Portraying different characters made me understand the ‘why’ behind people’s actions : Somy Ali

Former Bollywood actress Somy Ali, who runs an NGO called No More Tears in Florida, shares that playing different personalities on-screen made her more observant of people’s behavior in real life.

She said, “Acting forces you to study human beings the way a surgeon studies anatomy with precision, curiosity, and compassion. When you embody characters who are fragile, broken, funny, delusional, or brave, you learn to pay attention to the smallest details: a hand that trembles, a smile that hides sorrow, an angry tone that’s really fear in disguise.”

She further shared that she became far more observant because acting taught her that every behavior has a story behind it, and that awareness helped her in her NGO work. She added, “At No More Tears, reading someone’s emotional temperature can literally save a life. Of course my training in psychology, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, has helped me immensely as well, but nothing beats real-life experience.”

She further revealed that acting made her deeply empathetic. She said, “Portraying different characters made me understand the ‘why’ behind people’s actions. It softened my judgments. But surviving domestic violence and working with thousands of victims made me realistic about human intentions. So today, I lead with empathy, but I don’t abandon discernment. It’s a balance: my heart stays open, but my eyes stay awake.”

As someone who has spent her fair share of time on the screen, she has become extremely sensitive to loneliness. She said, “It’s the most universal emotion, and the easiest to hide. I’ve seen it in superstars, in survivors, in doctors, in professors, and in homeless shelters. Acting taught me to recognize the loneliness someone carries even behind wealth, education, fame, or laughter. Loneliness is where most pain begins and sometimes where most healing begins too.”

Somy also shared a few off-camera skills that helped her navigate the industry better. She said, “Listening truly. Listening changed everything for me. Most people listen to respond. Some don’t even listen and talk first to control the narratives. Good actors learn to listen to feel. That emotional intelligence carries into every part of life. It helps with negotiations, conflict resolution, leadership, and even activism.”

“When a victim of trafficking or domestic violence sits across from me, I don’t listen with my ears; I listen with my entire being. That comes from my training as a psychologist and as an actor and my lived experience as a survivor,” she added.

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And she would suggest newcomers create emotional boundaries. She said, “This industry can swallow you whole if you let every rejection, every gossip piece, and every unfair comparison penetrate your identity. You need to learn how to separate your worth from your work. A healthy boundary is not a wall; it’s a filter. It lets opportunity in but keeps toxicity out.”

The industry can be quite demanding, and Somy shared that it took her years and therapy to learn emotional flexibility. She said, “It is a gift, but emotional self-preservation is a necessity. I train my mind with meditation to detach from chaos, journaling to release emotional residue, therapy to process trauma healthily, routine to stay grounded, and service through NMT, which reminds me daily that purpose is the best anchor.”

“Balance doesn’t come from avoiding difficult emotions. It comes from knowing that you can return to yourself after the world pulls you in every direction,” she added.

She concluded by sharing that working with diverse co-actors and crews changed the way she communicates or forms relationships off-screen. “Working with different personalities teaches you adaptability. Some co-actors are calm and collaborative. Others are insecure, competitive, or unpredictable. You learn quickly how to navigate egos, protect your peace, and still be professional,” she said. 

“This experience shaped how I build relationships now—with boundaries, with clarity, and with respect for energy. I don’t take things personally anymore. I’ve seen too much to believe people are always what they show on the surface,” Somy ended.