Ratna Pathak Shah, Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar and more: A letter to their 18-year-old selves from the present

What does it mean to come of age? What is an average 18-year-old Indian like? Let's explore the age of promise.

Updated: December 31, 2017 12:18 pm

The world is a dark place, but then there is light too, you just need to find the right switch, and you will. (Source: Thinkstock Images)

‘Live dangerously, once in a while at least’

Ratna Pathak Shah, actor

Dear R,

You are already wise — you are miserable at 18; you don’t buy any of that sweet 16 stuff can you? And rightly so. Things are hard, but you don’t have to be miserable; though I have to say that being miserable is good fun! I don’t want to warn you about the pitfalls ahead; don’t want to ruin the discoveries you will make. I don’t want to advise you — you won’t listen anyway. But I’d like to say that fear is a waste of time. And one can take forever to overcome various fears, so hurry up if possible.