Exclusive! I Want to Play Characters in Web Shows or Movies in the Future: Dharna Durga

Dharna Durga- a name whenever we hear, we have a smile on our faces, all thanks to the different characters that she portrays on social media and entertains us. Be it a self-proclaimed future teller or Rajat ki Taiji, she has always nailed every character of her. If someone is having a bad day, her profile is the best to cheer up your mood.

We have connected with her for exclusive conservation; here are a few edited excerpts from the conversation- 

Can you tell us about your journey as a comedian and how you broke through in the online comedy scene?

My acting journey took a head start when I started doing theatre in college; I used to record myself to make short videos for fun and share them with my friends. One of my friends suggested putting those videos on Instagram, which got me to upload my first IG TV video. Initially, I never planned to build a career through these videos, it just used to be some of my friends who used to watch, and I would feel happy just by that. However, as time passed, my content began to resonate with a wider audience, and my viewership and followers grew. The positive feedback and increasing popularity made me realize that perhaps something special was happening - I was creating relatable videos that struck a chord with people. When one of my reels went viral and received immense appreciation, I realized the potential of making a career in acting through social media platforms.

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

I believe the key to generating ideas for my content lies in daily observation. I think one develops these ideas through observations. When you start looking at someone as a character, you will be able to note minor details about them. By keenly observing people around me, whether they are friends, relatives, or even strangers, I can notice their unique characteristics and behaviours, which inspire the creation of my characters.

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What inspires you to create humorous content?

What truly motivates me to create humorous content is the feedback I receive in my inbox and messages. When I receive some messages like 'I was having a bad day, and watching your videos made it better', it becomes a significant source of motivation for me. Knowing that I can bring joy and positively impact someone's life through my videos encourages me to upload new content daily consistently.

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How do you balance the creative aspects of your content with brand integration? What considerations do you consider when working with brands on your platform?

My utmost priority when it comes to brand collaborations is to ensure that they do not appear forced or disrupt the viewer's experience. I try to maintain the organic essence of my videos, seamlessly integrating the brand without making it dull. One shouldn't feel like just scrolling down while watching the video. I always try to keep that video as organic as I can, like any other video, giving a slight plugin of the brand. It is likely that sometimes the flow of the video breaks and is abrupt due to brand integration, but I try to make sure that my videos don't break the flow and keep them funny and organic while to the brand collaboration. 

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Can you share an incident or experience that significantly shaped your comedy career and took it to the next level?

Everything changed when one of my videos went viral. When people shared and liked it, I felt I was making something unique content that was getting viral on the internet. At that moment, I took this passion seriously and wholeheartedly focused on honing my skills as a content creator.

How do you handle the success and attention that comes with your viral videos? How does it impact your approach to content creation?

Well, I don't dwell on it too much, but when a video receives a positive response, and the audience appreciates it, my entire day becomes blissful. It feels like a significant achievement when the video turns out exactly how I envisioned it and resonates well with viewers. It motivates me to think about what I can do for my next video rather than allowing myself to relax just because one video was successful. It also brings pressure that this video was such a good one. The next video should also live up to its standard.

Nevertheless, I try not to overthink it. I acknowledge the praise and satisfaction, but I don't let it overshadow my mindset that now I can take a chill pill. It serves as a reminder to stay focused and continue putting in the effort. However, this success doesn't lead me to change my approach to content creation. Instead, I see the viral video as an opportunity for analysis. Understanding what resonated with my audience allows me to create content that aligns with their interests and preferences.

What are your future aspirations and goals as a comedian? How do you plan to grow your presence and influence in the comedy industry?

When it comes to my future goals and aspirations, my primary focus is on bringing a unique and fresh perspective to my comedy and sketches. I constantly explore different ways of portraying humour so that my content never becomes monotonous. Also, not just comedy, I want to explore some different genres as well, and definitely, in the long run, I would like to play a part in a web show or a movie to play some part.

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