Sameera Reddy is enjoying a very different life from the one she once had as a busy film star. The actress, who recently returned to acting with Aakhri Sawal alongside Sanjay Dutt after a long break, now spends her days in Goa with her husband and two children. Having made her debut in 2002 with Maine Dil Tujhko Diya and acted in around 25 films before stepping away from the industry after her marriage in 2014, Sameera says her focus today is on raising her children in a more natural and sustainable environment away from the rush of city life.Sameera Reddy opens up about her life in Goa with kidsIn a recent conversation with TOI, Sameera opened up about how a short vacation transformed her family's future. What was supposed to be a 10-day getaway to Goa in June 2020 ended up becoming a permanent relocation. Seven years later, she and her family are settled in Bastora, North Goa, where daily life revolves around nature, sustainability and community living.For Sameera, moving to Goa was not simply about changing cities. It was about embracing a completely different lifestyle. Her home is surrounded by fruit-bearing trees, including mango, chikoo, coconut, banana, breadfruit and areca nut. The family also maintains a vegetable garden where they grow spinach, salad leaves and seasonal produce.She shared that much of the food her family consumes comes directly from their own garden. Even different parts of a banana plant are put to use, from the flowers used in cooking to the stems used for healthy drinks. The produce is pesticide-free, and when there is an excess harvest, it is often shared with neighbours and friends.You Might Also Like:The actress believes that this environment has given her children experiences they would not easily get in a metropolitan city. She quipped, "I'm blessed that my children are growing up close to nature. They're eating boiled jackfruit seeds as snacks - that wouldn't happen in a city. If they spot a snake, they know not to panic. They simply move away and respect its space."Another major lesson Sameera learned after moving to Goa was composting. She admitted that she knew almost nothing about it when she first arrived. Through research, online tutorials and several failed attempts, she eventually mastered the process."Today, all our wet waste is turned into compost and goes back into the soil. No wet waste leaves our home. For me, that's been a huge transformation."Sameera also stressed that sustainability does not require dramatic changes. She believes small everyday habits can make a big difference. She told TOI that conserving water, avoiding unnecessary waste and reducing plastic use are simple steps anyone can take. Carrying reusable cloth bags instead of plastic ones has become a regular habit for her family.You Might Also Like:Perhaps the biggest lesson Goa has taught her, however, is the value of community. Sameera said she was struck by how freely people share fruits, vegetables, plants and produce with one another. According to her, this culture of sharing was something she had not experienced in Mumbai and has helped her appreciate the importance of generosity and collective living.Sameera's acting careerBefore embracing this quieter life, Sameera's personal life often made headlines. In the mid-2000s, rumours allegedly linked her with Telugu star Jr NTR after they worked together in the film Ashok. Years later, the actress addressed those reports and said the speculation was blown out of proportion. However, she admitted that the constant rumours upset her family and eventually played a role in her decision to step away from the Telugu film industry. Then she made her debut in Tamil cinema."The truth is that I'm a very friendly and straightforward girl. I'll not try to hide anything. The truth was that it was blown out of proportion because he is really wonderful co-star to work with. He taught me a lot. When I came to Telugu cinema, being a Telugu Reddy girl, I didn't know anything," Sameera said while talking about Jr NTR, as per MenXP.Today, far from the spotlight and industry gossip, Sameera appears content with the life she has built in Goa. Through gardening, composting, sustainability and community living, she says her children are learning lessons that go far beyond the textbooks.