Mumbai is a city that hugs you tight even when it exhausts you: Somy Ali

Mumbai: In the Time Out City Life Index 2025, Mumbai has been named as the happiest city in Asia. And while this might come as a surprise to many, considering the fast pace and daily challenges the city offers, former Bollywood actress and NGO No More Tears founder Somy Ali feels happiness in the city goes far beyond infrastructure or comfort. She stressed it lies in its people, its spirit, and the stories it creates.
She said, “For me, happiness in Mumbai isn’t about perfect infrastructure or a slow pace of life. It’s about the incredible resilience and spirit of its people. Mumbai is a city that hugs you tight even when it exhausts you. True happiness here comes from the sense of belonging, the energy of chasing dreams, and the knowledge that no matter how tough things get, people stand together.”
“It’s the city of hope where a chaiwala can become prime minister, where my own father was born, and where, as a 7-year-old girl on my first trip, I met my idol Rajesh Khanna, a memory I will cherish forever. It’s also where a girl from Miami can stand on film sets with the greatest legends of Bollywood and later build an NGO that saves thousands of lives,” she added.

She believes the biggest factor adding to this is the sense of opportunity and deep-rooted community. She said, “Mumbai has always been a melting pot. From its forgotten Gujarati roots, it was once very much part of that heritage, along with the prominent Marathi people, the Parsis who came from Iran and made it their home, and the often-forgotten Jews of India who also settled here centuries ago. One could argue Mumbai was one of the world’s first truly cosmopolitan cities.”
“That incredible diversity, combined with the fast-paced world of finance, the vibrant industries, and of course Bollywood, creates a unique, electrifying energy that makes people feel truly alive,” she added. What truly sets Mumbai apart, she believes, is not just what it offers but how it makes people feel. She said, “Mumbai doesn’t just give you a city; it gives you an identity and a family. In other cities you may have more comfort, but in Mumbai you have stories, struggle, celebration, and a living history every single day.”
“The city accepts you exactly as you are, broken dreams, big ambitions, and all. That unconditional acceptance, combined with the unmatched hustle and the way people from completely different backgrounds come together, is what makes it irreplaceable,” she added.
Despite its reputation for being relentless and demanding, she feels the people in Mumbai have mastered the art of finding joy in small things. She added, “After a long, chaotic day, a hot cup of chai and vada pav tastes like victory. The city teaches you to celebrate the little wins. People complain, but they also laugh about it, help each other, and keep moving forward. That resilience and ability to find humor even in chaos is Mumbai’s secret happiness formula.”
There has also been a noticeable shift in how people view the city now. She said, “Better connectivity through metro lines, improved safety for women in many areas, the rise of new public spaces, and a visible push towards cleanliness and infrastructure are definitely helping. More importantly, I think there’s a growing sense of pride and ownership among citizens.””People are actively participating in making their neighborhoods better. The post-pandemic realization that life is short has also made people value relationships and simple joys even more,” she added.
Even with its undeniable challenges, rising costs, traffic, and infrastructure gaps, Mumbai continues to hold its place as a city of hope. She said, “Happiness in Mumbai has never been about perfection; it’s about perspective and perseverance. Yes, the rents are sky-high, traffic is painful, and monsoons test your limits. But the city gives you something priceless in return: the feeling that you are part of something bigger than yourself.”
“As long as Mumbai continues to nurture dreams and offers hope to millions, people will happily trade some comfort for that magic. The real challenge is to keep improving the infrastructure without losing the soul that makes Mumbai so special,” Somy ended.