Pragya Kapoor has an easy warmth that is palpable even over a telephone conversation. A lot of it stems from her candour and relatability. We spoke to the environmentalist, film producer and now a partner at Brown Living — ‘India’s 1st plastic-free marketplace’, a digital entity — on life choices, and came away with a few tips.

How did your journey with conscious living start?

It’s a process you know. Growing up, I have always had a very healthy lifestyle. We have been very simple people and have never aspired to have it all or show people what we have. It’s there in my value system, from what I got from my parents. Also, from having been brought up in a country like Sweden, which is not only environmentally very conscious but they are also extremely health conscious. Mental health is so important. I think that has shaped me into the person that I am today.

I had my awakening or awareness of all the privileges of my childhood after I had my kids because all of a sudden I am in this busy, concrete jungle kind of a city trying to make my own way and create my own standing. And, you kind of forget where you are from. I started to figure out how I can give them the best possible childhood and a lot of it was inspired from my childhood. I had an amazing childhood, always outdoors, with friends.

When you live in a big city like Mumbai, you don’t have that freedom and you are confined.... You only know that much or see that much and you don’t realise that there is a world outside. Having a child grow up with that limitation was frustrating for me because I know there is a better world.

Then I started seeing certain patterns in my older one where he wasn’t very comfortable with insects and animals, grass and I started sensing that he is not used to interacting with these things and they feel alien to him. I was like I have to do something about this. I realised that I cannot change where I am or what I am doing, but there is a certain value system that I wanted to give them, which was not ego-led, but would be full of empathy for all living beings and not just humans.

I decided to be the change I wanted to see. That’s when I started small changes and it all happened very slowly... over five-six months. And, then there is no stopping... making sure everything I eat is organic and also segregating my waste. I started exercising this year since I had my kids. I have just been so busy taking care of everything else and everyone else... it’s been on and off.

Do you feel a lot better?

Oh absolutely. I turned vegetarian three years ago. Going from a hardcore non-vegetarian to a vegetarian is the toughest thing I have ever done, but I am so happy today. I feel lighter and mentally also it makes a huge difference. Your entire way of looking at things changes. The time I am working out, I am more energetic and happier. I didn’t even realise how overworked I was. Now, I am much more available mentally. I am on a journey of self-love.

How have you renegotiated with your priorities?

I was 24 when I got pregnant. My husband (film-maker Abhishek Kapoor) is older to me and I felt if we don’t do this now, there will come a time when we might not be able to do it at a later stage. I didn’t want to choose between having a career and children and I told myself that I’ll do both.

I was shooting for Fitoor at that time and I got pregnant and I worked throughout my pregnancy. And, two days later (post-pregnancy) I was back at work. It was crazy. When you are so young, you have the energy to do that. Then I had my second one and I did the same thing again. I was working on Kedarnath, which was an extremely difficult film to make. I was back at work a couple of hours after delivery. I had set a goal for myself that in the next 10 years this is what I have to achieve. Then I started Ek Saath and got into taking care of the environment.... I am doing so many things at the same time and trying to give 100 per cent to everything but me... for the past five years.

Even the first lockdown I spent with Ek Saath, feeding people for a period of four months. I was also prepping for Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui at that time. I was working around the clock. Our food trucks would go out at night. In the morning I had to do school with my older one and then my prep meetings would go in the day and then I would take a break to put the kids to sleep and then would go on prep calls from 10pm to 2am.... I was working 24x7 and that continued till we finished the film.

Once we finished the film in December, I went to my home in Goa and I just collapsed. I was just crying. My husband couldn’t figure why I was crying. It was such a tough time in my life that I didn’t know what to do. I knew something was wrong. So, I took help. The therapist told me I was going through an emotional burnout.

So, I understood that you need boundaries. There are only certain times in a day that you should be available for work. It is okay to say ‘no’. It is so beautiful the way I am living my life now. I have never been so happy and content....

We measure success with popularity, but what’s the point of being popular and successful if you are unhappy? Being happy is being successful. We need to redefine success.

Brown Living then is an extension of your life?

Yes. Brown Living has been a blessing. When I started off on my journey, I didn’t know much. I just bought a bamboo toothbrush and things just took off from there. I started looking for more sustainable options and did trial and error. Now (with Brown Living), you can get everything that you need, that is sustainable in one place. A lot of hard work has gone into creating this and that is why I wanted to join hands with Chaitsi Ahuja (founder and CEO of Brown Living). It is also about community building and we are giving a lot of information about sustainability. We can’t be ignorant any more.

What are the fun ways parents can teach their kids about environment?

I have never told my children do this or don’t do that. I have just made the changes and now they tell me ‘Mama, I don’t want to buy this because it is plastic packaging’.... Start segregating your waste... dry and wet. We don’t understand that this waste is worth money. If you have the option, buy sustainable products. Small, easy switches like changing your toothbrush or carrying a water bottle, using napkin instead of paper towels.... There are lots of books with a message. Look for them.