Bhumi says people laughed at her when she expressed her interest in acting

At the the 12th edition of the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit — the world’s foremost leaders across business, government, finance, health, philanthropy, and technology came together to discuss 'Progress with Purpose: Collaboration Amid Complexity.' Among heads of state, CEOs, and policy experts, it was Indian actor and climate advocate Bhumi Satish Pednekar who stood out with her deeply personal story of resilience, representation, and responsibility.

For Bhumi Pednekar, the journey to this global stage began not in boardrooms but in the heart of Indian cinema. Sharing her formative years and what shaped her advocacy, she told the audience: 'I always knew I wanted to be an actor, but growing up, I didn’t see women like me on screen. I didn’t feel represented, and every time I told people