'Happiness is a state of mind': Shilpa Shetty on gratitude, food, family & letting go

Happiness for Shilpa Shetty can show up in the most unexpected and, in her words, 'strange' places.

Key points

• Talking regarding 10 years from now, Shetty gets a tad emotional as she states, Life is so unpredictable.
• This person is active in the restaurant business, with Bastian in the city, she speaks fondly of Bengaluru and its cuisine.
• At one point, Shetty additionally switched to Tulu, speaking with pride concerning its official language status in Karnataka, adding a personal note to her connection with the state.
• Shetty additionally traces her positive outlook to growing up in a middle-class home, where her parents taught her to be happy with what she had.

Happiness for Shilpa Shetty can show up in the most unexpected and, in her words, 'strange' places. As she appeared for the Happpy AiR World 3Ps Happiness Summit 2026, dressed in a sophisticated monochrome ensemble, the actor wore a collar-neck vest with flowy pleated skirt, finished with metallic pointed pumps and minimal accessories. Even after more than three decades in the film industry, she keeps returning to the idea of being present as she discussions concerning being content. "Happiness is a state of mind, and that state of mind truly is in your hands. Most individuals are unhappy as they are not able to let go, " she notes.

Her idea of being present does not mean pretending everything is fine. As Shetty explains, "When I say I am a happy person, it doesn't mean that I don't feel pain or loss, the difference lies in what she does after experiencing a hurt or a loss. Of course I feel that." She adds, "But then you have to shift focus and bring it back to: okay, that's my journey, that is meant to happen. And I am going to gain strength from it."

Meanwhile, a confessed foodie, Shetty. This person is active in the restaurant business, with Bastian in the city, she speaks fondly of Bengaluru and its cuisine. "I'm an absolute foodie and a true Mangalurean. I love neer dosae. I even ordered Mysore pak, " she notes. She additionally surprised numerous by revealing that she offered up chicken two years ago after a sudden calling on Janmashtami. Yet, her love for local cuisine remains intact.

At one point, Shetty additionally switched to Tulu, speaking with pride concerning its official language status in Karnataka, adding a personal note to her connection with the state. Coming to family, Shetty notes she encourages her kids to have a voice, adopting a 'horses-for-courses' approach for a different generation. Still, boundaries remain clear. "I tell them, 'I'm your best friend, but I'm your mother. Don't cross the line, " she laughs. A 14-year-old son and six-year-old daughter keep life busy, but she has learnt to draw boundaries around her attention. When she is working, she wants to be fully at work. When she is home, she can ignore calls for a few hours and offer her children her attention. She admits trying to accomplish everything at once left her unhappy. "Create a plan of action. Write your priorities down, " she advises.

Shetty additionally traces her positive outlook to growing up in a middle-class home, where her parents taught her to be happy with what she had. "I feel so much gratitude, and that's my way of feeling happy. Even if something doesn't go my way, I just offer thanks to the Lord. They say, 'Whatever is in your mind is good; whatever is not is even better. There are so plenty of reasons for me to feel happy – good health, family. And I'm going to do everything in my capacity to keep that going, " she adds.

Talking regarding 10 years from now, Shetty gets a tad emotional as she states, "Life is so unpredictable. My dream is to see my children grow up into good human beings who have purpose in their lives and to open my own wellness space. But you can't focus so entirely on one that you lose sight of the other, " she notes smilingly adding a parallel dream of chilling on her farm and growing fresh fruits and vegetables.

Taken together, the developments around ' Happiness is a state of mind' : Shilpa Shetty on gratitude, food, family point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.