Sija Rose never planned to become an actor. It was her mother’s insistence on classical training—in dance, music, and writing—that gently nudged her toward the arts. Though she entered the film industry at a young age, she often felt adrift. Her career was growing, but she lacked mentorship, clarity, and a true sense of direction. One bold decision, made with hope, turned into a mistake that seemed to eclipse her achievements. She was judged, misunderstood, and came close to giving up. But then came the pause—Ma, the Japanese concept of breathing space—which allowed her to reset. She listened to her intuition, leaned on the unwavering support of family and friends, and chose to stay. No one had prepared her for the realities of this industry, and she had to learn its rhythms the hard way. Today, after 13 years, over 20 films, and fluency in five languages, she stands strong. She has fallen in love with cinema—not just the craft, but the transformation each role brings. Through art, she has found her identity, her confidence, and her purpose. Sijaa Rose is an actor who primarily works in the Malayalam film industry. She made her debut with the film Ustad Hotel, and has since delivered impactful performances in critically acclaimed movies like Annayum Rasoolum, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Roy, and Padakuthira. Her recent release Sumathi Valavu is also gaining attention. Sijaa has also made her mark in Tamil and Telugu cinema. In Tamil, she has starred alongside Vijay Sethupathi in Rekka and shared the screen with Vijay in Bhairava. She also played a powerful role in Udanpirappe, co-starring Jyothika. Her upcoming Tamil film is Singha, which also stars Kayal Chandran. In Telugu cinema, her recent debut film, the biopic Arjun Chakravarthy, is running successfully in theaters. Beyond acting, Sijaa has worked behind the scenes as an assistant director on the Malayalam film Mili and the Hindi film Traffic. She is a passionate classical dancer and performer, and her hobbies include creating coffee art paintings. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx