From gratitude and inner peace to finding purpose beyond success, Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty and Arjun Kapoor shared some surprisingly real thoughts on what it actually means to be happy.
What does happiness really mean when you already have fame, success and everything that comes with being a Bollywood star? Shilpa Shetty and Arjun Kapoor recently had their own answers to that question at India’s first World Happpiness Summit in Bengaluru.
The day-long event brought together personalities from entertainment, wellness, entrepreneurship and spirituality to discuss a topic that sounds simple but is surprisingly difficult to define — happiness. The summit revolved around three ideas: Pleasure, Peace and Purpose.
Shilpa Shetty Says Happiness Starts With Gratitude
Shilpa Shetty, who spoke about the three keys to lasting happiness, shared that gratitude plays a huge role in how she approaches life.
For the actor, happiness isn’t only about things going right. She explained that even when something doesn’t happen the way she wants, she tries to look at it with gratitude.
“Gratitude is something that you have to practice,” Shilpa said, adding that good health and family are already major reasons to feel happy.
She also spoke about looking beyond appearances and fame, saying that she prefers connecting with people on a deeper, “soul level.” Her personal greeting, “Atma Namaste,” reflects that philosophy.
Arjun Kapoor Talks About Finding Peace Beyond Success
Arjun Kapoor took a slightly different route while discussing happiness. The actor pointed out that people often connect happiness with achievements, success and exciting moments, while forgetting about peace and purpose.
According to Arjun, the idea of bringing pleasure, peace and purpose together resonated strongly with him.
He said happiness for him is about being present, understanding himself better, appreciating his journey and finding meaning even through life’s highs and lows.
In other words, the actor’s takeaway was pretty simple: happiness isn’t necessarily something you have to keep chasing — sometimes it comes from the way you choose to live.
Kiran Bedi And Other Speakers Join The Conversation
The summit also featured former IPS officer Dr. Kiran Bedi, who spoke about facing challenges differently. She suggested that problems can also become opportunities to learn and grow.
Other speakers included Dr. Saamdu Chetri, who brought the perspective of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness philosophy, along with Sonu Sharma, Hema Sardesai and several others.
The event eventually wrapped up with a larger message about making happiness part of everyday life, with the organisers expressing a vision of making Bengaluru a happier city.
And honestly, in a world where everyone is constantly chasing the next big thing, Shilpa and Arjun’s message was a reminder that maybe happiness isn’t always hiding at the finish line — sometimes, it’s already sitting in the little things we overlook.
