Sujit Chandra Kumar
sujit@herald-goa.com
Ranjini Haridas has always been many things to many people. For Malayalis across the world, she remains best known as the dynamic host who ruled the stage of a hugely popular music reality show. But she’s also an actress, an activist, a passionate animal lover, an outspoken social commentator, and a celebrity show host.
One of her favourite escapes from it all? Goa, of course. That eternal playground by the sea. A longtime Goa regular, Ranjini doesn’t need much of a reason to hop on a flight from Kochi and head straight for the beaches, the sunsets, and the easy, liberating vibe of the place.
And that’s exactly what she did the other day — a quick getaway to recharge, reset, and soak in some quintessential Goa magic. And in typical Ranjini style, it all came together at the very last minute.
We caught up with her as she shared her experiences. “I was actually supposed to travel to Dubai, but there was a change of plan and I had to stay back for a week. That’s when I thought — okay, why not just quickly go to Goa? Especially since a couple of my friends were already there.”
Ranjini’s love affair with Goa goes back years — though, as she admits, her visits have become a little less frequent these days. “When I was younger, I used to visit Goa more often for work. I was even here during Covid. But now, it’s probably once in a couple of years.”
This time around, it was an impromptu break — just three or four days before her next assignment. “The first few days were all about the beaches. I went to Candolim, then Mandrem, and then Querim — which is probably the last beach up north, near the Maharashtra border. Usually, when I come to Goa, it’s work or parties. So, I don’t often get time to really enjoy the beaches but this time, I had a really good session in the waters.”
The plan was to head back after a couple of days, but in true Ranjini fashion, plans changed again when another friend arrived in Goa. “So I pushed my ticket by a day and headed to Morjim. Went to a shack, did all the typical Goa things.” There was also a reunion with a dear friend who lives in Palolem, not to mention the one night out at, a well-known club in Chapora.
“I think I did several beaches and one club this time,” she laughs. “Very different from back in the day when it would’ve been the other way round — all parties, shopping and eating.” Speaking of eating, Ranjini says her food habits in Goa have changed too. “Earlier, it was all about Goan delicacies — vindaloo and what not. I don’t eat that much these days. But I had this absolutely stunning meal at a place called Vinayak — the fish fry was next level.”
But even as she speaks fondly of Goa, she’s quick to note how much the place has changed. “There is a lot of development and it affects Goa’s beauty, the very reason it is famous. The moment it starts looking more commercial, foreign tourists who look for peace and quiet will stop coming. But I am for development as long as it’s sustainable.”
This naturally leads her to comparisons with Kerala — a state with stunning beaches but, in her opinion, yet to realise its full tourism potential. “Kerala also has some great beaches but because of the legal restrictions, etc, it becomes difficult to develop stuff like water sports. It is not possible even to have shacks on the beaches like those in Goa. But they are making some progress now. Then there is also the cultural issue of being seen in beach wear and in public beaches you have the issue of people staring, etc. It is because of lack of exposure and it will change as time goes by.”
And what about being recognised in Goa? Any selfie moments? “Once or twice, with some Malayali groups. But that’s it — and honestly, I prefer it that way.” It’s one of the things she loves most about Goa — the live-and-let-live spirit.