“Birds and animals in the wild migrate every year to safer and nurturing pastures, leaving behind the old environment. After nurturing their young ones, they return to thrive in the old environs. I use that analogy to meditate. You migrate to your inner soul, nurture the strength, light and creativity there, and return.”

Indian actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, and activist

Amala Akkineni is an Indian actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, and activist. She worked mainly in Tamil cinema, with credits in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada films, and was a leading Tamil actress from 1986 to 1992. She has appeared in several successful films and won two Filmfare Awards South, for Ulladakkam in 1991 and Life Is Beautiful in 2012. Beyond acting, she is the co-founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad, an organisation focused on animal welfare and animal rights in India.