Laughter Became My Quiet Healer : Somy Ali

Mumbai: In a deeply personal reflection on healing and resilience, actor-turned-activist Somy Ali opened up about how laughter has evolved into a powerful force in her life, helping her navigate years of emotional weight and her work with survivors of abuse.
“Laughter has quietly become one of my greatest healers,” she shared, adding that after enduring “heavy silence — from Karachi to Bombay and through the work I do with survivors,” she discovered that joy can still find its way back. “It doesn’t erase the difficult chapters, but it softens them. In my daily life, laughter has returned as a quiet, beautiful presence that helps me breathe a little easier.”
Somy admitted that there was a time when laughter felt out of reach, but today, she makes a conscious effort to embrace it. “Yes, I do — and I do it with gratitude. There were long periods when laughter felt almost impossible. But I’ve come to understand that if I don’t protect small moments of joy for myself, I won’t have the strength to hold space for others who are hurting,” she said.
Through her foundation, No More Tears, she has created moments of happiness not just for herself but for the survivors she works with. “We’ve organized Park Days and December Celebrations with the kids, and seeing those smiles on their faces adds so much light to all of us. Those simple, shared moments of play and celebration have become a conscious part of my healing practice.”
While she hasn’t formally explored laughter yoga, Somy believes in the organic power of joy. “I haven’t attended formal laughter yoga sessions, but I’ve experienced something very close through simple, unscripted moments with the children we support. There’s a special kind of healing that happens when you let yourself laugh without reason — it feels like real therapy for the soul.”Recalling some of the most emotional milestones in her work, she highlighted moments where laughter symbolized true recovery. “After helping a survivor of abuse who had been living in her car with her two young children finally become self-sufficient, seeing her genuinely happy, smiling and laughing freely has been one of the most beautiful rewards. Also, safely returning six Indian girls we rescued from human trafficking back to their families — seeing their smiles and hearing their laughter again has been incredibly heartwarming.”

She also pointed to the science behind laughter, while emphasizing its emotional depth. “Laughter lowers stress hormones, releases endorphins, and can even support our immune system. But for me, it goes deeper than biology. Choosing to laugh is an act of quiet defiance against despair. It tells the pain, ‘You don’t get to own every part of me.’”
When it comes to simple joys, the former actor finds comfort in nostalgia and everyday silliness. “A perfectly timed silly face or a ridiculous childhood memory can instantly make me laugh,” she said, adding that revisiting Bawarchi, featuring Rajesh Khanna, never fails to bring a smile. “His gentle presence and on-screen silliness always lift my mood.”
Today, it is the courage of survivors and children she works with that inspires her the most. “Their resilience and the way they rediscover their laughter always manage to bring a smile to my face, even on the hardest days,” she said, adding that her family and close friends remain a constant source of joy.
Summing up her journey, Somy reflected, “Laughter, for me, is no longer just about feeling happy in the moment. It’s about choosing hope — about refusing to let the past steal every possibility of joy. And I’m so grateful that life has given me these small, beautiful chances to laugh again.”