Five years ago, I went to a film and media study abroad program in India. I went with totally no expectations. I had no idea how it would turn out and what kind of people I would meet there.

Something Called Me…

But I did go because something stirred inside me, much the same way something sparked in Shivani in Enchanted Silence. I remember reading the program overview and details month after month. I did this for a whole year before I actually decided to go.

I don’t know what triggered in me suddenly, but it was like I had to go to India on this program.

2 Months after November 26 Mumbai Attacks, I flew to India…

I flew in February 2009 to India and just 2 months before, the terrorist attacks had happened in Mumbai. It was all over the international news. I made the decision to go in December and my mother was freaking out. She didn’t want me to go obviously because of safety concerns. But something in me had made the decision. I went anyway.

It turned out to be the most spectacular trip. I met all sorts of interesting people and witnessed films being made.

Cruising Through South Mumbai in a Taxi

I remember cruising through South Mumbai in a taxi. I had just returned from observing the coolest ever film shooting and meeting Emraan Hashmi, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Deshmukh, and Remo D’Souza! (In case you didn’t know, they are famous film celebrities in India)

I’ll write more about my experiences in subsequent posts, but as I cruised through in that taxi, I made a decision. It had nothing to do with meeting famous people, but the feeling I got standing on the set.

I decided I was going to do something creative with my life: writing novels and being involved in films. It was my highest truth.

Did you have a similar experience of following your hunch and it led you somewhere spectacular? Please share with me in the comments.