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Mint
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Author and celebrity yoga teacher Ira Trivedi on love, spirituality and her yoga journey
Bestselling author and yoga acharya Ira Trivedi has charted a journey of self-discovery which led her from the written word to the wisdom of the self. She feels there is an intimate connection between her literary explorations of love and her spiritual journey through yoga. In the third episode of The Success Code, a series of podcasts hosted by Rushank Shah, promoter of Hubtown, and presented by Mint, Trivedi spoke about her literary beginnings, her evolving understanding of love and spirituality, her transformative journey into yoga, and the formative influences that have shaped her perspective. Trivedi has authored more than eight books, with common themes of love, loneliness, lust, a search for connection. When asked if the books are autobiographical, she said: 'Very, especially my early novels. My first one came out when I was 19, and after that at age 21, 23. These are all published as fiction and as novels but, really, it was that deep search for meaning, purpose, for a place in this world. All of these themes are what the characters are also looking for, and that's also what I as a human was looking for.' Even as her focus shifted to yoga as she has matured as an author and as a person, the underlying quest for meaning persists. Shah asked her: 'So, if you were to write a book now at 40, as opposed to 20, do the themes remain the same?', Trivedi said the themes remain the same but the characters change. Hailing from a brahmin family of Sanskrit scholars and writers, her path to becoming a yoga acharya was not a linear one. Trivedi recounts her initial encounters with yoga with a touch of humour. 'Yoga always seemed to be really, really boring, really, really slow in school. I remembered it as a smelly experience. Everyone takes off their shoes and the carpets would be dirty.' Her parents called a yoga teacher home to help her shed some extra kilos. 'I was in a small town, Bhopal, and with a yoga sir who would come, and he was really overweight himself, and in shavasana, he would not only fall asleep, but also snore really loudly.' Ira Trivedi in conversation with Rushank Shah However, a cultural shift when she went to the US for higher studies, just like Shah. 'We have both studied in the States, and when I went, yoga was bigger there than it was here. And, you're supposed to know what yoga is and that there are various types of yoga.' Trivedi had a very similar experience. 'Madonna was doing yoga, and it was all the craze. I thought, is this the same yoga that I also did with the yoga sir who fell asleep and started snoring? Is this different?' This curiosity sparked her interest in yoga. The true transformation occurred during a period of personal searching when she returned to India and was looking to get fitter in the body and mind. She chanced upon a Sivananda Ashram to experience yoga first-hand. This experience led to a profound realisation – she wanted to go back to the ashram for the 'divinity' that she experienced, over and over again. 'I kept coming back because I felt that I was really touching something divine. And then, as I progressed, I said, I want to feel as divine as possible, and I want people to feel this experience.' Trivedi encapsulated the true essence of the yoga life in three letters: EDM, where 'E' stands for exercise, 'D' is for diet as in following a sattvic diet, and 'M' is for mind, through meditation and positive thinking. 'I think these are the three pillars of a yogic life,' she said. This holistic approach, she explains, fostered a deeper connection to the divine for her. Shah asked her: 'In your specific case, when you started living the yoga life, you felt a little bit more in touch with divinity. Is yoga the physical manifestation of divinity?' 'The word yoga itself means union. It is the union of the breath, the body, and ultimately leading to an experience of oneness. Yoga helps to experience that loss of individuality manifested through the physical body,' Trivedi said. At a physical level, yoga asanas work on the chakras, the energetic centres of the body, aligning them to facilitate the smooth flow of prana, or vital energy. Higher pranic energy, she believes, contributes to overall well-being and a more positive life experience. Ira Trivedi Trivedi said that her transition to becoming a yoga acharya was driven by a drive to becoming fit and a thirst for knowledge rather than a pursuit of titles. Despite initial reluctance, she completed her training, finding an unexpected calling in teaching. Even now, she integrates various forms of movement into her practice, recognising the need for diversity while always returning to yoga for its unique ability to facilitate a connection to the divine. 'For me, yoga was about touching that divinity and being as close to that as possible through my physical body. Even today, I do lots of different things because I realised to keep the body fit and healthy, you need a variety of different movements. It's like food. If you eat the same food every single day, that's good, but then you may or may not be getting your entire nutrition spectrum,' she said. Reflecting on her upbringing, Trivedi credits her parents – she comes from a family of bureaucrats – for encouraging originality and hard work, providing a creative space free from traditional pressures. This open-minded approach allowed her and her sisters to pursue their passions. She pursued an unconventional career path after an MBA degree from Columbia, and had her parents' full support. 'They were very, very open minded, you know, very little patriarchy, and I think that really helped us become the people that we are,' she said. Finally, Trivedi shared her perspective on marriage within the context of her spiritual journey. Initially viewing her yogic path as solitary, she came to see marriage as a lesson in integration and interaction, a challenging yet necessary step in her evolution as both an individual and a teacher. She views the choice of a partner as one of life's most significant decisions, particularly in an age of both hyper-connectivity and loneliness. Note to the Reader: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Mint.
Mint
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Actor Regena Cassandrra speaks about the art of intentional living, both on screen and off it
In the star-studded world of Indian cinema, where celebrities often take centre stage, actor Regena Cassandrra offers a down-to-earth and thoughtful perspective to stardom. Her journey reveals not just the careful work of an artist, but a deep commitment to living with purpose, both in her career and in her personal life. Known for taking on diverse roles across various languages, Cassandrra talks about her professional and personal life to Rushank Shah, promoter of Hubtown in the recent episode of Mint's The Success Code. The actor offers a rare look into the conscious choices that guide her as an actress and as someone who cares deeply about making a positive impact on society. Shah opened the conversation with a new interesting question: 'What is stardom and why do movie stars exist?' Cassandrra calls it an identity and said: 'Stardom is not something that is built in a day. It takes time to reach a peak.' The conversation steered towards the responsibility of actors beyond mere performance, just as Shah's responsibility as a developer towards the environment. She immediately broadened the lens, advocating for a universal sense of responsibility. 'I think all of us have a certain responsibility with our actions,' she said, laying emphasis on the critical role of 'awareness' while making the right cinematic choices. She spoke about a recent film, Jaat, in which her character tears a police officer's uniform in a scene. 'Am I aware of the fact that I'm doing it? One hundred per cent yes,' she admitted, making the distinction between her personal ethical compass and the demands of her role. 'Would I, as a human being, watch that and tolerate it? Maybe not, but as an audience, would I like it? It depends on the actor. Am I going to go and do the same thing to another female police officer or human being? No,' she said. Shah asked whether she selects roles for business or for the art behind it, Cassandrra replied it is 'mostly the art of it. I'm here today in my career in this place, because of the fact that I pay more attention to the creative aspects of it. For me, the journey of a film is very very important, right from how people are being treated on set, what the entire environment is.' This holistic perspective illuminates her dedication not only to the ultimate cinematic product but equally to the collaborative process and the well-being of every individual involved in its creation. It is about fostering an environment where creativity can truly flourish, built on respect and shared purpose. Regena Cassandrra in conversation with Rushank Shah As the spotlight on her grows brighter, staying grounded can become a challenge for public figures. The actor confidently attributes her steadfast 'groundedness' to a detached approach to her job. Her ability to remain rooted, she believes, is deeply ingrained in her core values, instilled by a disciplined upbringing as an only child. Dispelling common assumptions of an only child's pampered existence, Cassandrra vividly recalls her mother's stern yet loving approach: 'My upbringing was pretty tight – my mom's go to line was, Spare the rod and spoil the child.' This grounding is further fortified by some genuine and close personal relationships that she has built over the years. 'None of my friends care about me being an actress. But they will still come with me for my premieres, shows and will be there to cheer me on from the sidelines... I don't like the hype. The moment someone starts hyping me up, I'm just like, why?' With an impressive career spanning across multiple languages and themes, what more does she want to add to her portfolio? 'I'd be happy with more of the same things,' she quips, hinting at a strong desire to collaborate with a broader spectrum of directors and creative voices. She holds a firm conviction in the individual's power to sculpt their own opportunities. 'I think the only thing you have control over is what you do.' Cassandrra has been part of the film industry for 20 years and has been a first-hand witness to the two seismic shifts – social media and the blurring of borders between different language movies. 'Some of our biggest blockbusters weren't meant for a Hindi audience, and the other way around. In fact, in your own case, your audition tape was YouTube. You seem to be at the confluence of this shift in Indian cinema. What are the pros and cons of this shift?' Shah asked. She views this ongoing transformation as an organic and inevitable progression. 'I think that's all a part of evolution. This is meant to happen because also at the end of the day, you are talking about cinema in terms of just films. But, if you break it down, and you come to look at it on the inside, you are seeing Hindi films back in the day… Many of the technicians shooting mainstream Bollywood films were from the South. So, there was always a confluence.' The language barrier, she felt, started changing a lot more after OTT. 'Once OTT really took over, everyone uses the word pan India so easily.' Far from perceiving it as a threat to regional cinematic identities, Cassandrra firmly believes it will lead to positive outcomes. 'I think it's going to actually get better, instead of it getting worse, because there has always been this whole language divide.' While a foray into politics remains uncharted territory for now, Cassandrra expresses a profound and carefully considered interest in producing films. Regena Cassandrra The conversation then moved to the next 20 years and advancements in artificial intelligence and its implications for the entertainment industry. When Shah asked her what she feels about her digital avatar, she said: 'You have no control over whatever's on the internet. But, if it comes to that, then I would play the game. There's no fear when I think about it. I think this industry is not going to just die like that. I think art at the end of the day is not just one thing.' Her conviction lies in the enduring human need for authentic storytelling and connection, asserting that despite the increasing digitalisation, there will always be a fundamental and irreplaceable demand for human artistry. Shah asked her about the 'two roles that she would want to be known for'. According to Cassandrra, among her demanding roles, the portrayal of Mrinalini Sarabhai in the acclaimed seriesRocket Boys stands out as a profound experience for her. 'Rocket Boys would be up there as one of the roles because it was the first time that I was playing somebody of this great stature and someone who brought science and art together. Playing Mrinalini Sarabhai, I was very nervous before my first take ..,' she said. Preparing for this role was exhaustive and deeply immersive for her, as she signed up for online Bharatanatyam classes, studied Sarabhai's book, and paid attention to even the minutest physical details. A deeply affirming moment arrived when Sarabhai's daughter, Mallika Sarabhai, the series' dance choreographer, expressed her genuine happiness that Cassandrra was portraying her mother. This particular role compelled her to 'cut off everything about myself as much as I could', so she could get into the skin of the character. This is also something that she did in a Telugu psychological thriller, Awe, in which she played a drug-addict waitress. 'It was very interesting. Everyone was so surprised that I decided to shave my hair off,' she said. Cassandrra spoke about her celebrity status not as an ultimate destination, but as a platform for social impact. 'Absolutely not just as an actor, as a human being also,' she asserted, underscoring her responsibility to contribute positively to society. 'I believe I have been given this platform for a reason… and because I have this platform, I feel like I should make the most of it.' She sees her everyday self as a 'representation of that actor', working for larger social good. Among the causes she champions, urban development is an area where she collaborated with two organisations. As a trustee at the Aditya Mehta Foundation, she has helped empower individuals with physical disabilities through sports. 'Last year, we had the Paralympics. We had the first Indian girl cyclist to get on the podium from the foundation,' she said. Her dedication extended to the Democratic Sangha, a non-partisan group running a Rural Women's Leadership Program in Telangana. This program aimed at empowering women to take up leadership roles. 'These women do have a voice — they just don't have a platform,' she said. These initiatives are an extension of her values, instilled by her upbringing, such as her mother teaching their domestic help's daughter English. For Cassandrra, her platform serves as a valuable 'microphone', enabling her to share messages and contribute to a better society, showing how influence can be used to bring about societal change. Note to the Reader: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Mint.
Mint
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
'India is trying to become an export hub for weaponry and military exports': Col (Retd) Shukla
India's defence exports have reached a record high in recent years, reflecting a growing self-reliance and the increasing global appeal of our indigenously produced military hardware. With a large and diverse military, the nation continues to focus on modernisation and strengthening its capabilities across its armed forces to ensure national security and regional stability. The second episode of The Success Code, a series of podcasts hosted by Rushank Shah, promoter of Hubtown, and presented by Mint, had a very special guest – Col (Retd) Ajai Shukla, who was in charge of one of India's most storied regiments. Post retirement, he took up journalism and was also war correspondent in some of our neighbourhoods. Col Shukla spoke about his days in the army, India's military might and exports, and shared his views on India's relations with Shah. The transition from a senior army officer who commanded a regiment to a war journalist is not a normal one. Shah said: 'Fundamentally, to a lay person, it is imperative to listen to high command and to orders in the army. And, then you made the shift to being a journalist, who must question power, and authority. Why did you make the switch?' The seeds of this move were planted during the Kargil war where Shukla was posted as one of the operations officers in Kashmir. He recalls the evenings when he returned home to watch some news coverage about the war. 'It struck me that the TV coverage of that war was completely different from what was actually happening on the ground. I wondered, what are the people of this country going to learn from this war, if we are not even accurately reporting it?' he recalled. Col (Retd) Ajai Shukla in conversation with Rushank Shah, Hubtown 'What was happening and what was being reported was the viewpoint of a set of journalists that had gone to Kargil, but which was still some distance away from the battlefront. So, they were really reporting a perceived reality. What was more evident than that perceived reality in Kargil, where the fighting was going on, was what was happening in the home villages of the people who were martyred and who were coming back, and their funerals attended by politicians who were looking to make sort of a public relations killing from it,' he said. After the war got over, he wrote to Pranoy Roy at New Delhi Television, thanking him for rallying the support of the country behind the military, and informing him that his journalists need to be educated on defense. 'Pranoy is a man who makes instant decisions. He said, fine, leave the army and come join us,' he said. Shukla was due to command a tank regiment called Hodson's Horse – commanding a regiment is the highest point of honour for a military officer. He hung up his boots soon after this posting and eventually joined Roy. The youth today have a plethora of career options to choose from now, as against 30-40 years ago when choices were limited. 'There are so many more options now. Do you think the Indian Army, or armies in general, will have a harder time getting recruits moving forward?' asked Shah. Shukla said that the army is made up of two distinct communities – officers and jawans, who are below the officers and form the fighting force of the military. 'There was always a problem getting enough people who were willing to become officers, because they had very high standards at those days for selection, and not everybody met those standards. Whereas, in the Javan community, India is an agrarian economy and a country of villages, where there are always people ready to join the army,' he said. Armies suffer from neglect and could do with glorification. They need the right manpower and weaponry. He feels movies must glorify the armed forces. 'One of the only times I felt compelled to join the army was after watching a movie called Lakshya,' said Shah. The Indian army follows a defensive approach and is doing a 'good job' protecting its frontiers. 'When I went to the Line of Control for the first time, it was absolutely striking how every Indian post you would see a sign post over there a little memorial, tended to by the soldiers serving there today, saying things along the lines of this is in memory of 43 Soldiers of the Gurkha rifles or the Sikh regiment or whatever, who laid down their lives recovering this post for India. And it strikes you that we're only recovering the post for India. We are seldom going out, and capturing,' he said. Col (Retd) Ajai Shukla Today, India is trying to become an export hub for weaponry and military exports with about ₹ 22,000 crore worth of ammunition and arms exported. Shah asked if this is something that our country must do, Shukla felt that this approach offers several advantages. 'The foundational assumption that I would say is that India needs to produce its own weaponry for reasons of cost, scientific development, technological skills, battlefield advantage. But, developing its own weapons requires a user for those weapons and, therefore, the Indian military must do more to absorb the weaponry that its own defence establishment makes, and to, therefore, provide an economic rationale in terms of economies of scale, in terms of ensuring that buyers are available, in terms of maintenance in the into the future,' he said. He added: 'The bottom line is that India has to do more to absorb its own defence weaponry and, therefore, put money into the pockets of its own producers, rather than French and German producers.' The discussion progressed to the models being followed by countries like the US and China and which one of these would be best suited to build a sustainable military production system for our country. Is there a model that suits both the buying and selling countries and yet does not result in outbursts of violence against one another? 'I think some countries like Germany, France, have got a model that is slightly more sustainable by a simple virtue of selling a larger amount to a country or countries that are not necessarily going to be hostile to you in the future. It's a very tight rope to walk, and I don't think anybody has got the answer right so far,' he said. Another area that India needs to work upon is research and development for weapon system productions, and also some work on materials technology. The experts felt that we could do well with some reverse engineering too. 'Organisations, especially the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), have in the last 4-5 years achieved creditable success in tying up exactly the kind of partnerships that you allude to, which is with IIT students, with scientific universities, with the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, with the Atomic Energy Commission, and they have actually got going a very creditable bunch of outsourced development,' he said. Looking into the future, do we need kinetic weapons for an impending war? 'I think that bows and arrows are still some way off, but so too are the use of nuclear weapons,' he said. Note to the Reader: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Mint.
