I experienced it recently while on a holiday in Africa. Watching these awe-inspiring creatures—whether the Big Five or the whale shark—in their natural habitat, some at close proximity of two to three feet. The silence, the occasional sound of my two boys bantering and laughing, and most importantly all of us together enjoying each moment to the fullest. Priceless.”
RAVI KISHAN, 53
Bhojpuri actor and MP from Gorakhpur
“For me, the meaning of happiness is to give happiness to others. I love to help others and it gives me a feeling of satisfaction. Even before I entered politics, I liked lending a helping hand to those struggling in life. Once, even I was a struggler, and I have experienced the pain that comes with it. Arranging beds in hospitals for those in need, arranging food for the poor … I have been doing these things for years. Apart from this, listening to old songs and swimming bring me a lot of happiness. I have a dream of opening a regional film city in UP, preferably in Gorakhpur. If it happens this year, then it will definitely be my biggest moment of happiness in 2023.”
APRAMEYA RADHAKRISHNA, 40
Co-founder and CEO, Koo
“Happiness is when you can eat what you love and yet be healthy, when you can work your heart out and not be stressed, when you know that someone else loves you more than you love yourself and when you can lead your life every day like a curious child without the baggage of the past.”
JIGNESH MEVANI, 42
Dalit rights activist and Congress MLA in Gujarat
“Doing absolutely nothing is the joy of life. Discussing Mareez and reciting his poetry at a chai ki kitli with friends is true happiness. When I discover a new piece of writing by Mareez as part of my ongoing research, it gives me much gratification. Engaging in deep philosophical conversations about literature with like-minded people is also a time well-spent. In any case, watching Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Vivian Richards bat was divine happiness, not to forget how Instagram reels of Priyanka Chopra always make me happy.”
RAKUL PREET SINGH, 32
Actress
“It might sound spiritual, but I truly believe that happiness is something you exude from within, and how content you are with who you are as a person and with your family. It is not subject to anything materialistic. It’s not, ‘Oh, my film became a blockbuster, and I am happy!’ It’s a state of being and nothing external can influence it. When you are happy regardless of what’s happening around you or whether you see success or failure, your state of being is happy. Anything to do with the love of the audiences, of the industry and people around me is a source of true joy.”
DR D. NAGESHWARA REDDY, 66
Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad
“Happiness is being satisfied with what you are doing. The very reason for me
