Some say silence is golden. Philosopher Kahlil Gibran said ‘Silence brings us closer to heaven’. We ask celebs how they receive their moments of silence and solitude.
Jaideep Mehrotra, Artist
Silence is built into the kind of work that I do — which is painting. I usually go into my studio at home on days that I am painting and in order to conceptualise what I need to paint, I require absolute silence. Silence allows the inner self to be heard and I even shut my eyes in order to achieve total concentration. However when I’m actually executing the painting, I sometimes turn on music since that helps the flow of my physical movements.
Achala Sachdev, Choregrapher
I ensure that I have a peaceful time by putting my mobile phone in the ‘silent’ mode most of the times. I also don’t switch on my phone until 10 am. Before that I wake up at 6.30 am and meditate for a couple of hours, which gets me into the peaceful, silent mode. The energy around one is just so calm early in the mornings — it’s the best time to connect to one’s inner soul and talk to God. In the afternoons, even if I’m working on a fashion show with models, I disconnect from everything for 15 minutes by asking not to be disturbed. Before going to sleep I try and calm the mind by connecting to the silence through the practice of Shiva yoga.
Tasneem Mehta, Art historian
It’s important to be with oneself, to spend time by oneself if one requires it. I get my moments of silence late at night when my husband and kids are asleep — or when my husband is travelling out of town. Since I’m not much of a party person, I get the time to spend with myself, to reflect or to read a book. As a couple, we also get our moments of peace and silence when we go to our house in the mountains. Even when I go for a walk I can enjoy the silence despite all that’s happening outside by tuning into what’s going on within myself. Silence can help one achieve a balance between the outer world and one’s inner self.
Aanchal Kumar, Model
I live alone so silence is one thing that I get in abundance. However I can handle it very well because it helps me to introspect and think about issues in my life. I also meditate since I learnt yoga for several years. A few minutes of this silent meditation, especially when tired or stressed, can ease the mind tremendously. Silence for me is all about calming down — both the external stress and the internal pressures that one feel. I’m one of those who feels that in the outside world one should measure one’s thoughts and words and not just talk for the sake of talking. Silence helps one achieve this mastery of the mind.
Shruti Seth, Video Jockey
As a video jockey, I appreciate the value of silence all the more, since I spend my entire day talking on camera or to people around at work. I really enjoy coming home and going into my room, switching off from all that buzz and reading a good book. Sometimes I don’t even switch on music because I appreciate the surrounding silence so much. Silence allows one to collect one’s thoughts and to refresh and rejuvenate oneself. I absolutely believe that silence is golden.
— As told to Ashish Virmani
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