Abhirami is a beloved actress among Malayalam and Tamil audiences. Recently, she was seen in notable roles in films like Maharaja and Vettaiyan. Abhirami had been living in the United States with her husband for quite some time. At the peak of her career, she took a break and moved to America. However, even after her return, she managed to secure impressive roles in films. Now, Abhirami is opening up about the period when she moved back to India. She shared her thoughts on the YouTube channel Stay Fit with Ramya.
From 2014 to 2020, she occasionally worked on films while living in the U.S., but she never felt insecure about not being active in her career. “That’s because I never believed that films were my entire life. I have interests in various fields. While in the U.S., I taught yoga, worked as a volunteer, and kept myself engaged in one way or another. Working on films during that time felt like a bonus. There were many reasons behind my decision to return to India.”
“I moved back during the COVID period. There was no guarantee that I would be able to continue acting in films. At that time, my husband and I sold our house there, packed everything, and returned to India with our pet dog. It was a life-changing decision. We faced many struggles. We didn’t know what the future held for us here. After returning, I started a voice studio. Back then, everything was happening online. Many opportunities came my way. I gave voiceovers for corporate videos and online education. I didn’t wait for anyone to offer me work; instead, I created my own path,” Abhirami explained.
Abhirami also spoke about the differences she felt while living in India and the U.S. “In the U.S., people receive the recognition they deserve for their work. In India, networking is more important. The U.S. is a gender-neutral society. You can pursue education at any time; age is not an issue there. However, the sense of community that we have in India is irreplaceable.
“In the U.S., if my friend is sitting next to me and eating pizza, I must ask ‘May I?’ before taking a slice. They can say no, and it won’t be seen as offensive. Here, everyone eats together. My child is growing up in India. Half the time, I don’t even know which neighbor’s house she is at. They take her in, feed her, and entertain her. That sense of safety doesn’t exist in the U.S. In India, we always have someone’s support,” Abhirami said.
