For Russia-born actor, model and producer Evgenia Belskaia , finding a home in India’s tourist-hotspot of Goa was destiny. What was meant to be a week-long trip in 2008 extended to two months, during which time she met her Swedish husband. “When I first came to Goa, I felt so peaceful and connected with nature as compared to Moscow,” says Belskaia, who enjoys a following of 16,000 followers on Instagram.
“I loved the freedom and the untouched beauty of a lot of places here. I fell in love with this life.” The Susegad lifestyle aside, a quick internet search will find you a number of others like Belskaia in India – Russian by birth but with their hearts and lives in India.
These influencers, or digital content creators, arrived in India for various reasons, some to explore a new culture and others for new opportunities, only to find themselves settling in the country sooner rather than later. “India is where I met my love, where my daughter was born and where I started my business. says Yulia Aslamova , Head of Asia at Direct Response Influence Marketing.
“It’s really attractive for tourists, but the world is watching its phenomenal economic growth. I, too, came to India for work opportunities, to discover a new culture and learn more about the growing economy. The first five years were the most challenging, but once I got to know people, improved my English, made good friends, it felt like home.
” A cursory thought would draw few similarities between India .
