Navya Naveli Nanda on choosing entrepreneurship over films: ‘It’s actually not a surprise’

Women’s empowerment and gender equality lie at the core of all the campaigns and projects you support. What motivates you about these issues?

We live in a country where 50 per cent of our population is women. We also see the inequality and disproportionate opportunities given to women. Being a woman myself and coming from a background where I was never stopped from a particular opportunity, it became a mission of mine to bring these opportunities to more women so that we can be represented on all fronts, from politics and entertainment to healthcare and medicine. That’s the purpose behind why I will do this for the rest of my life.

What led to the conceptualisation of Project Naveli?

‘Project Naveli’ began two and a half years ago. The reason behind that was that I started working in women’s healthcare at that time. I really wanted to focus on not just health but a lot of other pillars where I felt we could support women. The ‘Project Naveli’, therefore, became a medium through which we could work with women in not just health but also in education, entrepreneurship, and legal awareness.

 

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You recently joined hands with the ‘Stand Up Against Street Harassment’ initiative. Could you tell us more about it?

This initiative is something that L’Oreal Paris has been working on for many years. They have an online training program which walks you through the different interventions that one can exercise if they are experiencing or witnessing street harassment. I have joined hands with them to promote this cause and to also bring awareness to street harassment, not just for women but also men. And, it is not just focusing on intervention but also talking about what it means to support victims and discourage harassers. It’s a project, given the kind of work that I have been doing, that really aligns with my beliefs. So, it was a great partnership between the two of us.

Your podcast, featuring your mother and grandmother, captured everyone’s attention with its candidness. What was it like discussing various aspects of life with your family?

The whole point of talking about things that are considered taboo is that the more you talk about it, the more you normalise it. I have really been brought up in an environment where these conversations weren’t taboo. I was able to have conservations around menstruation, sexual health, romantic relationships, friendships, workplace relationships, etc. It was really important for us to have those discussions in the hope that it inspires other people to talk about them openly and not shy away from them.

As someone from a film background, what inspired you to become an entrepreneur instead of pursuing acting?

While one side of my family is from the entertainment business, I come from a very long legacy of entrepreneurs as well, from my father’s side. It’s actually not a surprise that I chose to become an entrepreneur. That’s the path which excites me a lot. I really believe that whatever the path may be, whether it is film or business, passion is extremely important. You should follow a particular path only if you are completely passionate about it. That’s the reason why I chose the one I am on right now.

 

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You seem to be a travel enthusiast, as evident from your social media feed. What does travelling mean to you?

I really like travelling. For me, travelling is not just about seeing beautiful places but it’s also about the chance of meeting different people who you won’t otherwise meet in your city. The biggest learning experience for me has been travelling in India. We have such a big and beautiful country with so much diversity. I think that travelling around India really gives you an insight into the kind of rich diversity and culture we have. Learning is also great through travelling as travelling is one of the biggest teachers. This is what keeps me going about travelling. I love to explore new cultures, meet new people, try different kinds of food, etc. That’s probably why I enjoy it so much.

Being constantly in the media spotlight, do you ever feel bothered by it? How do you navigate that?

Anybody who is on social media and has a public profile is in the spotlight and has a voice, which is great. I also choose to talk about something which is very close to my heart and I speak a lot about a lot of social causes. This is what I am mostly in the spotlight for. I think it’s a great thing that I can use this platform to talk about things that need a lot more attention. I am glad that people are highlighting and talking about it because it means more awareness and a more socially conscious community.

Entrepreneurship can consume a lot of time. How do you maintain a work-life balance?

I don’t really look at my work as work. It’s something I really love doing. I don’t look at it as something which I have to forcefully do every day. It’s something which comes very naturally and I am genuinely very passionate about it. When your work becomes something you really work, you don’t see it as just work. It’s the purpose behind doing what you are doing. I don’t look at it as something I need to balance. So, it doesn’t overwhelm me.

When not working, what hobbies do you usually engage in?

I really like reading a lot. I read a lot of books. I am a big murder mystery fan so I like a good crime thriller and murder mystery. At the same time, I am a big fan of non-fiction so I read a lot of autobiographies, biographies, and other business non-fiction. I play the piano as well. These are the two things you will find me doing when I am not working.

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