Exclusive! I don't Consider Anybody as My Competitor, Everybody has their Own Niche: Shirin Sewani

Shirin Sewani, a talented actor and accomplished content creator, has become a popular figure among audiences. Her captivating and relatable videos have garnered a dedicated following. In a candid conversation with us, she shares the inspiring story of her journey into content creation and offers her perspectives on reality shows. Additionally, Shirin sheds light on the evolving dynamics of the entertainment industry, providing a fascinating glimpse into her world and much more.

Here are the edited excerpts from the fantastic conversation.

What inspired you to start your content creation journey? Did you always have a passion for entertaining and connecting with an audience?

I never planned that I would step into content creation. I never thought about it. So I was, as you know, that I was pursuing my acting career, though still I am. But during lockdown, as we were all stuck in the house and we were getting bored, there was nothing much to do. So, like my mom gave me that idea that rather than, you know, just getting irritated by the fact that I'm getting bored and as a result, you just keep on fighting with me and taking out your frustrations as we all do. So it will be good for you if you can put your brain into something and figure out something for yourself.

And that is where I realized that I'm an actor and I have, you guys have seen my journey from 'Yeh Rishta', but I have been doing this since I was in school, like hardcore theater and everything. I have done so many street plays, and stage plays. This is all something that I have been doing since I was a kid. And then I realized that, OK, let me give it a shot. You know, I have a camera at home, I have my lights like at home the lighting is good, touch wood. So why shouldn't I just try and do something and write a script and make a video rather than, you know, just getting frustrated with the fact that I'm getting bored and we are jobless right now because we all were.

That is when I started writing for my videos. I shot some but I didn't post, but later after a while I posted and I think my audience has like been my strength since day one and they have accepted me in everything, whether I did TV, whether I did OTT, whether I did content creation. They welcomed me with both hands like the video that I did went viral and hype was already managing me and I think there was no turning back. I was like, if I'm doing something that is being loved by my audience, I will do it throughout my life.

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Do you feel that being a content creator has given you the liberty to say no to those acting projects you are not convinced with?

Of course, yes, very much. And so now that when I get roles which I'm not very convinced with and, you know, I feel that I want to do something different from what they are offering me. I know that I have a backup and that allows me to pick up roles and choose stuff that I want to do. And that is where I think now I'm choosing quality over quantity. The other thing, when I was like in earlier days, to be honest, whether it was like all about compromising on the budget, it was about compromising on the roles and everything. But right now, I think OK, it's fine if I am doing one or two instead of five, but those one and two are very medium substantial.

How do you come up with ideas for your daily videos and reels?

I'll be very honest. It is something like that we all have seen. We all have seen all this while growing up. So I try and do stuff and make stuff that is very relatable. This will sound funny. And I'm not like trying to like to see that everybody is the same and everything. But 90 percent of in 90 percent of the houses, mothers are a little irritated and annoyed because of our Bua's. Yeah, that's right. Because of that, 90 percent of the mothers like feel that we don't make our own cupboards. So, I work on relatable things.

But it comes to me very naturally. I have been living in a joint family and obviously, nothing is relatable. But, you know, there are so many people in your family like extended that you get to know about all this. So be it my teacher's videos, be it my mother-in-law's videos, be it my 90s kids' videos. So these are something which is relatable.

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How do you manage your content creation specifically times when you are shooting?

I make a bank. So, I know that on particular days I won't be able to shoot much and I don't like mixing my stuff. You will never see me making a reel or a video when I'm on set. Because I think I want to concentrate on the character that I'm doing. If I have an off, we all are out traveling, chilling, and having dinner, then it's a different thing. But otherwise, I make and keep my videos ready. I just post them.

Are there any influencers you consider strong competitors or individuals you admire in the industry?

I don't think so. Like I would say that I consider anybody as my competitor because as I said everybody has their own niche and everybody has their own quality and everybody has their own way of like, you know, taking their page forward. So I don't think so. There is no such competition competition. We all are doing our best. And the only day by day this community is getting bigger and bigger, which is making the competition a little more tougher also. And we have to just I think pull up our socks and like be more creative and be more consistent. And that is the challenge for me. I mean, you know, that now that I have been doing this for three, three, four years, obviously, like there is a thing called like mentally exhausted. So we are supposed to overcome that. And we have to deliver the like deliver best of our capability, I would say.

Do you think your relatable content makes you more popular among other influencers?

If it's there, I am very happy about it. Personally, I'm a person who doesn't get satisfied very easily. So I just feel that there's nothing that makes me a little more popular or anything. But yes, the people have loved me for my particular character and I'm very thankful to them. But I feel like every influencer and their page has their own touch and taste, which is different from the other influencers. So no matter even if we all are doing similar characters at times because these are the relatable ones, the one that I'll do and the one that the other person will do will definitely have their own twist, they have their own accent, they will have their own touch to it. So it's just like that. I like to maintain my page, and my characters in a way that they have Shirin in it. Because I think that is why people like and love what I do because I maintain my character in that way. Like Kuti Olad, like there are some words that I use and people will rhyme I give them my own taste.

What are your thoughts on reality shows, especially the ongoing debate between YouTuber influencers and followers in the 'Bigg Boss' house?

I am not at all aware of the contestants and the 'Bigg Boss' that is going on. I have definitely heard about this guy called Elvish Yadav like because it was all over the social media. So I know that there's this guy who's playing in this particular season of 'Bigg Boss'. And in answer to your question is that I am the flag bearer of this thing that you do theater, you do TV, you do OTT, you do anything. You are an entertainer. Of course, being an actor and content creator is a little different because obviously, you are an actor, you are a creator. But they are like I think they fall under one radar only. So I feel that as you said you are a performer, you are an entertainer. You are, as you called it performer, I would say entertainer. Basically, when I did a film, what was I doing? I was trying to entertain somebody who came to the hall with a movie ticket, having popcorn. When I was doing TV, I was trying to entertain somebody who's tired after a heavy day and just wanted to watch a serial have a good dinner, and sleep. When I am making a video, I am trying to entertain you, I am trying to make you laugh for 30 seconds and 40 seconds. So all my life or till now on all my platforms, all I have tried to do is that I want to entertain you. So how does it make me an actor a YouTuber or an Instagrammer? Because my motive behind everything is the same, to entertain you and to give you a good time.

How do you handle criticism or negative feedback from your audience? Do you have any strategies for maintaining a positive mindset in the face of online scrutiny?

So I will just say one thing about it. Like when we are in the entertainment business, people like Shahrukh Khan are not left out. People will have their versions and their perspective on something very trivial that they have done. And obviously, so who are we? So I am just happy about the fact that if I am making a video, I am making the majority of people laugh and smile. And trust me, it gives me immense happiness that, you know, I am able to make somebody laugh and smile even for 15-20 seconds in a day. Because I think that in this world where we all are just completely surrounded by stress, anxiety and so much if I am able to give you a funny moment, a light moment, I take it as a victory. I feel that I have made 80-90% of people laugh. And if 5-10% of people do not understand my perspective. So I need to respect that and I kind of leave it to them that, you know, I have explained it multiple times in my stories and in my comments as I said earlier. But this is a comic video.

I am not catering to all the Hindi teachers under this. But we all have faced certain teachers and I call this over the top because comedy is all about little like being over the top. So I just feel that okay, like these 10 people have their own perspective and they have all the right because I have put myself in front of the audience to judge me left, right, and center. Now it can be good also and bad also. So I am happy for the good part and for the bad part, I will try and make another video which satisfies you also. That is how I take it.

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Do you take responsibility for the kind of content you share on your social media to ensure that it does not affect or impact your influences in the wrong way?

Yeah, of course, I definitely do that, and I always say that I'm a comic creator. So, whatever I create whatever I do is something that is a little over the top. So, for example, a lot of people come and say to me why do you show the mother-in-law in a bad light? So, I just tell them that I am not saying that everybody is like that my job is to make everybody laugh at something that is a little more relatable, and obviously, I'm exaggerating. So as an audience, I expect you to have that much sense towards my videos, and if I have ever made or done anything that has not been appreciated by any specific person, I personally comment that I am here to take everything. Obviously, whatever you're saying makes sense. There are people who sometimes just write shit on your videos and just leave. So that kind of people I avoid, but if there is a genuine message from any fan or any audience person, I will genuinely respond to them. But as a creator, I definitely take that responsibility that I am not supposed to post or do something that I don't want anybody else to get influenced by.

Any dream collaboration you are wishing for?

So of course, there are certain projects on which things are almost about to get finalized and things are going well now, like 'Rafuchakkar' has done so well. So, we are expecting a season two for 'Rafuchakkar' also. But as you know, in our industry, till the time you start shooting, until the time your project is released, you cannot say anything about it because things can go anywhere. So, I would like to keep it under wraps, and via your platform, I would just request my audience and everybody that please pray for me and hope that I get such opportunities where I get to entertain you in the best way possible. And that's about it. And that is what I love and that is what I live for.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an influencer?

I think it is not about acting or influencing. I think even anybody who is entering any new field, will say the same thing that I have always done and I believe in it, everything that I have, that you just need to work hard. You are not supposed to give up, or beat anything and, of course, you will have your bad days. So I think the only mantra that I have is that keep working hard and keep believing in yourself. You will have your bad days, but I think these bad days will make you a stronger person and will make you a better person. So just keep believing in yourself and don't give up.