US-based Indian-origin actress and designer Anjali Phougat has opened up about losing her father, Kesar Lal Dhingra, who passed away on July 30, 2026. She travelled to India for his last rites, an experience she says brought her closer to her roots and changed her perspective on life. “Losing a parent changes something inside you. No matter how much you think you are prepared for life, there are some moments you simply cannot prepare yourself for,” she says.Recalling her return to India, Anjali says, “It was one of the most emotional journeys of my life. There is something very different about returning to your roots during a moment like this.” She says the loss has changed her priorities. “I don’t want to live that way anymore. I want to spend more time with the people I love. I want to express what I feel. I want to be present. Life is happening now.”Anjali, who acted in the short film Inclusion Through Unity, says the experience allowed her to explore storytelling beyond fashion. “That experience was meaningful for me because it allowed me to explore storytelling in a different medium beyond fashion, and I genuinely enjoyed being part of something that carried a social message.” She says she has since been offered several film and Bollywood projects, but many did not materialise. “Many of them did not materialize due to practical challenges, especially because I am based in the United States, and continuous travel to India for long-format shoots can be difficult.”As she returns to work, Anjali says her approach has changed. “I want to work at my own pace and be much more intentional about where I put my time and energy.” She has also cancelled some planned New York Fashion Week shows. “For me, success is no longer just about how many shows I can do… I want to ask myself, ‘What am I contributing? What difference can I make?’”