TN Sustainability Conclave 2026: Shriya Pilgaonkar Says It's More Than Just A Cool Word, Calls It Survivability

Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar believes sustainability is far more than just a buzzword or a viral trend. Speaking at the Times Now Sustainability Conclave 2026, she said that, for her, sustainability has evolved into a matter of "survivability." At a time when trends and ultra-luxurious lifestyles often dominate celebrity culture, the diva is making a conscious effort to be more mindful of her environmental impact and stay curious about sustainable living. Interestingly, the cause has been closely intertwined with Shriya's journey in showbiz.

TN Sustainability Conclave 2026: Shriya Pilgaonkar On Survivability

Long before she began starring in films and web series, Shriya Pilgaonkar featured in a documentary on stray cows in Rajasthan, a project that deepened her understanding of environmental and social issues. However, her commitment to sustainability began much earlier at home. Shriya credits her mother for instilling these values in her from a young age and inspiring her to adopt a more sustainable way of life.Shriya, while speaking to Times Now's Heena Gambhir, said that she believes the word "sustainability" should be replaced with "survivability." She pointed out that it has become a much bigger issue and highlighted concerns around climate change and the rainfall deficit this year.

She said, "For a lot of people, sustainability is just a cool word. I want to stay away from labels such as sustainability enthusiast because I just want to do the actions required. I give my mom complete credit for this because she introduced me to this. We bought a small piece of land in the Konkan belt. There were no trees, but we'd heard that years ago, it was dense. My mom did some research. Now, we are doing a miyawaki method of building a forest, which is essentially growing small patches of indigenous species. It's a quicker way to build a denser forest."She added, "We are, in our way, trying to see what it is that we can do in the smaller scale. And I do see a lot of people from our generation building things more consciously - even if it's homes. These are the small ways I think, in which we can think of change. Often, change feels very intimidating. We think of it at only a global level. But if each one of us goes back to our homes and sees in what capacity we can do - be a film set or house - hopefully, in a few years, we will have a mini forest in our own lands."

#TNSustainabilityConclave2026 | Times NetworkSustainability has become a far more serious issue. We may feel its effects immediately in small ways, but there will come a time when we will be hit by it in a way that

we can't escape. I think that awareness is now coming into all… pic.twitter.com/zHJNSw0txz

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) July 22, 2026

According to Shriya, a lot can be done if one is truly a climate enthusiast. "More than doing anything for virality, there's a lot can be done in the world, without taking credit for it. For me, it's about building my own knowledge and understanding that what is it that I can do at my level," said the Fan actress.Shriya added that she has noticed several positive changes, such as the return of the farm-to-table concept, which focuses on fresh produce reaching people without passing through multiple channels. She said that it is all about educating oneself and that any kind of growth begins with accepting who you are and holding yourself accountable.