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At a time when social media and endless online content dominate everyday life, actor Shweta Tripathi is encouraging people to reconnect with the simple joy of reading. Through a heartwarming initiative, the actress has been quietly leaving books at different locations across Mumbai, hoping strangers will discover them, read them, and pass them on to someone else.

Over the past few months, Shweta has been placing books in cabs, cafés, airports, offices and other public spaces. Each copy carries a handwritten note inviting the finder to enjoy the book and then leave it behind for another reader.

Speaking to Mid-Day to explain the idea, she said the initiative was inspired by a desire to bring people back to books in an age of constant digital distractions.

"We’re constantly surrounded by other people’s opinions, what they’re thinking, eating, where they’re travelling, and so on. Reading is one of the few experiences where it’s just you and the book. It stretches your imagination, makes you question what’s right and wrong, and builds empathy because it allows you to experience lives completely different from your own."

Emma Watson inspired the initiativeShweta revealed that the concept came after learning about actor Emma Watson's campaign of leaving books across London for readers to discover.

"I thought, why not adapt it? Whenever I travel in an Uber, I leave a book behind. If I’m at a café, an office, or an airport, I’ll leave one there with a handwritten note, asking the person who finds it to enjoy the book and then leave it somewhere else for another stranger. I love the thought of books travelling from one person to another, carrying not just stories, but moments of human connection," she said.

Reading wasn't always her passionInterestingly, Shweta admitted she wasn't always fond of reading. Growing up in a family that loved books, she often found the habit frustrating until she eventually picked up a book during her teenage years. "It felt like I had discovered another universe," she recalled with a laugh.

Soon, she found herself immersed in the adventures of Nancy Drew before moving on to books like 'The Da Vinci Code' and the 'Harry Potter' series.

Recalling her experience after finishing the fourth Harry Potter novel, she said, "I still remember finishing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Until then, there was always another Harry Potter waiting. Suddenly there wasn’t. I felt like my world had collapsed. I kept thinking, 'Where are Harry, Hermione, Fred, and George?' That’s what books do. They become your friends."

The actress says reading has now become an essential part of her daily life, and she often reads two or three books simultaneously.

"When I’m reading, I absorb the emotional world of the book. When I was reading 'Shoe Dog', I felt so charged. While filming 'Mirzapur', I was reading 'The Forest of Enchantments', and Sita’s strength stayed with me throughout the shoot. Shweta credits her parents, especially her father, for nurturing her love for books over the years.

"Papa always asked me two questions. 'Did you exercise today?' and 'Which book are you reading?' Back then I found it annoying. Today I realise those are probably the two most important questions you can ask someone you love," she shared with a smile.

Books Shweta has left across MumbaiAs part of her initiative, Shweta has left the following books for strangers to discover:

'Cock'
'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982'
'Women Who Read Are Dangerous'
'Independence'
Shweta Tripathi's Reading Recommendations

The actress also shared a list of books she believes everyone should read:

'Invisible Women' by Caroline Criado Perez
'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio
'My Friends' by Fredrik Backman
'Powerful' by Nirupama Subramanian
'Scripting Bollywood' by Anubha Yadav
'The Palace of Illusions' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni