From her earliest travel memories to her most recent escapades, Adah takes The Pioneer on a journey that’s as much about exploring new destinations as it is about exploring the human spirit. Be it the spiritual retreats in Haridwar to hilarious encounters in Bangkok, she’s got it all
Adah Sharma’s travels are less about “tourist spots” and more about uncharted territory, where even the air feels different, like a soft whispering secret only she’s been entrusted to hear. Her latest trip to Haridwar, for example, wasn’t a luxury hotel getaway but an ashram retreat by the mighty Ganges, where she and her mother slept under a roof woven from simplicity, not silk sheets. The magic? It wasn’t in the amenities or the itinerary, but in the stillness of the river, the temple chants floating through the air and the warmth of the people who didn’t need to speak to make you feel at home. It’s this kind of unassuming beauty that the 1920 fame chases on her travels, a pure connection with the land, the culture and the very essence of the place.
But her sense of travel isn’t limited to spiritual epiphanies or quiet walks by the riverbank. Her adventures come with delightful twists of chaos, comic relief and moments that belong in a reality show of their own. Imagine a plane ride where a woman sitting behind her delivers a one-woman performance, shifting her voice from calm to loudspeaker-level dramatic in a matter of seconds.
The Kerela Story star’s love for travel comes with an air of spontaneity and a deep connection to culture. The actress, who had embarked on a soul-stirring trip to Haridwar, shares, “I stayed with my mother at the ashram instead of a hotel. The warmth of the people there and the spiritual vibe made the experience unforgettable. Every evening, we sat by the river, soaking in the tranquility and meditating. It was a simple yet profoundly beautiful experience.”
Comfort and mindfulness define her travel style. As an actor, she always makes an effort to show that it’s okay to not be fashionable when you’re having fun. “Enjoying the moment is the most fashionable thing you can do,” she emphasises. Her footwear of choice? Grass chappals. “We walked a lot and visited temples, so I wanted something easy to slip on—definitely not sneakers for this trip!”
True to her adventurous spirit, the Commando 2 actress prefers wandering without a strict itinerary. “I love travelling without a map. Getting lost helps you discover places you wouldn’t find otherwise. I don’t like ticking off checklists or saying I have to visit four spots in a day. Zero agenda is the best agenda,” she says with a laugh.
Her admiration for India’s diversity shines through as she talks about the country’s unique charm. “India is incredible. From the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir to the beaches of Kerala and the sand dunes of Rajasthan, we have it all in one country. It’s rare to find such varied terrains in one place.”
Surprisingly, for someone who travels extensively for work, her favourite vacation spot is her own home. “Honestly, after all the travel, my bed feels like the best destination. I work a lot, so when I get a day off, I cherish my space at home.”
For the Hasee toh Phasee fame, home isn’t just where the heart is—it’s her ultimate vacation spot. “I have a music room at home where I play the piano and guitar,” she shares with a smile. “I interact with the birds and squirrels who visit regularly—they’re like old friends now. There’s a special corner where I curl up with a book. It’s my sanctuary, especially after long stretches of work and travel.”
Whether at home or by the banks of the Ganges, her idea of a perfect retreat is all about embracing the moment, finding peace, and reconnecting with herself.
For her, travel often comes with its share of unexpected adventures. Recalling one such quirky incident during a flight, she says, “My mom, my hairdresser and I were seated together, and there was this girl right behind us. At first glance, she looked perfectly normal, but then she started speaking like she had a loudspeaker in her throat. She was arguing with someone and her tone kept changing—one moment she was completely calm, and the next, she’d burst into dramatic voices. It was like watching a live masterclass in acting!” Adah laughs, adding, “She kept it up for the entire flight. It was unexpected and entertaining, but also a little eerie.”
Flights seem to bring their own set of recurring challenges for her. “I have this uncanny knack for always being seated near a crying baby,” she jokes. “It’s like a given—every flight, there’s one within earshot. And no, they’re not crying because of me!”
Amid these amusing adventures, she finds moments of focus, even during her travels. Ahead of starting her show, Reeta Sanyal took her script along on her latest trip. “I remember sitting with my mother every evening, practicing my lines. We stayed at an ashram that had a gaushala, so sometimes I even rehearsed with the cows as my audience!” From sky-high dramas to impromptu rehearsals in serene surroundings, her travel stories are as vibrant and spontaneous as the actress herself.
Her earliest travel memory is one she cherishes deeply—a family trip to Hawaii when she was just three and a half years old. “We stayed there for eight months and I absolutely loved it! I used to hit the beach almost twice a day,” she recalls with nostalgia. As a self-proclaimed music experimenter, her travels often inspire her to explore new melodies. “Just like people experiment with food, I experiment with music. Whenever I’m travelling, I ask those around me about their favorite songs. It’s such an amazing way to discover music I wouldn’t otherwise know,” she explains. Her openness extends to local commutes. “When using local transport, I let people play whatever music they’re listening to in their language. It’s like a cultural exchange, but with songs!”
Her knack for finding humour in cultural nuances shines through when recounting a funny episode from Bangkok. “I went to this restaurant and they told me they didn’t serve vegetarian food. But the menu had burgers and pizzas! So, I asked if they could make me a pizza without the meat. They refused, saying they’d only serve it with the non-veg toppings and I could just pick them off. I was shocked!” she laughs.
Determined, the Bastar fame tried another approach. “I asked if they could give me just the plain pizza base—no toppings. But they kept insisting, ‘No have, no give.’ They said it would ruin the taste of the dish. It became this hilarious back-and-forth with hand gestures. Eventually, I was so hungry I even made growling stomach sounds to plead for bread. But they didn’t budge!”
For her, travel is as much about collecting memories as it is about picking up tangible keepsakes—sometimes quite literally. “I don’t know if it’s strange, but I love collecting rocks or shells from wherever I stay. If it’s a beach trip, I get carried away,” she shares, grinning. The result? “My luggage often ends up 4-5 kilos overweight because of these treasures. But it’s worth it! Once home, I paint on them. It’s like taking a piece of the place with me and turning it into art.”
Her creative streak doesn’t stop there. She’s also mastered the art of inflight entertainment. “We all love watching movies or shows on flights, but holding a phone for hours hurts your hands, and tilting your neck to look at it on the tray table isn’t ideal either,” she notes. Her solution? Pure genius.
“At the back of the tray table, there’s that little hook for the paper vomit bag. I loop the bag around the hook like a noose, then attach my phone cover to it from underneath. The phone hangs perfectly at eye level, so you can watch in peace—no neck pain, no hand strain!” she explains enthusiastically.
From collecting beach souvenirs to inventing travel hacks, her adventures are as innovative as they are personal. “It’s these little things that make every journey unique and fun,” she says with a smile.
