Category: Influencers

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
– I was a Radio Jockey before, and that’s what I wanted to do. But I wasn’t very good at it, and then Sudeep Lahiri met me, and he said that maybe I should start making content, and that’s how it started.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
– My most viral thing was my YouTube video from 2015 called “Hilarious words Delhite use,” and it took an hour because when I was shooting it, I wasn’t taking it very seriously. I just shot it because I didn’t want to miss a Thursday.

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite?
I live with my iPad. I take it everywhere. It has all my ideas. I do all my writing there, and it is very useful.

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
Nothing. What can I do if it’s shutting down in 24 hours? I’ll just sit, and I’ll accept the idea.

Ex : Do you have an industry mentor?
Yeah, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a lot of people who have taught me a lot of things, but Sudeep Lahiri, Gurpreet Singh Bhasin, and Saurabh from One Digital Entertainment have to be my mentors. Akarsh Khurana, who is my first director, is also a mentor. I have learned a lot from him, and I continue to learn a lot. And from a lot of other people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
There are two, actually. The song I did in 2016 called “Shameless”, and I honestly was very surprised that I could write something like that and perform it and have the audacity to actually release it. I continue to be very proud of myself for that. And also another short film I did on my YouTube channel called “Khayali Pulao”. These 2 things mean a lot to me because I didn’t realise it then, but I really was pushing out of my comfort zone, and it had great benefits.

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
#mostlysane

Ex : Can you describe a BTS / blooper that happened during a shoot but didn’t make it into the final content piece?
Given that I’ve done more than 3000 videos at this point, I really don’t remember, but I was shooting this one video with Ashish where I was dressed in a silver bodysuit, and I had a star around my head. And that was a lot of fun.

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
I think that’s the beauty of it. Nobody knows. I know it’s going upward and onward, but I don’t think I will ever know what this will look like because it always takes a shape of its own. All I know is that it’s a wave. You either surf or you swim.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
YouTube, Instagram and at times Twitter.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
I think the one thing that I can talk about is Mismatched Season 3. We got renewed for a third season, so I’m very excited about that.

Ex : What is your dream project?
I’m working on it. The book that I’m working on right now could actually be called my dream project.

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
Just start now. Don’t wait for a better time. Don’t wait for better equipment. Don’t wait for better ideas. They will only come when you start. So start now. There’s never a better time to be a creator than right now.

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
Yaar dekho, aisa koi waqt nahi tha ki jisse mein kahu ki bhai journey kick hogayi, bas college mein kuch friends ke saath start kiya tha aise hi aur allah ka karam hai ki mere jo fans hai unko mera content start se pasand aa raha hai aur ab tak aa raha hai, kyunki mashallah woh log bahot pasand karte hai jo bhi meine kiya yaa kar raha hu.

Ex : Any 4 creators you want to collaborate with in the future.
Waise koi aisa list toh nahi hai mere paas, bas itna hai ki almost saare influencers ke saath meine collab kar diya hai aur agar koi reh gaya hai, aur woh interested hai toh why not! Mein hamesha open hu to collaborate naye logo ke saath.

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite.
I think Smartwatch, kyunki agar phone naa bhi ho toh aap smartwatch ki wajah se hamesha up to date rehte ho, fitness ko leker aur notification bhi cover ho jate hai. Smartwatch technology aur style ka perfect combination hai, toh mere hisaab se mein kahungaa ki smartwatch.

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
YouTube pe aajao, aap log mere dil mein toh ho hi yaar. Kyuki mein mere fans ke bina nahi reh sakta yaar… toh mein unko bolunga ki aa jao live aur phir YouTube pe yaa koi bhi social media pe jahan mein unse connected hu reh saku.

Ex : Do you have an industry mentor?
Dekho, jo industry mein hum sab hai waha har koi ek ideal hai… sab se kuch naa kuch seekhne milta hai… but agar koi ek bolu toh I think mein kahunga SRK sir. I think woh global superstar hai.

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
Aise toh mashallah sab se mein bahot proud hu, lekin mein kahunga Jhalak yaa Khatron Ke Khiladi mere liye sabse zyada proud moment hai, jab meri ammi aur abbu proudly mujhe television pe perform karte huye dekh rahe the.

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
Dekho future toh bhai khuda ke alawa koi nahi bata sakta hai, but mujhe lagta hai creators ka future aaj se thoda better hoga, kyuki aap dekh sakte ho ki covid ke baad se logo ko apne khali waqt pe reels scroll karna hai zyada pasand hai as compared to watching something on television.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
Mein toh almost sab platforms pe rehta hoon apne fans ke liye, lekin mostly mein Instagram aur YouTube pe hota hu, kyunki yeh do sab se zyada use honewale platforms hai. Aur dekho mera naa simple funda hai ki, agar content short hai toh who Instagram pe jaayega aur YouTube pe mujhe thoda long aur interesting concept karna padta hai jo logo ko Instagram pe nahi milta.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
Abhi toh allah ki meherbaani se mera khudka ek new vlog podcast aa raha hai.. well, toh abhi toh uspe focus hai uske baad dekhte hai, jo khuda ne likha hoga mere liye woh khud-bakhud aa jaayega meri thaali mein.

Ex : What is your dream project?
Ummm… dekho aise toh mera dream project hai ki mujhe flims mein kaam karna hai lekin… dekho offers bhi aaye hai, aisa nahi ki sirf khayal hai lekin meine haa nahi kaha hai kyunki mein sure nahi hu ki, abhi mein utne bade kaam ke liye ready hu lekin jab ready ho jaaunga toh sabse pehle aap sab se share karunga.

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
Dekho advice toh yahi hogi ki himmat karte raho, meine bhi jab start kiya tha mujhe pata nahi tha ki mashallah itni badi fanbase ho jaayegi meri. Toh himmat karte raho, koshish karte raho, kuch naya aur interesting karte raho. Bass yaar khuda ke ghar mein derr hai andher nahi toh jab hoga aapko khud pata chal jaayega, bass yeh yaad rakhna ki hardwork kabhi lose nahi karna.

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
I don’t exactly remember the time when it kick-started, but I only remember that my content had relatability, and people were able to connect it with their lives. They were sharing it with their friends and families, and that’s how it got kicked, they started following me, and I got the recognition.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
I have many reels that went viral. For example, I remember making a video where I showed how couples behave initially when they get married. It got 40 million views or something, and it took me around an hour to get it done.

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite
Gimbal, I like the way it works.

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
I’m proud of every project I’ve done because every project takes an equal amount of time and an equal amount of effort.

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
#surprise

Ex : What’s the first-ever trend that you hopped on?
I’m not a person who hops on a trend regularly; it’s quite a rare thing for me.

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
Honestly, 10 years from now, I see myself growing as an actor and working with big-time celebrities.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
I’m active on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I actually don’t follow up on what goes where. Instead, I look at the engagement and post accordingly. When my content gets very good views, I don’t have any problem posting my next video on the next day or after an alternate day, but if it is taking time to grow, I give it space and wait till it reaches the masses.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
I have many events to attend and many projects to accomplish

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
I would say stay consistent, be patient, and don’t let your self-esteem go down because of that one video, which didn’t get the views.

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
I was just 16 years old when I started my Instagram account with a lot of hope. I love to portray my beauty with a bit of creativity, and I consistently connected with people and got some loyal fans and followers over time.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
My most viral reel was the one I shot with Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan for their movie “Zara Hatke Zara Bachke.” We shot an entertaining reel where Sara gets jealous of me and Vicky Kaushal dancing together behind her back!

Ex : Any 4 creators you want to collaborate with in the future.
I’d love to once work with Komal Pandey. I love her style; she can spice up any look or outfit.

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite
Camera, of course. Besides influencing, I also work as a model and spend most of my time with a camera; it has to be my bestie!

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
If Instagram is about to shut down in 24 hours, I’d definitely give my followers a heartfelt message showing my gratitude towards them and directing them to any other social media account because, in the end, people will require a medium to connect anyway.

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
#beauty #cute #gorgeous #amazingstyle #gorgeousoutfit #cool #hot #dreamy #surreal #lifestyle #happygirls

Ex : Can you describe a BTS / blooper that happened during a shoot but didn’t make it into the final content piece?
I’m active on Facebook & Instagram. On Instagram, I post all the aesthetic and engaging content that reaches a vast number of audience; this is something people would spend time watching and commenting on. While on Facebook, I usually share my shoot pictures that my friends and family would like to engage in.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
The next big things to do are always secretive and confidential! I’ve so much on my plate, but everyone will be amazed when I accomplish them!

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
I would love to suggest that budding creators stay consistently in touch with their audience, serve them with quality content and connect to them so that they become loyal to you and love spending time on your profile. Befriend your followers and love them!

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
Back in 2011, I started using Instagram as a platform to chronicle my personal travel experiences, my passion for watches, and my running journey through photographs. Over time, my consistent posting caught the attention of an international sports brand in 2015. They invited me to join their running community in Mumbai and contribute to its growth by sharing my experiences on social media and participating in on-ground running initiatives. This also led to engaging in product reviews. My fascination for luxury cars and watches further expanded my horizons, allowing me to collaborate with renowned brands in these spheres. In essence, my content creation journey emerged as a natural progression driven by my genuine interests.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
My content often centers around the realm of luxury, particularly focusing on cars and opulent travel escapades. The ideas for my viral reels usually unfold spontaneously, considering my preference for keeping things authentic and relatable.

Ex : Any 4 creators you want to collaborate with in the future.
@Qmike, @Supercarblondie, @Khabby and @zachking

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite
The Smartwatch.

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
I would quickly focus on preserving the connections I’ve built. I’d gather contact information for fellow creators, collaborators, and followers to continue engaging and building the community in the real world and probably through other platforms. Additionally, I’d use this opportunity to reflect on my journey, save my favourite posts, and consider how lucky we have been to be a part of a platform that built millions of careers.

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
I’ve been fortunate to participate in several exhilarating projects within my niche. Some of them that stand out include driving a car alongside Sachin Tendulkar at the Buddh Circuit in Noida during the BMW M2 launch in 2018. Additionally, I participated in a charity football match with MS Dhoni on behalf of a prestigious watch brand. On a personal note, completing international marathons achieving a 42-kilometer distance annually fills me with immense pride every time I cross the finish line.

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
#RunRideRoamWithRizwan #MilesAndMinutesWithRizwan

Ex : Can you describe a BTS / blooper that happened during a shoot but didn’t make it into the final content piece?
While I don’t remember any specific incident, most of the time, while shooting in the city, behind-the-scenes moments involve being unexpectedly interrupted by law enforcement. It’s safe to say that this is a relatable occurrence for many content creators.

Ex : What’s the first-ever trend that you hopped on?
While I haven’t necessarily jumped onto many trends, I vividly recall a creative phase during the lockdown. Before Reels were introduced, I began crafting my own transition videos and fun content using chroma key technology.

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
In a decade, the creator landscape is poised to be a dynamic fusion of technology and human connection. We can anticipate immersive experiences through augmented reality, personalised AI-generated content, and deeper engagement with global audiences. Creators will continue shaping culture, emphasising authenticity, and collaborating across borders.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
Instagram and Twitter.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
Exciting travel endeavours await me in September 2023, although I’m unable to share specific details just yet. Moreover, I’m focused on expanding my personal brand beyond Instagram with captivating updates set to roll out soon.

Ex : What is your dream project?
While not a project per se, I’ve always nurtured a dream of attending a live Formula 1 race in Monaco, ideally from one of the exquisite yachts, or experiencing the Wimbledon finals at the iconic centre court.

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
For aspiring creators, my paramount advice is to stay authentic, capitalise on your strengths, and cultivate both online and offline communities. Exceptional content is essential, but it’s the supportive community that truly fuels growth on this creative journey.

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
Content creation was never really a part of my plan. I started posting my workout videos and some fitness content I believed in and followed. I positively brainwashed a handful of people to start their fitness journey the right way, and seeing that made me happy and gave me a sense of satisfaction. So, I have never stopped since that day, and I only want to create more content that adds value to someone’s life.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
My most viral reel is with my daughter, which took 10 mins to make. I just recorded it to capture a moment and had no intention of posting it, but then, eventually, I posted it anyway. Now, it has around 8.4 million views. I know mostly all of those are for her and not me!

Ex : Any 4 creators you want to collaborate with in the future
Gary Vaynerchuk (@GaryV), Ranveer Allahbhadia(@Beerbiceps), Nicole Concessao (@nicoleconcessao) and Sonal Devraj (@bhaiyajiismile).

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite
Just my mic and my DSLR. I’m pretty basic that way.

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
I will ensure that the 2000+ people who are currently working out with me, never stop moving. The platform matters for sure, but my community matters more. But having said that, Instagram shutdown would be nothing less than a doomsday, haha!

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
The project I am the most proud of is my brand – WOLF. It started with the intention of simplifying fitness for everyone. Any stage and any age. Also, we are building a solid set of like-minded people through WOLF – both online and offline. I would want to continue to make fitness uncomplicated and accessible to everyone!

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
I’d say #unstoppable is something I’d describe myself as. Along with #disciplined #patient #driven

Ex : What’s the first-ever trend that you hopped on?
It was an outfit transition reel with my wife.

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
Well, for starters, technology is going to have a significant role to play in the creator landscape. AI, VR, etc., can completely change the current content formats. Content creation will continue to grow as per the trend, but meaningful connection with the audience and value-adding content will keep gaining more and more importance. Engagement will be important and not just the followership of the creator.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
I’m only active on Instagram. I wanted to start YouTube but never got into it. Maybe I’ll start someday.

Ex : What is your dream project?
Haha, will it be corny if I say I’m already living my dream project? I started out with a simple dream of wanting to positively impact people’s lives with fitness because it did wonders for my mind and body. I started with just 2 clients, and now I’ve coached 10,000+ people, and I couldn’t be happier. So, I am still living this dream every single day and only want to make it bigger and better.

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
Keep it real, Keep it simple – Never stop gaining more knowledge – Make this world a better place to live in – Be honest no matter how hard it sounds

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
I just went with the flow. I had a good following to start off with since I had won an international pageant. So that helped me.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
42.6M. It was just a random reel that I self-shot and uploaded. In fact, I didn’t even know why I uploaded it, lol.

Ex : Any 4 creators you want to collaborate with in the future
Oh, there’s one YouTuber with whom I always wanted to collaborate. His name is Brodie Moss. I love the way he lives his life in the ocean. Someday, I want to live that life, too, and the Indian creator I would like to collaborate with is CarryMinati.

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite.
A smartwatch.

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
That’d be a disaster. Haha, how will we spend our time then? I can’t even think of it.

Ex : Do you have an industry mentor?
Honestly, I don’t have any particular mentor, as I take inspiration from everyone.

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
All of them. I put equal effort into all my projects. I do it with all my passion.

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
#Raw

Ex : Can you describe a BTS / blooper that happened during a shoot but didn’t make it into the final content piece?
So many hahaha. Blooper happens almost every shoot when I’m on the set.

Ex : What’s the first-ever trend that you hopped on?
I think it was the ring light trend on the song “Infinity.”

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
I don’t know, but it definitely looks good to me.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
Currently, Instagram and YouTube. And I have a team that decides where the content will go.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
I’m working hard on my YouTube. I want to travel around the world doing what I love.

Ex : What is your dream project?
Anything that comes my way. I take every opportunity like it’s my dream project and put my heart into it.

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
Just be yourself. Be real.

Ex : How did your content creation journey kick start?
I was working at a bank as a financial analyst and also studying for a CFA. I had plans to go abroad to study, but other than this, I always wanted to inspire people through my content creation journey. One day during COVID, I uploaded a video related to my story and that went viral. That’s how my content creation journey started.

Ex : What is your most viral reel/short? How did the idea come, and how long did it take to shoot?
My most viral reel is the one related to Vitiligo. It hit 32 million views. As a child, I always wanted to inspire people through my journey, and that was the idea behind making this reel. It was a quick reel.

Ex : Any 4 creators you want to collaborate with in the future
Jay Shetty, Masoom Minawala, Prajakta Koli and Winnie Harlow.

Ex : What piece of tech is your favourite
Lately, it’s been my Laptop because I edit a lot of content.

Ex : Assuming Instagram is shutting down in 24 hours, what will you do?
I am a CFA level 3 candidate, and I’ve done a B.sc in Economics and Finance, so I will undoubtedly head into the finance industry.

Ex : Do you have an industry mentor?
Yes, I think it’s Masoom Minawala and Prajakta Koli because of their hard work, consistency and perseverance.

Ex : Tell us about a project that you are the most proud of.
I am proud to be the face of Nykaa’s foundation shade. When I would ask brands for my shade, they would always tell me it’s impossible to get it in India. But after getting into this industry, I was the face of one of the foundation colours.

Ex : Give us one or more hashtags describing you
#confident #happy #positive #cheerful #ecstatic

Ex : Can you describe a BTS / blooper that happened during a shoot but didn’t make it into the final content piece?
I was shooting for a brand during the rainy season, and I remember falling really badly and hurting myself. Of course, that never made it to my final content piece.

Ex : What’s the first-ever trend that you hopped on?
It was my viral reel on a trend that said, ‘How did I go from this to this?’

Ex : What will the creator landscape look like in 10 years from now?
I think it will probably be saturated ten years from now. But all the creators would reach a level where they’d either start their own thing or go into the movies, etc. There could also be different evolved applications that creators could use.

Ex : What are the platforms you are active on – how do you decide what goes where?
I am active on Instagram and YouTube the most. I upload videos on both platforms depending on the male-female ratio. Audiences on both platforms are different, so depending on your insights, you upload content accordingly.

Ex : What’s the next big thing in the pipeline for you?
I am hoping to get into the movies soon.

Ex : What is your dream project?
My dream project is to work with Dharma Productions someday.

Ex : Advice you would like to give to budding creators.
There’s no right time to start; if you feel like making content and uploading, do it right now. Growth doesn’t come overnight; have patience and just be consistent. I’m sure the results will show. Evolve your content with time, but always do what you love and what makes you happy.