Esther Sowmya grew up knowing about Christ and a subtle love for Him lingered even as she navigated through her adolescence. When Esther was nineteen years old, she had a chance encounter with an assistant director. This paved the way for her to become a part of the world of films and gradually making her way to lead roles.
“I enjoyed the acting and the dancing, but my ultimate goal was to become a good heroine,” she said remembering the endless days and nights of shoots. Esther was so engrossed in fulfilling this new goal that she had no time to pray or grow her relationship with God. Ultimately, she completely stopped going to church, reading the Bible or spending time in prayer. Meanwhile she also began to realise how her values were different from those of the industry. Frustrations began to grow, and the glamour and glitz weren’t as alluring anymore.
A turning point came from a totally unexpected incident. “When I heard of a role in a devotional movie, I was intrigued but I felt unprepared,” she said recalling her role in the movie ‘Rakshana’. Though Esther had completely forgotten how to pray, she tried to pray a simple prayer for guidance. “When I heard the lyrics of the movie’s song that expressed that Christ’s love for us is eternal, I was changed! I felt as if the song spoke to me and called out to me,” she said. Soon Esther started to take the time to delve into scripture, and the transformative power of faith drew her into a deeper understanding of God’s love. She chose to surrender her life to God.
As her life transformed, she found peace in the joy of her marriage and the arrival of her baby girl. Somehow the glamour of the film world no longer gave her happiness. Today, Esther’s strongest relationships are with her family and her God.
