Teachers may enter our lives in different forms. While some teach us through books and lessons, others leave a lasting impact simply through the way they live, handle challenges and treat people. This Teachers’ Day, actress Aishwarya Raj Bhakuni, who is currently seen in Star Plus’ O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera, opens up about the people who have inspired her and the important life lessons she has learned from them.
For Aishwarya, inspiration comes both from the world of television and from people she has observed closely in real life. Talking about the character who has inspired her, she says, “If I look at a character on screen, I would say Aparajita Didi has been one of my biggest inspirations. I love the way she never gives up. She is incredibly compassionate and always thinks about everyone else before herself. There is so much strength in the way she handles life, and that is something I truly admire.”
While Aparajita has inspired her through her strength and compassion, Aishwarya feels that actress Sriti Jha has been a significant influence in her real life. She says, “But if I talk about someone from real life, I would say Sriti Jha has been a huge inspiration for me. The way she conducts herself is something I deeply admire. She is so grounded, humble, loving and caring. Despite being such a wonderful and successful actor, she has absolutely no airs about her.”
What particularly stands out to Aishwarya is the way Sriti treats everyone around her with equal warmth and respect. “Whether she is interacting with a spot boy or a director, she treats everyone with the same warmth and respect. That quality is very rare,” she shares.
Aishwarya also credits Sriti with unknowingly helping her overcome one of her personal insecurities. She explains, “She has also unknowingly taught me something very important about being independent. I used to have this insecurity that if I didn’t get married or find the ‘perfect’ person, how would I manage life on my own? Watching Sriti ji live so confidently and independently has changed that perspective for me.”
The actress believes that seeing someone confidently embrace their individuality can sometimes be more powerful than any conventional lesson. “It has given me the courage to realise that I can build a beautiful life for myself, with or without someone beside me,” she adds.
This change in perspective has also helped Aishwarya look at relationships differently. She says, “In fact, that realisation has made me much more relaxed about relationships. Earlier, my fear of not finding the right person sometimes made me ignore red flags and hold on to the wrong people. Today, I feel that the right person should add to your life, not become the reason you are afraid of being alone.”
For Aishwarya, the biggest lessons she has received from her inspirations go beyond professional success. They are about compassion, resilience and the courage to be independent. Summing it up, she says, “So, in different ways, both Aparajita Didi and Sriti ji have taught me the same thing—to be compassionate, to never give up, and most importantly, to have the strength to stand on my own feet.”
