Opening Doorz

“I was very affected by the passing of Sushant Singh Rajput. One spoken word poem is dedicated to him. There is another poem inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, amongst other poems,” says Anisa Butt

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | June 15, 2021

Anisa Butt is a super-talented personality. ‘Unplug with Ani’, her podcast which is over two years old features diverse personalities whose stories uplift the listener. A familiar face in Bollywood, Anisa, was in India last February on work. Unfortunately the work she came for never materialised and she had to fly back home after being locked in at home. But she never lost Hope. Throughout the lockdown, away from family, she remained positive, despite the gloom around her. 

Now, she is ready with her first book, Hope, which releases on June 21 and is available for pre-order on Amazon from June 17, 2021.

Not one to be easily upset, Anisa is known to have a mature head on her young shoulders. Nothing perturbs her, like it does ordinary mortals, because she has learned to harness the power within. That peace radiates around her as she digs within to triumph over seemingly intimidating situations. For one who has known her for some time now, it comes as no surprise to me that she chose to call her first book, Hope.

Opening Doorz caught up with the actress over a telephonic conversation on Hope, Life and Love. 

Excerpts:

What is Hope all about?

This book is an intimate anthology of poems to remind you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Despite all of life’s hardships, with a bit of love and a lot of faith, we are cut out for the race. What we learn along the way is not only the importance of resilience but self-acceptance, self-love and the confidence to speak our truth. 

Is Hope more about you or a soul guide for the reader?

Find your voice and what you’re good at and just keep playing because if you don’t, the need to please others bleeds into every area of your life and you lose yourself. You lose the very things that make you, YOU. So yes, Hopefully, every reader will find that silver lining in this book.

Any particular treatment you have given this book?

I have segregated the book into three sections: Life, Love, and Faith. They are my pillars. I have also learned so much about each of them. If you take one away, then something is amiss. From times I have felt alone to times I have been striving for success and the need to be seen–there is something in here for everyone.

This past year has been traumatic for many and difficult for all; have any of the experiences of this past year gone into your book?

Absolutely! I was very affected by the passing of Sushant Singh Rajput. One spoken word poem is dedicated to him. There is another poem inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, among other poems. 

You were caught up in India last year during the pandemic. You were able to fly out only in June. How hopeful were you during that time?

I had come to India in February last year for work but unfortunately, we all had to stay indoors because of the lockdown that kept getting extended. We were hit by a pandemic and all we had was hope. There is always hope for something better. Hope for more. Hope for solutions, for answers, for changes. I was happy I could return home safely.

Were you always this spiritual… rather, when did you connect with your inner self and realise the potential you had within?

I would call myself spiritual, and I’ve had that connection with God since a child. But my relationship with my faith has changed over time.

To write about hope, having faith, and believing in love means having had a rough ride… Did you have a rough ride?

 Haha ha ha ha … don’t we all?

What is that one lesson life taught you to believe in hope?

I like to think it was ingrained. I don’t remember one specific incident which caused me to think this way. Maybe I am just a hopeless romantic! But we all fall down. I just like to believe we get up again after falling.

How would you define faith?

Well, in my words (from the book) “Faith is the stubborn flicker of light that bugs you when you’re afraid, Faith is the gut feeling which tells you to fight when others would have walked away. Faith is the glimpse of hope you get on the loneliest of days. Faith is the knock you get at the door in life’s extraordinary ways. Faith is that calm feeling in a storm when people think you’re crazy when the future is uncertain, and everything is hazy.

You can pre-order your copy here.

And what according to you is the true meaning of love?

This is how the Bible describes love in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

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