Certain things left me heartbroken but I see them as blessings today. Through the tough times, I got to know myself better” — Elli AvrRam
February 14 is special for Elli AvrRam as 10 years ago on this day, her most interesting relationship began. Her love affair with India. The actress told Bombay Times, “I came to India all alone from Stockholm, Sweden for the first time on February 14, 2012. I remember saving up money to get here. Today, I celebrate a decade in India! This has been my longest relationship and most cherished love story because there was a soul connect.”
So what led a young girl to leave her country Sweden and come over to a foreign land with foreign language? “I grew up on Bollywood films in Sweden. I knew this is where I wanted to go. I was so fearless at the time. There was an inner voice that told me ‘go for it’. People were scared for me but I wasn’t scared for myself. Everyone told me it’s not safe for a girl to stay alone in a foreign country but I believed in destiny. If something has to go wrong it will, no matter where I am. You can’t fight your destiny and I feel I was destined to be here. In these last ten years, I have grown as a person. What an amazing journey this has been.”
The journey wasn’t without its share of challenges though. She revealed, “Certain things left me heartbroken but I see them as blessings today. I have learnt that you should always stick to who you are. Never change for anyone. You attract the right people when you choose to be who you are. I am so grateful for the difficult times. Had I got things easier, I wouldn’t be as strong a person as I am today. Through the tough times, I got to know myself better.”
Speaking about identifying herself as Indian, she said, “This is home for me now. All of my 20s were spent here and that’s an impressionable age. My parents are so proud of me when they see me interacting in fluent Hindi with Indians abroad. What I love the most about India is its Jugaad, Ho jayega positive attitude (relentless effort to make things happen). No one here tells you that something is not possible unlike the west. In India, we always find a way despite the odds and that is such a great outlook towards life. No one treats you like an outsider. Be it a common man or people in the film industry. I am who I am today because of their acceptance. I have so much gratitude for India, my home.
