Katrina Kaif on being a Global Indian

The Indian Diaspora is a growing and thriving group, estimated at over 30 million people, representing the largest international migrant population in the world. Internal research shows Global Indians stay connected with their home country and strongly support it, by remaining the biggest remitters of money back to India (over USD 80 billion annually).

Read on as Global Indian and a youth icon Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif discusses what it truly means to be a Global Indian.

The Indian community has made inroads across the world, but they still hold dear to their culture and traditions, what do you think?

Kaif: According to me, what stands out the most about our country and its people are their emotions of brotherhood and fellowship, whichever part of the world they're in. India has an impressive soft power through sport, food, culture and few diasporas have such a supply of culture that binds different ethnic communities all over the world. A sense of belonging to India is definitely something felt by Global Indians as they maintain strong connections back to their homeland regardless of whether they are first, second or third generation.

Does being a global Indian mean you embrace the another culture but stay true to your own, or does it mean that a new tribe of Indians with their own culture, own thinking and own goals?

Kaif: According to me, being a global Indian is staying true to your own roots and culture regardless of which part of the globe you live in. Something the majority of the Indians I believe can vouch for through their own ways of Indian music, food or cinema to name a few.

Along with being an actor you're also an entrepreneur, how do you pick your investments, do you go with your gut or are you more of a numbers person and go with projections?

Kaif: There's no one way according to me and just like everything else balance is key. Numbers, projections and expert advice is something I always value and keep into consideration but follow it up with my gut feeling. And yes, following your true passion, nothing motivates you more than your love and passion for what you do and in my experience that's how I made my way through being an entrepreneur.

Cinemas have reopened, are you excited about this?

Kaif: The audience and I have long waited for the day cinemas to reopen and what an opening I must say! It brings me so much joy to see the love people have for films and as an actor it is so encouraging