On International Tea Day, actress Isha Koppikar is putting into words what anyone who has spent time on a film set already knows: chai is not just a drink, it is the glue that holds a shoot together.
"On shoot sets, chai is honestly an emotion," she says. "One chai break and suddenly the whole set feels happier. Sleepy faces wake up, conversations begin, stress disappears for five minutes, and everybody gathers around like it's a mini celebration."
For Koppikar, the ritual comes with firm non-negotiables. "Tea has always been more than just an energy refresher during shoots. That too masala chai and khari biscuit. Those are non-negotiable for me. Early morning call times feel incomplete without chai. Night shoots somehow survive because of chai. It is comfort, it is routine, it is that little pause in the middle of madness."
The habit has passed to her daughter Rianna as well. "Whenever she comes back home from school or her athletics class, Rianna has to have her chai and biscuits. Just like me, they are non-negotiable for her. And just like at my house, on the sets too, if there's tea, there have to be biscuits next to it. That combination somehow makes every hectic day feel a little more normal, warm, and happy."
International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21, designated by the United Nations to recognize tea's contributions to culture, livelihoods, and sustainability.
Also Read: Mother’s Day 2026: Isha Koppikar says she wants daughter Rianna to achieve her dreams independently
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