“I’ve been a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Quad for around eight years now. My journey here has been anything but conventional. From a young age, I knew I was drawn to creativity and had no interest in pursuing engineering or other traditional paths. I graduated in visual communication, and my parents were incredibly supportive when I expressed my desire to enter the cinema industry. There was no drama, just encouragement.

I worked on four feature films and even wrote my own script, but finding a producer was challenging. To support myself, I took on various roles, including guest lecturing at a college and teaching students at the Balu Mahendra Film Institute. I kept myself extremely busy with internships and projects, all while developing a growing interest in weightlifting and physical fitness.

In the cinema industry, opportunities come and go unpredictably. Realizing this, I began to focus more on strength training, which gave me a newfound sense of confidence. I pursued various courses and certifications in fitness, gradually transitioning from part-time teaching to making it my full-time profession.

Despite my shift in focus, my love for cinema never waned. Watching a film still makes me feel connected to that world, and no one can take away the creativity that cinema instilled in me. Today, I teach strength training to women across the globe, a role that excites and fulfills me. Through this journey, I’ve learned to respect myself and my time – something that’s often overlooked in the cinema industry.

In addition to my coaching, I run the Shishu Shakthi Trust, an NGO that offers after-school classes, and an online jewelry store, Manjushaa, with my sister, combining our love for fashion with business. I got married at 24 during the production of the movie Billa, and my husband and in-laws have been incredibly supportive. They’ve never made me feel insecure about my unconventional career path, even though behind-the-scenes work in cinema often goes unrecognized and underpaid.

At 28, I became a mother, and now, at 40, I can confidently say that each phase of life brings its own challenges and rewards. My advice? Don’t stress too much about where you are in life. What’s meant for you will come to you. Keep working hard, stay kind, and trust the journey.”