Mumbai: Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has opened up about her spiritual journey, revealing how her faith has evolved from being a childhood belief into a deeper understanding of life. In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama, the actress spoke about finding her guru at a crucial stage, the influence of Chhath rituals on her outlook and how spirituality has helped her become more grounded.
Known for her work across Indian film industries, Tamannaah shared a personal perspective that goes beyond her career on screen. She described herself as “extremely spiritual” and said she felt fortunate to have found a guru who became important to her at a significant point in her life.
The actress also explained that spirituality, for her, is not about escaping life’s difficulties. Instead, it has helped her accept reality, understand its uncertainties and recognise that difficult periods can give way to better times.
From childhood faith to a deeper spiritual understanding
Speaking about her relationship with spirituality, Tamannaah said belief had been part of her life since childhood. However, her understanding of faith has gradually developed into something more meaningful and practical.
“I’m extremely… I think I’m extremely spiritual. I’m also very blessed and very lucky to, you know, have found my guru at a very important point in my life,” she told Bollywood Hungama.
The actress explained that although she had always been a believer, she came to understand spirituality differently as she grew older. Rather than viewing it simply as a source of comfort during challenging situations, she began to see it as a way to understand life as it unfolds.
Reflecting on this transformation, Tamannaah said, “My personal journey has been from a believer to a spiritual person.”
Her comments suggest a shift from faith as a personal conviction towards spirituality as a broader approach to everyday experiences. For her, the value of spiritual practice lies not in avoiding difficult emotions or circumstances but in learning to face them with greater awareness.
She also acknowledged the importance of her guru in this journey, describing the meeting as a fortunate development at an important stage in her life. While she did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding the meeting in the available interview excerpt, she made it clear that the experience had played a meaningful role in her spiritual growth.
How Chhath rituals changed her perspective on life
One of the most significant influences on Tamannaah’s understanding of spirituality has been the observance of Chhath rituals. The festival, traditionally dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, involves offering prayers to the setting and rising sun.
For the actress, the practice of praying to the setting sun prompted a deeper reflection on the natural cycles of life.
She explained that human experiences are also characterised by changes, with periods of happiness and success often followed by difficulties and uncertainty. Just as the sun sets before rising again, she believes challenging phases do not necessarily mark the end of a person’s journey.
Recalling her thoughts while performing the rituals, Tamannaah said, “Why am I praying to the setting sun?”
The question led her to consider the symbolism behind the practice. She explained that the setting sun represents the reality that not every moment in life is positive, while its eventual return offers a reminder that circumstances can change.
She elaborated, “It means that if today things are not good, the next thing that’s going to happen is the sun is going to come back. And that’s everyone’s story.”
The observation captures the central lesson she drew from Chhath: life’s difficult periods are part of a larger cycle, and a setback need not define what follows.
Rather than treating the ritual as a purely religious observance, Tamannaah said it encouraged her to reflect on universal human experiences. Everyone encounters ups and downs, she noted, and understanding this can help people approach adversity with a more balanced perspective.
Tamannaah says spirituality has made her a realist
Tamannaah also clarified that her spiritual journey has not made her less aware of life’s difficulties. Instead, it has helped her become more realistic about the world and the circumstances people face.
She described spirituality as a way of looking at life without trying to escape reality. According to the actress, accepting things as they are can be more meaningful than relying on belief simply to avoid uncomfortable situations.
Summarising how her outlook has changed, she said, “I feel like my personal journey has been from a believer to a spiritual person who looks at things not in an escapist way but looking at it for what it is.”
She added that the experience had made her a realist, describing that transformation as something beautiful.
Her perspective highlights a distinction between spirituality as an escape from problems and spirituality as a means of understanding them. In her view, faith can coexist with a clear-eyed recognition of life’s challenges.
The lesson she drew from Chhath also reflects this approach. The setting sun does not deny the existence of darkness; instead, it forms part of a natural cycle that includes the return of daylight. Similarly, acknowledging difficult circumstances can help people remain open to change without assuming that every setback will be permanent.
For Tamannaah, this understanding appears to be one of the most valuable outcomes of her spiritual practice.
The Vvaan brings mythology into focus
Tamannaah was recently seen in The Vvaan, a folk-fantasy drama inspired by Indian mythology. The film also stars Sidharth Malhotra and was released in theatres on September 25, 2026.
The project’s mythological influences provide another connection to India’s cultural traditions, although the actress’s latest comments focus primarily on her personal experiences with faith and spiritual practice.
Her reflections on Chhath offer a glimpse into how traditional rituals can encourage personal introspection beyond their ceremonial aspects. In her case, the experience prompted her to think about the relationship between nature, faith and the changing circumstances of human life.
As Tamannaah continues her career across film industries, her candid remarks offer audiences a more personal understanding of the values that shape her outlook.
Ultimately, the actress’s message is rooted in acceptance and resilience. By moving from childhood belief towards a more reflective form of spirituality, she says she has learnt to face life as it is, recognise its inevitable ups and downs and remember that difficult periods can eventually give way to brighter days.