Design, Dalí & Domestic Bliss: The art of being Miheeka Daggubati

Miheeka Daggubati is aware that public attention often begins with her being actor-producer Rana Daggubati’s wife, but she has carved an independent identity of her own. A trained interior designer with a Master’s degree from Chelsea University, a mental health advocate, and an art entrepreneur, she wears many hats. In a rare, reflective conversation with Hyderabad Times, Miheeka lifts the curtain on her evolving role in the city’s art scene, the “happy bubble” she shares with Rana, and why she believes Hyderabad is ready for a new visual language.

‘I’m a Hyderabadi at heart’
For Miheeka, the connection to the city goes beyond geography; it is about a shared temperament. “I was born and raised here, and Hyderabad is a huge part of who I am. If you ask me what makes me a true Hyderabadi, the easy answer would be biryani. But beyond that, it’s the balance the city offers.” She points to the city’s unique ability to straddle different worlds effortlessly. “You can visit a temple in the morning and attend an art show in the evening without feeling like you’re switching identities. What I love is how Hyderabad blends old-world charm with a modern, global outlook. That balance reflects in the way people live, think, and create here.”

‘Hyderabad has now become a hub for contemporary art’

While Miheeka has always been an observer of the arts, she is now an active participant in shaping the city’s cultural landscape. Recently, she hosted an exhibition that showcased works by 34 senior artists across five leading galleries, a move she believes reflects the city’s evolving taste. “Hyderabad is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It has the money, the taste, and the curiosity,” she asserts, adding, “Earlier, choices were mostly traditional; you’d see Tanjore paintings in almost every home. But today, especially in younger households, you find quirky, contemporary pieces. People are asking about the artist, the process, and the meaning behind the work.”

‘Therapy taught me to step back and observe’

Miheeka wears many hats, but her role as a mental health advocate is perhaps her most guarded and significant passion. She draws a parallel between designing physical spaces and navigating internal ones. “Life moves so quickly that we rarely pause to ask if we’re truly happy. I’ve personally experienced therapy, and I can honestly say I’m not the same person I was five years ago,” she explains. She describes the process as a necessary dismantling. “Therapy doesn’t hand you answers; it breaks you down before building you back up. Facing yourself without masks and layers is one of the hardest things a human can do. But it taught me to step back, observe, and recognise, this is the situation, this is what I’m feeling — before reacting to the outside world,” she adds.

Dali, Rana, and the ‘Happy Bubble’

At home, creativity is the shared language that bridges her world with Rana’s. “We are both creatively inclined,” she says. “We both love Salvador Dalí, for instance. But it’s never a ‘you-versus-me’ debate. Art is subjective. What I see might be different from what he sees, and that difference is what keeps the dialogue alive.” And what about the language barrier? Miheeka laughs when asked about her Telugu skills. “I knew a little before marriage, but being surrounded by it — through my in-laws, Nainamma (grandmother), and even the staff — has helped me pick it up organically. Honestly, managing the household accelerates learning the most! If you want the staff to take you seriously, you have to speak the language.”
Miheeka adds that her choice to stay private wasn’t deliberate. “Opportunities for me to speak arise because of my marriage, but I only speak out when I have something meaningful to share. A platform comes with responsibility — either use it wisely or stay quiet and live your life is what I personally follow.”


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