Bhawana Somaaya Shares Heartwarming Afternoon With Deepti Naval, Discusses Writing And Family Legacies
The author-critic visits her actor friend of 45 years, exploring art, memories and their literary works
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Image: Instagram
In a touching Instagram post, author and journalist Bhawana Somaayal shared glimpses of a meaningful afternoon spent with veteran actor and artist Deepti Naval at her home. The post highlights their 45-year friendship and the creative versatility that defines Naval’s life beyond her acting career.
A Friendship Spanning Decades
“I have known @deepti.naval for almost 45 years now and we have watched each other’s careers blossom and grow,” wrote Aggarwal in her Instagram post. The two creative personalities have maintained their connection through the various phases of their artistic journeys.
Somaaya’s post reveals the depth of Naval’s creative spirit, describing her as “a writer at heart, forever absorbing, penning random thoughts.” While the world primarily knows Naval as an accomplished actor, Somaaya emphasizes her multifaceted nature – “She is an actor/painter/poet/author/photographer/filmmaker and more.”
A Home Full Of Stories
The post offers a glimpse into Naval’s distinctive living space, with Somaaya noting, “I love visiting her home because every corner of her unusual home has a unique story to tell.” This observation aligns perfectly with Naval’s creative personality, suggesting that her living environment reflects her artistic sensibilities.
The afternoon the two friends spent together was filled with conversation about their respective creative pursuits. Naval, who has recently completed her memoirs, was curious about Aggarwal’s book titled #FarewellKarachi. Their meeting involved discussions about writing processes, with Naval asking Aggarwal about how she divides her time between writing and dancing.
Creative Exchange Between Artists
The Instagram image captures the two friends in conversation, seated comfortably in what appears to be Naval’s home. The warmth of their friendship is evident in their relaxed postures and engaged expressions as they share their creative journeys.
Somaay described their afternoon together: “We spent a relaxed afternoon at her home, watching the sun go down. Over fragrant coffee we jumped topics, decades, there were flashbacks, flash forwards. Her staff clicked some imperfect videos, we laughed, giggled and I reluctantly came home.”
The post concludes with a thoughtful observation about relationships: “Relationships need quality time, like plants, they need water and sunshine and don’t grow digitally.”
Deepti Naval: A Multi-Talented Artist
Deepti Naval’s remarkable career spans several decades in Indian cinema. Naval is an Indian actress, director, writer, painter, and photographer. She made her film debut in 1980 with “Ek Baar Phir” and has since appeared in over 90 films, establishing herself as one of the key actors in India’s parallel cinema movement of the 1980s.
Naval’s artistic interests extend far beyond acting. In recent Instagram posts, she has shared insights into her family history and literary pursuits. She is currently working on books about her parents, following the completion of her own memoirs. Her father, Dr. Uday C. Naval, was a distinguished scholar and linguist who served as a professor at the City University of New York for 25 years.
Family Legacies And Literary Pursuits
Recent posts from Naval’s Instagram account reveal her deep connection to her family history. She recently shared about her father’s academic work, “STRIPED ZEBRA: The Immigrant Psyche,” describing him as her “main inspiration as a writer.” She has also posted cherished childhood memories, including walks with her father in the Kullu valley during summer vacations.
These personal reflections provide context to her conversation with Aggarwal about #FarewellKarachi, suggesting that both artists draw inspiration from their family histories and ancestral connections for their creative work.
Naval’s recent activities also include participation in the ASEAN India Art Camp in Shillong, where she engaged with young artists, further demonstrating her commitment to nurturing creative expression across generations and art forms.
This meeting between two long-time friends who have witnessed each other’s artistic evolution serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing meaningful relationships and the inspiration that can come from such connections.
Trivia
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