In Bed With… Dhruv Sehgal

 For actor-writer-director Dhruv Sehgal, restful sleep and a decluttered mind is an ongoing challenge. From his early career days working on independent films and web series’ at Dice Media to his current gig as the perfect Indian boyfriend in Netflix’s Little Things, the 28-year-old has found ways to deal with stress along the way.

At Himêya, we’re inspired by young talent like Dhruv, who seek work-life balance through new ways of being. More from him below:

 The last thing you do before turning off the lights…
I set the alarm, put my phone on airplane mode, set the A.C. timer and drink some water.

 Objects on your bedside table?
I see a Nirmal Verma book, digital clock that doesn’t work, an old radio, Crocin strip and my copper bottle.

You sleep in…
Ancient holey T-shirts and boxers.

What gets you out of bed every morning?
On relaxed days, it’s the question, ‘chai or coffee?’ When I wake up anxious, I mentally go through all the work I’m supposed to do that day.

Favourite activity in bed?
Sex, cuddles and afternoon naps.

Preferred midnight snack
It used to be pizza but now it’s sushi. I blame these delivery joints, they spoil you.

The last film you watched in bed…
Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria

The most comforting thing about your bedroom?
My pink curtains. The room comes alive in the afternoon when all the walls have a pink tint… it’s beautiful.

 Photo credit: Rema Chaudhary

 (How) do you get enough rest between writing, acting and directing?
I tend to go for mini-vacations to Pune or Kerala where I end up cooking and reading a lot about food. That relaxes me.

“To be honest, I’m learning the craft of taking rest. I hope to get there by the end of this year.”

The struggle with sleep

I think I’ve forgotten how to take complete rest because my mind feels cluttered. Most of my thoughts are about work or an anxiety I find difficult to articulate. Unfortunately, a lack of good sleep is a pattern I see around myself; the norm is to sleep less and always feel tired. After over two years of this, I’m making an effort to change.

So no coffee after 8pm, decreasing my phone activity at night (I have a timer on social networking apps) and I’m looking for a loud digital alarm clock so that my bedroom is a phone-free zone where I actually rest.