“I Can Do Without Pleasure, But Not Peace of Mind”: Shilpa Shetty on the True Meaning of Happiness

Bengaluru, Sep 24 : Actress and entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty said happiness is less about chasing pleasure and more about maintaining peace of mind and being fully present in the moment.

Speaking at the Happy AiR World 3 Ps Happiness Summit 2026 here, Shetty said pleasure is temporary and can even become a source of pain when people become overly dependent on it.

“I can do without pleasure, but I can’t do without peace of mind,” she said, stressing that inner peace is essential to lasting happiness.

Drawing from her experience as an actress, Shetty said she makes an effort to remain completely present while shooting, keeping other concerns aside rather than allowing work, family and other responsibilities to overlap.

“When I am at an event, I am 100 per cent there,” she said, adding that she follows the same approach at home by giving her children her undivided attention.

Shetty said happiness can also be found in simple, everyday experiences. Recalling a visit to Shimla, she spoke about the joy she felt while seeing apple trees, touching the fruit, plucking an apple and eating it fresh from the tree.

She said the experience was not merely about the pleasure of eating an apple, but about being completely immersed in the moment.

“Happiness is being in the moment. Just enjoying the moment,” Shetty said.

She also noted that modern life often makes it difficult for people to experience such moments, as work calls, mobile phones and other distractions frequently intrude on meals, family time and conversations.

“When you are eating, switch off. Only look at the food with gratitude. Chew it, enjoy it, be in that moment,” she said.

Shetty further emphasised the importance of having a sense of purpose, saying pleasure could be enjoyed but should not become the sole objective of life.

“Your sense of purpose is what will determine your happiness quotient,” she said.

For Shetty, therefore, happiness lies not in constantly seeking the next pleasurable experience, but in protecting one's peace of mind, appreciating simple experiences and giving full attention to the moment—whether on a film set, with family or while enjoying a freshly picked apple.