Lisa Ray Talks About Surviving Cancer and More in This Throwback Cosmo Interview

Cosmo: Hey Lisa, we’re excited to have you on our cover. We think you’re the poster girl for confidence. What keeps you going all the time?
Lisa Ray: “It’s funny you say that, because I don’t see myself that way. I am driven by curiosity and new experiences. I have managed to become more authentically ‘me’ and not be concerned about others’ opinion and perhaps that reads as being confident.”

C: So do you ever get stuck in a confidence crisis?

LR: “Oh yes! I turn to meditation. I have a strong inner dialogue with the Big Dude. I also turn to my husband Jason and close friends. I think it’s important to be gentle with yourself. You will have days that you feel like a tiger and can take on the world and other days when you want to hide like a groundhog. I realise my strength is my difference and you can’t please everyone.”

C: We’ve heard you spent a lot of time in Kolkata as a child. What was that like?
LR: “It was lovely. Every second summer we would travel to our ancestral home in Shyam Bazaar. I have memories of standing on the rooftop, watching school children in their half-pants wading through monsoon floods on their way to school. Since I’m an only child, the time I spent with my cousins was refreshing.”

C: So tell us, do you discuss work at home?

LR: “Sometimes. But essentially I don’t really understand what Jason does and he doesn’t completely get what I do and this is a good thing because it frees us to talk about other things and get out of that ego trap. Also, I tend to make decisions based on intuition while he is much more rational and methodical. It’s a great balance but it’s also tough to have him understand why I chose to do certain projects.”

C. What do you like doing in your free time?

LR: “What free time? Travelling is and will always be a passion. I’m passionate about design and I’m thinking of slipping in a course in industrial design so I can open my own workshop in India. Art is another passion. I tend to spend more money on art than shoes and bags.”

C: How do you deal with insecurity and criticism?

LR: “There’s no easy answer. One simple tactic is to drown it out. Part of getting older is you tend to shed negative elements in your life whether its people or activities. Criticism—if it’s genuine—is good for resetting and accessing. It can help you grow as long as you don’t take it personally.”

C: What according to you makes a perfect relationship?
LR: “I don’t think there is one formula. For me, it was important to be with someone who is self-aware and open to growing and adventure. The fact that Jason is a successful and gorgeous guy is a bonus. He grounds me and helps me soar at the same time.”

C: Do you think fighting your illness has turned you into a stronger person?
LR: “Yes. Post my recent relapse I’ve become more independent and empowered. Since I’m a hybrid, I always had identity issues but they have melted away after my illness. I am what I am and I don’t need a label to prove myself anymore.

 

This interview was originally published in the February 2014 issue of Cosmopolitan India.