LISTEN: Multi-talented Carishma Basday pays homage to her Indian roots

Best-known for her roles in movies like Material and 31 Million Reasons, and a presenting gig on TV show Mela, Carishma Basday is as proud of her Indian heritage, as she is of her almost-overnight stardom.

Originally from the KZN south coast town of Port Shepstone, 29-year-old Basday - who now lives in Cape Town - describes her upbringing as traditional.

"I grew up in a very cultural family which I am very proud of, and which I am lucky to have experienced. My parents are the ones that taught me about my heritage and my culture and I make it my duty to carry out family traditions whenever I get the chance," she said.

She admits she simply can't resist a good spicy curry. And while she doesn't eat meat, is happy to settle for a hot fish curry "which must be accompanied with some dhall (lentils)."

"Dhall combined with the fish is my absolute favourite. You can feed it to me every day and I will never complain," she said.

Last year, Basday married Gael Le Martin in traditional wedding and while she's proud of her own heritage, one thing she's picked-up from her husbands heritage is their love for coffee.

Coming from different cultures and traditions is challenging, she admits, but coming from two different parts of the world and making a relationship work is something that Carishma cherishes.

"When Gael proposed and while planning our big day, we decided to incorporate both our traditions together so it was crazy.We had to get two different cultures to meet and it went on over two days with the Hindu wedding and him participating in the Hurdee (a traditional Hindu cleansing ceremony the night before a wedding) the night before and the western white wedding the next day," she said.

SEE ALSO: LISTEN: 'Our music is our heritage': Ladysmith Black Mambazo muso

She says she was overwhelmed to see how both their families embraced each other's cultures and traditions.

"His family were so committed and dedicated, they dressed in cultural clothes and learnt some of our prayers as well - it was amazing to watch them embrace my culture," she said.

Basday believes that we as South Africans are very proud of our own heritage, and we love learning about each other's heritage and embracing it.

She says that celebrating the traditional Hindu festival of Diwali remains her favourite time of the year, because it's where she gets to fully embrace her own traditions.

"We get to dress up in cultural clothing, perform prayers and welcome light into our homes and into our hearts," she says.

LISTEN BELOW: Basday recites a Hindu mantra close to her heart and explains the meaning: