The renowned Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, who is renowned for her perceptive and sensitive depictions of life in India and the diaspora, once made a controversial statement regarding adolescence. According to her, this stage of life may be more culturally specific than generally relevant.

Nair's remark reflects her opinion that some ideas might not have the same cultural resonance even though they are acknowledged as important phases of human development in Western culture. She suggests that the concept of adolescence, which is frequently viewed in the West as a unique and turbulent time between childhood and adulthood, may not be as applicable or may be viewed differently in other regions of the world.

According to her, growing up is not so much a stage with distinct traits as it is a process of constant transition. It's like comparing life to a river with no obvious boundaries, where you can be swimming in the calm currents of childhood one minute and negotiating the rapids of adulthood the next, with no obvious transition between the two.

Nair's viewpoint challenges us to consider how our perceptions of human development are influenced by cultural contexts. By questioning the idea that adolescence is a universal concept, she promotes a more sophisticated method of researching and going through life's changes.