Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; December 17, 2017)

Fuelled by her desire to write, Lisa Ray, a self-confessed bookworm, has decided to pen her memoirs followed by her book on poetry. The former actress-model has been Instagramming her poems and has gathered much love for it on social media.

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009, Lisa fought the disease and not just emerged a victor, but also became a shining example of positivity, hope and inspiration for many. She aspires to be a full-time writer, actress, painter, and more. And at 45, there is nothing stopping her. In a candid chat with Bombay Times on Day 2 of the Times Litfest 2017, Lisa shares her story, in her own words…

‘I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED POETRY’
I have been writing my whole life, like a covert writer. Now, I am working on my memoir. It is very close to my heart. My poems are already on Instagram but there is a book on my poetry just around the corner. But first, I want to come out with my memoir. I think I will probably combine the two — I hope to be able to intersperse verse with poetry. Poetry has a very different impact on how people perceive things. In a sense, poetry was a precursor to social media, because in just a couple of lines, you can say something impactful. I have always been a huge fan of the medium.

‘MY LIFE HAS HAD MANY DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS’
Movies, especially Bollywood has always been a part of my life. I have been very fortunate. I am an accidental actress. It isn’t something I really planned on. I just went with it. I flowed with life. I still act occasionally. I have a very interesting project next year. However, acting has never been the first and foremost thing in my life. My life has always had many different dimensions.

‘THERE WAS ALWAYS A SENSE OF CREATIVITY’
I write poems, as well as paint. I hope to actually get into writing full time. After my memoir, I will write fiction. That does not mean I will stop taking the occasional acting project. They are all connected and work together nicely. It is all about self-expression. We are the ones who create labels but I believe even business can be creative. My husband is a businessman and he exercises creativity in his own way! Creativity can have different outlets.

‘I AM LIVING MY LIFE TO THE FULLEST’
I do a lot of motivational workshops across India. It has become my passion. I am living my life to the fullest. I am a creative person, so I end up practicing and preparing for a creative life. I shuttle between Hong Kong and Bombay. I feel that this is the best phase of my life. Commercially speaking, I also have a film coming up. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as I am working with people I really love and respect.

‘I BELIEVE IN PAYING IT FORWARD’
When I was diagnosed with cancer, it was a very difficult phase in my life. But many people came forward and helped me whole-heartedly. I was so touched and I wondered how I would pay them back. If only we can take little acts of kindness and take it forward, it would be great.