Known for bringing unwavering strength, warmth, and resilience to her iconic title role as Pushpa Patel in Sony SAB’s popular show Pushpa Impossible, actress Karuna Pandey mirrors her character’s grounded spirituality and unshakeable inner grace in real life. On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, she reflects on how Lord Krishna’s timeless teachings guide her personal journey, her approach to her craft, and her cherished childhood memories.
She says, “Janmashtami always brings back a wave of warmth and pure nostalgia. Growing up, the festival wasn’t just a day on the calendar; it was a festival of creativity and devotion. I vividly remember making the Govardhan Parvat at home using cotton, placing the little Baal Gopal, and setting up tiny figurines of cows and Meera Bai. Performing as Meera in school plays and dancing to devotional songs left a deep mark on me early on. Even today, whether through meditation or a quiet pooja at my own pace, staying spiritually grounded keeps me centred amidst life’s rush.”
On drawing strength from Lord Krishna’s journey, she says, “When you look at Lord Krishna’s life, it was never a path of ease. From the moment he was born, he was surrounded by adversity, obstacles, and constant threats. Yet, what makes his life so transcendent is that he never lost his composure, focus, or joy. He lived each moment with absolute clarity and set an everlasting benchmark for humanity. I often apply that mindset to my daily life—reminding myself that challenges are inevitable, but our composure during those times is entirely up to us.”
She adds, “In an industry as unpredictable as ours—and in life as a whole—we quickly realise how little is actually in our control. The sacred lesson of Nishkama Karma, doing your duty without being attached to the fruits, is my biggest anchor. I have learned to focus entirely on the effort, the performance, and the present moment without agonising over what it will deliver. When you surrender the outcome and simply do what you are called to do with sincerity, work stops feeling like a burden and turns into a form of worship.”
