For actress Adrija Roy, Independence Day is a reminder that freedom is not only something we celebrate once a year. It is also about the small choices we make every day, having the courage to speak our minds, and choosing the life we want for ourselves.
Talking about a freedom that people may not realise they have, Adrija, who is presently seen in the role of Raahi in Star Plus and Rajan Shahi’s Anupamaa, says, “I think having your own opinion and being able to say what you feel is something we sometimes take for granted. We can question things, we can disagree, and we can choose our own path. But I also feel that freedom doesn’t mean you can do or say anything without thinking. You have to be responsible about how you use it and be mindful of other people too.”
My mother inspires me the most. A lot of what I understand about strength comes from watching her.
For Adrija, independence is strongly connected to making her own decisions. “I feel independent when I know that I can make a decision for myself and then stand by it. As an actor, I also feel very free when I can understand a character in my own way. You take the script, but then you add a little bit of yourself to it, your emotions, your experiences, the way you see things. That is something I really enjoy,” she says.
Choosing acting as a profession was one decision that also tested her courage. She shares, “There were definitely times when I was unsure because this is not a profession where everything is certain. You don’t know what is coming next. But I think if you keep waiting for everything to be perfect, you will never take the first step. Sometimes you just have to trust yourself and go ahead.”
When it comes to India, there is one thing Adrija hopes remains unchanged. “Our togetherness. We are all so different here. Our languages, food, cultures, traditions, everything changes from one place to another. But there is still this feeling that we belong to the same country. I really hope we never lose that,” she says.
Her biggest inspiration, however, is someone much closer to home. “My mother inspires me the most. She has shown me that you don’t have to be loud to be strong. I have seen her go through difficult situations and still be patient and kind. A lot of what I understand about strength comes from watching her,” Adrija adds.
And her message to the younger generation is simple. “Don’t spend your whole life trying to fit into what people expect from you. Be yourself, make your choices, and if you make a mistake, learn from it. That’s also a part of being free. But while choosing your own freedom, don’t forget to respect somebody else’s.”
