Kiran Dubey: "The Only Way to Fight Darkness is to Bring More Light"

Mumbai: In a candid conversation about the future of India, actor Kiran Dubey has shared her compelling perspective on the role of the nation's youth. She believes that while young people are the engine of progress, they are also vulnerable in an age of overwhelming information. "The youth of any nation is defined by how it processes the conditioning it has inherited and how it navigates the information in the world today," she stated.

Dubey’s central message is that "the only way to fight darkness is to bring more light," defining darkness as a lack of knowledge and awareness. She urges every individual to take responsibility for becoming more knowledgeable, not just for their own benefit but for the greater good of society. This becomes particularly crucial in an era dominated by misinformation and AI. She advises young people to cultivate critical thinking, question what they see and read, and always verify the source of information.

When asked about the most pressing needs of today's Indian youth, Dubey's answer is direct and insightful. "They must first know what it means to be an Indian," she says, highlighting the strong influence of global pop culture from sources like Hollywood and social media. She believes this often leads young people to adopt global standards as benchmarks for their own lives. Her advice is to "reconnect to their roots, learn to filter out what’s being sold to them, and find their own true purpose."

Dubey draws her inspiration not from celebrities but from grassroots changemakers who work for the environment, animal welfare, and coexistence. She respects their tangible impact, noting that their work often goes unnoticed by the mainstream media.

She sees both positive and negative developments in the evolution of Indian youth. While she applauds their growing independence in making career and lifestyle choices, she warns against the "pitfalls" of balancing global information with inherited culture. Most importantly, she expresses strong concern about the increasing use of recreational drugs and easy access to alcohol among young people. Dubey believes that if the youth can refrain from these and develop a greater civic sense, it would represent a huge step forward for the country.