My top 10 things that inspire - Rajshri Rani

Listening to mushaira: I feel that Urdu is simply a beautiful language and even a simple sentence in the language sounds fancy, as well as classy. That is why my most favourite thing to do in the world is listening to mushairas. Just sitting, with a cup of tea in my hand, listening to such amazing poetry is so soothing and rejuvenating. Everything looks pretty and beautiful in the world again.

Listening to ghazals with my dad: Another amazing stress buster for me is listening to ghazals with my dad. He is a big fan of ghazals, be it Jagjit Singh or Pankaj Udhas, and I just love spending time with him, listening to ghazals. He often sings the lines and even explains the meaning to me. It is so relaxing to sit with an elder, without a care in the world, and listen to ghazals. Try it!

Travelling: Well, I don’t think there is anyone I know who doesn’t enjoy travelling. Whenever I plan a trip, I am literally counting down the days before I have to go. I love packing for trips, shopping before, planning what I will wear each day, where I will stay, what I will eat and where I will go. Every place has its own flavour and I love to try everything. I talk to locals and make sure to buy things that the place is famous for. Travelling really refreshes my mind and I do the best work right after a trip.

Movies: I am a complete Bollywood buff. I love, love, love movies. I can watch movies all-day long. Now, OTT platforms have made this possible. I make sure to catch every new film. Earlier, I used to go to the theatre to watch within the first few days of the film releasing. However, now that theatres are closed due to Covid-19 for a while, I track new films on OTT platforms, and watch them every day. This inspires me to act better too.

Old songs: Old songs are in a class of their own. They are so melodious and I love them. I like new songs as well, but feel that today, it’s not about a singer’s voice; it is more about instruments and other technical elements, which we use to work on a voice. Old songs have a unique simplicity in them, which I just love. I can sit and listen to old songs for hours.

Gossiping with friends: Well! Who doesn’t like this? Be it girls or guys, everyone loves to gossip. And what is better than doing this with your closest friends? In fact, my close friends know me so well and are sure of topics I love to gossip about. We often meet over a meal or coffee, and the gossip sessions are just natural.

Acting and camera: This is my bread and butter, and I adore every part of it. Be it getting ready for shots, rehearsing my lines, being on the set or shooting, I love everything, except pack up! When I am in front of the camera, I am not Rajshri, I am my character and love to bring this diversity in my life. We, actors, are so lucky, as we get to play so many different people in our career.

Chai: Tea is my favourite drink. Imagine watching the rain from your window, sipping a hot cuppa. Isn’t it simply amazing? I like my tea with lots of adrak (ginger) and masala, and it’s clearly my favourite drink. I can have tea any time of the day; a cup refreshes me within a minute. I need my morning tea literally as soon as I open my eyes. It gives a fresh start to my day.

Midnight road trip: Like I said, I love travelling. But travelling at night is what I love most. It’s amazing to be on the road at night as there is no traffic and it’s relatively quieter. I love travelling at night, with really soothing music playing in the car. Also, in the day, usually, it is hot and there is a lot of traffic, and I often get irritated. Travelling seems like a burden in the day, but I feel a midnight drive is the exact opposite of this.

Talking about life with my dad: My father and I share a great bond with each other. He is my mentor, guide and confidant. I feel that his experience in life is so much more than mine and he can teach me so much. We often just sit and chat with each other about life, and how things are going. His feedback means the world to me, and I internalise everything that he says.

Rajshri Rani is an Indian actress, who has starred in serials, including Yehh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka, Suhani Si Ek Ladki and Ikyawann.

Visit Instagram: @rajshrirani