Adventurous & inspiring

Bhumika Chawla will next be seen in Butterfly. She’s making a special appearance in the female-centric drama directed by Ghanta Satish Babu. She says she picked up the brief role because she liked the script.

“I am always game to be part of something I like,” says Bhumika, clarifying that she is not concerned about screen time.

Recently, she had posted on Instagram a painting which she had done some time back. We ask whether she wants to revive her interest in art. “Yes,” says the actress. “I do paint on and off. I used to do acrylic, canvas and watercolour paintings and sketches. But due to my other assignments I haven’t been able to do much of late. I’m planning to get back to it though.”

Bhumika also has an adventurous streak. She indulged in some breath-taking sports like quad biking, desert biking and gyrocopter riding on a recent visit to Dubai. “The word adventurous can have different definitions.

I think being adventurous is living life to the best of my abilities, and it keeps me going. I also feel balancing my professional and personal life is adventurous at times,” she smiles. The actress adds that being adventurous also means travelling and doing things not tried earlier. “Such things will keep our spirits high.

It prompts us to look forward to more things in life,” she says. Sharing that she has been adventurous since childhood, Bhumika says she learnt to ride a bike when she was just 10 years old. “Adventure sports can conquer our fears and liberate our thoughts. We won’t feel complacent or lethargic,” she explains.

Citing an example, she reveals that she lost touch with driving after she stopped doing it. “I became very dependent, and also scared to drive.” On realising this, she made it a point to start driving again, she adds. As the mother of an eight year-old son, Bhumika seems to be breaking the myth that married women cannot excel or be adventurous.

“I think you have to set an example and let your work do the talking,” she asserts. “I tell my followers on social media, ‘follow me only if you are inspired by me.’ I do the same,” says Bhumika.

“When I am following someone on social media it implies that I am inspired by their actions.” She also says she relies on self-motivation.

Her piece of advice to upcoming actresses: “Only hard work pays. Things can go wrong, but just stay focussed and dedicated.