SUNDAY VIBES
Psychology comes naturally to her, or so it seems. “A lot of people think Anjhula speaks and carries herself in a certain way because she’s a psychologist. But I argue I became a psychologist because I am like this!” She tells me she always knew she wanted to be a psychologist since she was 14. “I think people are called to their profession and I believe I was called to mine.” Her desire to venture into the field was solidified when she observed with concern at the ease in which people were resorting to pills and medication to numb their anxiety instead of dealing with the root causes of their emotional distress. “When I observed this pill-popping culture, I decided to drop out of med school and pursue psychology because literally — as cheesy as it may or may not sound — a country’s wealth is truly the mental health of its citizens.”
According to the World Health Organisation, one in four individuals develops a common mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety, every year. Two in every 100 people in our community develop schizophrenia or manic depression (bipolar disorder) in their lifetime. Two to three per cent of all families have a family member who is affected by intellectual disability. Five of the 10 leading causes of disability are mental disorders — depression, substance abuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. “It’s alarming to see how mental health issues are being treated here in this side of the world. Mental health support barely exists here. In Malaysia alone, statistics show that there is one psychologist for every 18,000 people!” she laments. he writes poetry on the side. She cried again!” Were you trying to rattle her on purpose? “Yes, I was,” she answers. “How else do you make people to see the fallacy of their ways? Hold it to light! You need to see how ridiculous and myopic your assumptions and so-called standards are.”
She didn’t marry a rapper much to her parent’s relief. Anjhula married Sri Lankan Satish Selvanathan, who runs a turnaround company in Kuala Lumpur where they’re based. “I met him at a dinner party in London,” she says, smiling. “He definitely intrigued me,” before adding archly: “... and it helps that he’s very easy on the eye!”
Expectations and traditions run deep —unsurprising, she says, because she hails from an aristocratic family with royal ties hailing from the princely state of Banswara, Rajasthan. “Being Rajput is in my DNA so to speak,” she supposes, adding: “As with the positive aspects of the culture like valour, fearlessness and protecting the weak.”
Then of course, there’s the modelling bit, I remind her. At the age of 14, she was discovered by talent scouts while visiting her sister in New York. “My sister said no. I was too young,” she recalls. Her first modelling gig for a Banana Republic campaign, came four years later. She has since modelled for top brands like Vogue, Pepsi, CHANEL India, Lacoste and walked the ramp at the New York Fashion Week for consecutive seasons alongside the London, Hong Kong and Singapore Fashion Weeks.
Did her parents approve? “They conceded as long as I was serious about academics,” she says. Do you still model? “Still happens once in a while, when I’m feeling it,” she replies, chuckling. Catching sight of my tattoo (of a musical note), she remarks: “You must love music.” As I nod my head, she continues: “I play the violin. I’ve been playing since I was three.”
What can you NOT do? I ask her drily. “Math!” she interjects with another laugh. “I can’t do math. I’m really functionally challenged — which means I’m failing as an Asian!” Putting on the Indian accent, she wags her finger at me, railing: “Arreyy! Vaat is wrong with you??”
Turning serious, she adds: “When I look back in my life, despite the pressures to conform to expectations and everything else, I never bent.” Elaborating, she says: “Every decision I’ve taken from choosing academics over modelling, for pursuing my passion instead of following someone else’s dream, for calling a spade a spade with my mother has all set me up to be where I am today.”
Social media and exam pressures have been cited as factors contributing to the poor mental health of children and young people, she explains, adding: “It’s almost if I want to tell young people not to listen to your parents blindly. That blind obedience will get you nowhere. I am literally where I am today because I didn’t listen to my parents.” If there’s any message she wants to get across today, it would be for young people to “... hold their ground because you’ll find the platform that rewards you for that and that’s where you’ll shine.”
elena@nst.com.my