Reading and cinema have been constant companions in Kalyani Priyadarshan’s life. “Reading helps me make sense of the world. It allows me to step into lives different from my own and build empathy. As an actor, that’s invaluable because so much of my work is about understanding people and their emotions,” she says. Excerpts:
‘Books played a big role in my dad becoming the storyteller he is’
Books were an integral part of Kalyani’s childhood. “Both my parents (filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress Lissy Lakshmi) enjoy reading. My grandfather was a librarian. My dad often says books played a big role in him becoming the storyteller he is today. He was constantly buying me books when I was young. Growing up with both books and cinema gave me an appreciation for storytelling in all its forms. Films sparked my imagination visually, while books allowed me to create entire worlds in my head.”
‘Fiction is what I turn to the most’
When it comes to genres, fiction remains her first love. “I gravitate towards character-driven stories. I love books that explore relationships, identity and the complexities of everyday life,” she says. The actress also enjoys memoirs and the occasional non-fiction title. “But fiction is what I always return to.”
‘I’ve developed the habit of reading on flights’
For Kalyani, reading has also become a practical way to make use of downtime. “Film sets often involve a lot of waiting, and reading is one of my favourite ways to spend that time. It’s much nicer than endlessly scrolling through my phone,” she quips. While she admits she at times falls into the social media rabbit hole, she makes a conscious effort to carve out time for books. “One habit I’ve developed is reading on flights, and I travel quite a bit for work. Those uninterrupted pockets of time really help,” she says.
‘I’ve learnt not to worry about reading slumps’
Kalyani says she has stopped putting pressure on herself to read at a fixed pace. “There’s no better feeling than being completely absorbed in a story and losing track of time. Sometimes I read every day and finish books quickly. At other times, I’m so busy at work, I barely read at all.” But she adds, “I go through reading slumps all the time. I’ve learnt not to worry about it. Usually, it just means I haven’t found the right book yet.”
‘ChatGPT’s book recos have been gold’
While she likes the idea of book clubs, Kalyani says most of her literary discussions happen informally. “I exchange recommendations with friends, including some from the industry, but I don’t have one designated book person. And guess what? ChatGPT is great at recommendations as well,” she says with a laugh. “I usually give it a list of books I enjoy and ask what I should read next. Some of the suggestions have been gold.”
Kalyani’s advice for aspiring readers
- Start small and read what genuinely interests you, rather than what you think you should be reading.
- Even 10 pages a day is enough. Don’t worry about finishing every book or comparing your reading habits with someone else’s. The goal is to enjoy reading, not turn it into another task.
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