Known for her impactful performances, Bhumi Pednekar is not only passionate about her work in cinema but also deeply connected to the Hindi language. As India celebrates Hindi Diwas, Bhumi shares her journey with Hindi, recalling how her relationship with the language blossomed over the years. Speaking about her pride in being fluent in Hindi, she says, “I’m proud that I can read and write Hindi. Many can speak it, but reading and writing are different skills.” Bhumi credits her mother for enrolling her in a school where Hindi was compulsory, which shaped her love for the language.
School Days: The First Connection with Hindi
Bhumi’s bond with Hindi began during her school days when she was often asked to read Hindi lessons in class. It was during these moments that Bhumi realized her interest in acting. “I remember reading Premchand’s story, ‘Idgah,’ with full emotion in class,” she recalls. Bhumi shares how her Hindi teacher, Geeta Maam, praised her for her reading skills, which sparked her love for Hindi stories and plays. She adds, “We often performed Hindi plays during our school’s annual functions. I went to an RSS school, where both Hindi and Sanskrit were given great importance.”
College Days: Performing and Honing Her Craft
In college, Bhumi’s passion for cultural activities only grew stronger. She was known for participating in various events, be it drama, dance, or singing. This love for Hindi plays and literature stayed with her even after school. Bhumi fondly recalls how she auditioned for her acting class by performing a monologue from Premchand’s story, ‘Bade Bhai Saheb’. This story had a lasting impact on her, and she performed it with the same attention and emotion that had earned her praise during her school days. “This monologue became a part of my life,” she says, reflecting on how deeply Hindi literature influenced her acting journey.
The Rise of Hindi Online
Bhumi has also noticed the growing presence of Hindi online. “In recent years, I’ve seen many of my contemporaries using Hindi captions on their posts,” she notes, highlighting the digital shift that has embraced the language. She further adds that various online platforms now allow users to share their literature and writing in Hindi, contributing to the flourishing of the language in the digital space. “Our language has such a rich heritage. We should be proud of the amazing legacy left by our writers.”
Reflecting on Her Love for Hindi Literature
Although Bhumi hasn’t tried her hand at writing poetry or stories, she shares a fond memory of her speed and accuracy in writing Hindi during school exams. “I used to finish my Hindi paper first, and my handwriting was often praised,” she recalls with a smile. She also mentions that she consistently scored higher in Hindi exams compared to English, a testament to her love for the language.
As she reflects on her journey with Hindi, Bhumi admits that it has been a while since she last read Hindi literature as frequently as she used to. “Thanks to this conversation, I feel inspired to reconnect with Hindi writers and rediscover the joy of reading Hindi stories,” she says, expressing her renewed excitement for the language that has shaped so much of her identity.
