India, June 18 -- Actor Priyanshu Painyuli recently took a break from the demands of film sets and intense character transformations to reconnect with nature-and in doing so, discovered a new passion: surfing. A trip to Sri Lanka became more than just a vacation. "I love water. Any water sport has always excited me. As a kid, it started with swimming. Later, it became rafting and deep-sea diving. Water, I believe, has a humbling quality to it," says Priyanshu.

While the actor learned surfing in Sri Lanka, this isn't the first time he's tried his hand at the water sport. "I first tried surfing in Goa, just for a day. But even in that one day, I felt a spark-something I really wanted to pursue," recalls Priyanshu. That one-day experience s...