Actor Kiran Dubey shares her thoughts on the role of young people in shaping the nation, the challenges they face, and the values they must hold on to in an era of information overload. “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 says, adding that while the youth are the driving force of progress, they are also vulnerable to being misled. “When there’s so much information and so many options, it’s understandable for young, impressionable minds to be impacted. The only way to fight darkness is to bring more light—and by darkness, I mean lack of knowledge and awareness. Every individual must take responsibility for becoming more knowledgeable for their own sake and for the sake of larger good.”
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Join Telegram ChannelGuarding oneself against misinformation, she believes, is harder than ever in the age of AI. “It’s important to think critically, question what we see or read, and check the source it’s coming from,” she advises. When asked about the needs of Indian youth today, Dubey is clear: “They must first know what it means to be an Indian. We’ve been greatly impacted by America’s cultural influence—through music, Hollywood, and Instagram—and sometimes we take global pop culture as the benchmark for our lives. The youth must reconnect to their roots, learn to filter out what’s being sold to them, and find their own true purpose.”
She draws inspiration from grassroots changemakers rather than high-profile celebrities. “I respect people who work for the environment, for animals, and for coexistence. They may not be in the limelight, but they are making a real impact,” she says. On how the youth have evolved, Dubey sees both progress and pitfalls. “India’s diversity makes its youth unique. They are making more independent choices about careers and lifestyles, but they’re also processing a flood of global information alongside their inherited culture. What I’m strongly against is the rising use of recreational drugs and the easy access to alcohol at a young age. If the youth can refrain from these and develop greater civic sense, it would be a big step forward.”
