‘I was mortally afraid…': When Sobhita Dhulipala moved to Mumbai at 16 spontaneously without knowing Hindi; how a new city can transform identity

Indian Express

23-07-2025

Moving to a new city as a teenager can be overwhelming, especially when you don't know the local language or culture. Sobhita Dhulipala, who grew up in Vishakhapatnam, made the bold decision to move to Mumbai at just 16.
In an earlier interview with Vogue, she once revealed that the move was spontaneous. 'I tossed a coin and chose Mumbai over Bengaluru and Hyderabad,' she said. Despite being admitted to one of the top colleges in Mumbai on merit, she recalled being extremely introverted. 'I spoke when I was spoken to, otherwise I felt like I was being a nuisance. I would often think to myself, 'How dare I speak and break someone's silence?' I was always amazed when people around me spoke for 20 minutes at a stretch. I was mortally afraid of bloviating,' she added.
Language was another major hurdle. Sobhita shared that she didn't know Hindi when she landed in Mumbai and lived in Kandivali, which made navigating the city even harder. Yet, she found her own ways to adapt — learning the language bit by bit from fruit vendors and discovering the city on foot. 'I felt like the luckiest girl. After lectures ended, I would take a bus or train back home and disembark at random stops to drink nimbu paani and just explore the place. I've spent several hours walking around Bhendi Bazaar, Reay Road, Old Dockyard and Vasai. In Vizag, every place is within 15 minutes of each other, but Bombay just astounded me geographically.'
Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, 'Arriving in a new city without knowing the local language can feel like being suddenly unplugged from the world around you. For a young adult, it can shake the ground beneath your feet. You may have grown up feeling capable, expressive, even confident — but when you land in a space where you can't speak or understand what's being said, all of that can disappear.'
Simple things like asking for directions or striking up a conversation become intimidating, he adds. 'You start overthinking your words. You worry about being judged. Over time, silence becomes your default mode, not because you have nothing to say, but because saying it feels too hard.'
But it's not all negative. Raj explains, 'There's also a quiet kind of strength that can come from this. You become more observant. You learn to listen. You start to value non-verbal cues, tone, gestures– things most people overlook. Eventually, you begin to communicate beyond words.'
Over time, the wins start to stack up. These seem small to others, but for you, they're major victories. And little by little, you rebuild that confidence–not in the same way as before, but in a deeper, more resilient form.
Raj affirms, 'There's something about being on foot that makes you feel more grounded. You get to decide where to turn, when to pause, what to pay attention to. In a world that often feels out of control when you're new somewhere, that kind of simple control can bring real peace.'
It also breaks the feeling of being stuck inside your head. 'If you're feeling anxious, lonely, or homesick, being outdoors — seeing faces, watching the city live and breathe — reminds you that you're part of something bigger. It puts your own thoughts into perspective. And sometimes, just that shift is enough to make things feel more manageable,' says the expert.