Shweta Tripathi remembers how she fell in love — slowly, consciously, and then all at once — with Berlin. The actor first visited the German capital for her bachelorette in 2018, but it was a graffiti tour that revealed the city to her in a more lasting way, opening a window into the culture, history and spirit that shape it.
Reel Education
Earlier this year, Tripathi returned to the city for her second visit, this time making her debut at the Berlin Film Festival, which marked a homecoming of sorts to a place she had long wanted to experience more deeply.
“I remember there was this graffiti of a woman who had a lot of kohl in her eyes and the beauty was that every time it rained, it turned into streaks and, over the months, became tears, because it is about those women who suffer. That stayed with me,” she says.
The actor and producer says the seed of her trip was planted when her best friend asked if she wanted to attend the Berlinale [Film Festival]. Tripathi turned her down, insisting it would be better to go when one of her films gets screened there, as had happened with Masaan, which screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
“But I realised I wanted to experience a festival as a student of cinema,” she says, “because I know from experience that when you go with a film, then obviously your focus is just that. You’re busy doing marketing and PR for your project. But this was no-agenda.”
Free Bird
The feeling, Tripathi says, hit differently. She would wake up at seven in the morning and make it in time for every panel discussion, even when it was snowing. She had a clear plan for her Berlin stay: spend the day at the festival, watch films, sit in on discussions, and then leave the evenings for the city.
One of the most magical evenings came at the historic Babylon cinema, where she watched Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights accompanied live by the Babylon Orchester Berlin. “It was simply magical!” she says. “The audience was completely present and appreciated what was unfolding.”
Tripathi says one of Berlin’s most striking qualities is that people show up for movies of all kinds — children’s films, independent cinema and live performances alike. “Everything was packed. In the cold, in the rain, people were standing in a queue. You can try something as artistes, as actors, as producers, but it’s also very important for audiences to come.”
She revisited the city tour she had experienced during her earlier trip. The biggest shift this time, she says, was her perspective.
“Life is about what we are seeking. The first time I went, the agenda was different. We saw the tour and the graffiti and everything. But obviously this time, because it was films and culture, I went to places, saw them with a different lens.”
She also marvels at Berlin’s thrifting culture, where sustainability is not just prioritised, but celebrated. “There are proper markets, not just pop-ups, not just to show that they care. They actually believe in that.”
Out and About
During her 10-day stay in February, Tripathi tried plenty of local food and particularly enjoyed the produce because it felt fresh. Among the things she sampled — and loved — were several plant-based options. “I did not have Indian food even once, because I knew I’d go home and eat whatever Indian food I want, but not here!”
Then there were the bars. “Even the local bars are so good. The dim lighting, the lamps; you’re just taking all that in. It’s a full vibe!” she says.
What struck her most was how this atmosphere exists alongside the city’s incredible sense of history. The history and culture of Berlin is still rooted, she says, which is why it’s distinctive. “Otherwise, if you keep aping things, be it individually or as a city, you lose who you are and then you forget it.”
For Tripathi, the beauty of Berlin lies in the freedom it gives people to be exactly who they are. She admits she is not “huge on make-up”, but when she saw women wearing glittery eyeshadow, she fell in love with the look and began wearing it every day.
“People are expressing themselves through fashion. Even if it’s a simple jacket, it has their style. It’s not just something you put on.”
Even though she explored the city closely, Tripathi did not shop a lot. A firm believer in buying local, she says she picked up coffee, paintings, pottery — but no clothes. “And of course stationery, because I am a stationery hog!”
● Travel light. “You should be in a position to carry your own luggage!”
● Know the weather. “Because if you don’t dress according to the weather, then you will suffer, and if you suffer, you are wasting your time.”
● Use public transport. “Public transport teaches you a lot of things subconsciously, and your civic sense increases.”
● Try local cuisines and bars. “They might be different from what you are used to, but it is important to try whatever the local market offers.”
● Visit one live performance. “Especially in the world of AI, these will be important because they make you feel different.”