Introducing #ELLEImpact, a powerful initiative spotlighting the remarkable journeys of women who are boldly shaping their industries and redefining success on their own terms. In this exclusive feature, we delve into the lives of four inspiring women hailing from diverse backgrounds and fields, each leaving an indelible mark through their passion, resilience, and unwavering dedication. From breaking barriers in sports to revolutionising the fashion landscape, these trailblazers embody the spirit of empowerment and serve as catalysts for change. Join us as we celebrate their achievements and honour their profound impact on society, one trailblazing story at a time.
Saina Nehwal
Plagued by uncertainties and the daunting prospect of injuries disrupting one’s uphill trajectory, the life of a sportsperson is not for the faint hearted. Enter Saina Nehwal, the first badminton player from India to clinch an Olympic medal. Her indomitable spirit and record-breaking stats lent the sport of badminton an entirely new direction in our nation, in turn inspiring millions of girls to tread down the path less traversed. Here’s our conversation with the illustrious sports personality.
ELLE: What strategies do you employ to maintain physical and mental well-being during intensive training sessions?
Saina Nehwal (SN): In sports, you’re pushing yourself physically for almost 8 to 10 hours a day. We need to be really careful of what we are eating, make sure we rest well, get good massages and create good conditions to allow for training of the body. This is essential to move freely and without injuries. We also play long hours and we’ve to keep our mind focused. You have to be ready to do that six days a week.
ELLE: In the competitive world of sports, how have your female friendships changed your life for the better?
SN: I play an individual sport so it’s hard to make friends and tougher to keep them. When you’re playing for so many hours, you hardly get time to go out much or communicate with too many people. Badminton is always on my mind. However, my biggest support systems are my mom and my sister.
ELLE: How do you regulate your mental health and not let it deteriorate despite the many hurdles life throws at you?
SN: Mental health is what keeps you going. It helps you achieve what you want and it’s only when it’s in order that the body works. Challenges are there in every field but once you’ve set a target, you want to achieve that and not be bothered about anything else. Sure, you get upset, that’s normal. In my case, I always talk to my parents. There will always be things playing on your mind but somewhere we have to learn to ignore it. I usually show my anger in court, I practise harder and show the world what I can achieve. I have faced a lot of challenges but I always had the belief that I can come out of it. Self belief is very important.
CarolAndrea Kevichüsa
While conversations around representation have picked up pace, there’s still an undeniable dearth of organic portrayals when it comes to body types, races, disabilities and more. Privy to a multitude of realities the industry is tainted with, CarolAndrea Kevichüsa, the model and actor, is here as a timely disrupter, emerging as an icon young girls can look up to, and see themselves in. Having made her debut alongside Ayushmann Khurrana in Anek, the news of her casting was not only a personal milestone but also helped uplift a community as a whole.
ELLE: Having initially embraced the modelling realm, was acting always on the cards for you or something you stumbled upon by chance?
CarolAndrea Kevichüsa (CK): Similar to how my modelling career began, the opportunity to act also very unexpectedly presented itself. Growing up I always had a very different vision to what I wanted my life and my career to look like. Mainly because being a model and being on a big screen and acting were things that were seemingly out of reach and also seemed unfathomable. Because I never really saw people that looked like me. Eventually, after I moved to Mumbai and started modelling full-time, I was cast in Anek by the director Sainubhav Sinha who had seen a photo of mine and he thought that I would be a good fit for the role. When I got the opportunity I thought that it would be a major win and a big deal not just for me but also for my community because it’s leaps and bounds ahead of what we were used to.
ELLE: What were the biggest challenges you faced during the shoot of your debut movie?
CK: It was pretty much smooth sailing if anything. I think during the shoot, the most difficulty I had was during the fight scenes because I played a boxer and that was physically and also mentally taxing because we had to do it for hours on end. But the crew and the rest of the cast made sure that everything was an amazing experience for me.
ELLE: One woman you always look up to and why?
CK: My mother. Needless to say, I think every mother sacrifices so much from their own lives and gives up a little part of themselves for the happiness of their children and for the rest of their family. And I think that is very selfless. I was brought up by a woman who’s a very strong woman, who has always instilled the values of life in my siblings and I. The importance of being independent, of being your own person and to be someone who isn’t afraid to make their own mark. And I can only hope that one day I can be someone like that, who is as inspirational.
ELLE: In what ways have your female friendships changed your life for the better?
CK: I’ve grown up being constantly surrounded by women because I have four older sisters. I grew up attending an all-girls school for my entire schooling. So I was constantly surrounded by women and that has really shaped the person that I am today and the perspectives that I have in life. I think the most important aspect of all these relationships that I’ve been able to mould and maintain is the support system that it provides and this sense of sisterhood amongst us. For my entire childhood and from the beginning of my career till now, the amount of empathy, understanding and support and just help in navigating through life that has been provided by the female relationships that I have now is unparalleled. And so I think for those things I only have my female friendships to thank.
Shruti Haasan
A creative artist, an acclaimed actor, and a talented musician, Shruti Haasan has everything to be hailed as a rockstar. People in the past have always tried to downplay her due to the weight of her last name, but she is a person who has climbed the ladder of her ambitions despite these obstacles. Be it her releasing her singing debut with the Hindi language film Chachi 420 to releasing her single Monster Machine and breaking box office records with Salaar, over the years, we have witnessed her nurturing her creative abilities. ELLE sat with the star to chat about all things music, films, and most importantly, her female friendships.
ELLE: How has your female friendship shaped you as a creative person in life?
Shruti Haasan (SH): I think female friendships, the sisterhood, or the ancestry of women before us who have set examples—all of these women are integral to how I feel, how I write, and what freedom it allows me. That weight, the gravitas of what women before us, women around us, and women within our families have done, greatly drives my motivation as a woman.
ELLE: You are a musician, actor, and producer, and you have always pushed the envelope in everything you do. What’s next for Shruti Haasan?
SH: It’s been amazing to be creatively in charge of what I want with my music and my videos. I want to push the envelope and direct someday, and I definitely want to work on more films, be a part of them, and also be responsible for films that change female narratives about different kinds of women. I think what’s next is really up to tomorrow. What I have always done in life is be extremely open, absorb opportunities, take things as they come, and also try to be creative every day.
ELLE: What does fashion mean to you?
SH: When I joined my movie business, I was requested and sometimes forced to wear colour. I wear everything that is required of a character; I never understood why I have to be dressed like someone else off-screen. I always stick to my aesthetic. Black is my uniform. I am a proud rebel and a happy misfit, and that’s what it represents.
ELLE: Lastly, who are the women you always look up to?
SH: I’ve been extremely blessed to have the most incredible women around me. It starts with someone at home who is extremely unique, independent, free, and fiery: my mom. My teachers and my friends’ moms taught me things my mom or sister couldn’t teach me. My group of friends are so powerful and add so much truth and value to my life. So yeah, I have met a lot of incredible women that I look up to, and I am so thankful for my sisterhood.
Ayesha Kanga
Ayesha Kanga is a rising star in the entertainment industry, known for her talent, versatility, and captivating presence on screen. Ayesha’s on-screen journey began with Netflix’s Class and she is soon going to make a mark in Bollywood. We caught up with the 27-year-old to talk about her future plans, and the most important woman in her life.
ELLE: If we had to ask you to write your own introduction to the story, how would you describe yourself?
Ayesha Kanga (AK): Oh my! This is always a tough question. I would probably describe myself as a girl with humble beginnings who’s pushed way above my weight. Off handedly, I also think I’ve always been extremely delulu but I think artists need to be (laughs).
ELLE: Who are some of the strongest women in your life and how have they helped shape you as a person?
AK: My mom! She’s been a rock. Things were hard for us growing up but she proved to me over and over how resilient a woman can be. I don’t know how she does it- flawless execution each time, but she’s right up there stronger and more graceful with time. I learn a lot from all the ways she navigates life, from the big things to the little things. I don’t think she knows how much I’ve drawn from her. We’re very different but secretly pride ourselves with all this strength we’ve built.
ELLE: What are you looking forward to the most, both professionally and personally in 2024?
AK: Professionally, I am looking forward to making this year a superlative of the last. I’m trying to focus on quality more than anything and putting creativity first. I love styling, image making and performance and figuring out a way to merge all my interests would be key. Personally, I’m hoping I can spend a lot more time with my friends. I’ve been swamped with work and can’t figure out a balance. I bought my first house last year and had all these plans to host but hardly ever did. I definitely want to change that this year- a few hours with them makes my whole week more bearable.
Credits:
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Photographer: Amitava Saha; Fashion Editor: Zoha Castelino; Asst. Art Director: Sanjana Suvarna; Words: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Ekta Sinha and Ipsita Kaul; HMU: Umang – An Artist, Renuka Desilva (Andrea); @devikajodhani, Devika Jodhani (Shruti); Vishakha Jain, Sonam Chandna Sagar (Ayesha); Umang – An Artist, Alyssa Mendonsa(Saina); Bookings Coordinator: Anushka Patil; Assisted by: Komal Shetty, Sanaaya Gajaria (styling); Jasleen Narang (bookings); Production: CutLoose Productions; Artists’ Management: Anima Creatives (Andrea); Collective Artists Network, Kapilay Singh, P2 Communication (Shruti); YRF (Ayesha); Ankit Bane, Tarish Bhatt (Saina).
