THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Raksha Somashekar has a story to share. A story filled with passion, compassion and a relentless zeal
of not giving up on your dreams. This Indian movie star shares her journey, her angels & her demons, her highs & lows even The Yes(es) & The No(s) in her own unique way.

What makes you happy? Often your happiness is attached to so many those around you. Can you make
everyone happy? No, Never. There will always be someone who you are going to let down.

So, start with yourself. When we were 5, we did exactly what made us happy, it never upset anyone then,
even if it did, we didn’t think. We lived that moment, why should it be any different now? Why now especially when we’re growing with lesser time to do things that make you happy?

Happiness for me was to wear my mom’s makeup and heels, to pose for a million photographs while walking on my bed imagining it to be a ramp. I was 4 when my first photo shoot took place; I didn’t know what I was doing, just that I had fun, I was happy.

20 years later, I am still In front of the camera, doing what makes me happy.

It sounds simple right? It should be. My father often says “Even the most simple things in life are difficult, even simple things need dedication and determination, hard work, spirit and most importantly to never stop chasing; nothing comes easy”.

It would be a lie if I say that I always knew what career is to be pursued. While growing up I had a different ambition every passing month.

On some days I wanted to be a doctor and on others an archaeologist. I had phases, over the years, trying and pondering upon every trade while growing up. I think what really got me here today was to experience every opportunity I got. Learning every sport in school, learnt to dance, learnt to cook and every small opportunity I took shaped me into the person I am today. If I had decided to pursue a corporate job after doing Bachelors in Management, would all this have helped me? Maybe not. But I did it all anyway, for one reason only – Happiness.

Today my ambitions have been realized and every day I do the thing which I love the most – Acting! I play a doctor in a movie, sometimes I play the role of a journalist. Who says you can’t have everything you want?

After doing a few movies or advertisements a lot of my acquaintances tell me “You were born to do this”.

As a child, I had just one passion – to be in front of a camera. Acting or modelling. But over time I found other things that made me happy too. Is it necessary to choose between two things that make you smile? It took me a long time to realize, I don’t have to choose, I can do both, I can do it all!

I don’t think any human being is made to do one and one thing only. The possibilities are endless, today I am a model and I am not 6 ft tall, I am an actor and I don’t have a background in the industry, I am a businesswoman and I don’t have a family made business. You can do anything you put your ‘Heart & Soul’ into but most importantly you can do multiple things in your life because your happiness should not be determined by one thing.

People often ask me if I am doing the right thing focusing on too many things at a time? Can I commit 100% to it all? Have I not found my true passion? Etc.,

But I did it anyway because questions and doubts will always be inevitable. If I had just one goal, the questions would have only been different.

The world doesn’t determine your potential via degrees anymore; social media is a revolution that gives voice to introverts and yet retains their personality, a homemaker to write cook blogs and yet run a
household successfully, gives confidence to an aspiring model to post photographs and yet purse education. There is no limit to the things we can do. It sure did play such a huge part in my life.

So I decided to give back. I recently collaborated with an NGO that focuses on mental health, to spread
awareness to people through social media. Also, being associated with WPDORG has given me a platform to raise concerns. Being a public figure has many advantages; most importantly people are
interested in what you have to say, so it’s important to use this blessing for the right reasons.

You need to take a leap of faith, break those barriers, take risks, do it against all odds and follow your heart. You may never always find success, but someday when you reflect back; you’re going to be happy
you do what you could and everything you could. I know I will.

Opportunities are rare, take it when you can! Define them in your way, but never let it define you.