HELLO! India Exclusive: Sunsets and soul-searching with Sara Ali Khan

She walks along Kandalama Lake in a pristine white dress, unhurried and with the quiet confidence of someone at ease in her own skin, with no pretence. It is the kind of comfort that cannot be performed—it is learned and earned over time. For Sara Ali Khan, nature isn’t merely a backdrop. It’s a language she instinctively understands. And in its silence, she finds a little more of herself.

We realised this was true to form as soon as the actor arrived at Heritance Kandalama. Sara slipped into the idyllic infinity pool at the property — an iconic luxury design hotel in Dambulla, Sri Lanka — for an hour-long swim, soaking in the tranquility around her while elephants casually meandered in the verdant landscape beyond.

The 31-year-old may be known for her candour, unabashed laughter, and honest performances. But here, at Geoffrey Bawa’s architectural wonder, with the calm waters stretching endlessly before her and the hills quietly rising beyond, she appears entirely unguarded, revealing her deeper, quieter, and calmer side.

REALISATION: RUCHIKA MEHTA

PHOTOGRAPHY: TARAS TARAPORVALA

STYLING: MEAGAN CONCESSIO

LOCATION: HERITANCE KANDALAMA, SRI LANKA

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