I've Grown up Being a Fan of Cinema, so a Lot of My Inspiration Comes from There: Srishti Garg

Srishti Garg is a talented content creator and scriptwriter who transitioned from pursuing fashion at NIFT to becoming an internet sensation. In this exclusive interview, Srishti shares her accidental foray into content creation, her unique perspective on life and creativity as an army kid, and how her passion has shaped her viral content. 

Learn how she overcomes creative blocks and stays grounded amidst fierce competition, emerging as a rising digital star.

How did you transition from pursuing fashion in NIFT to becoming a fun content creator and scriptwriter? Can you share the story behind your accidental foray into the world of content creation?

So, I was still in college when I started creating content. It never really clicked that I could do this full-time because it was new. However, in my first year of college, when I wasn't making content, just tweeting, a couple of influencers reached out and wanted me to write for their videos. After that, I slowly transitioned into making videos for my page in 2021. My page wasn't growing until 2022, when I started with my Gen Z series, and luckily, it did well. It helped me with my initial launching stage, and I am doing content full-time.

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Your debut on Twitter during the pandemic gained instant recognition and a dedicated following. How did it feel to receive such a positive response from audiences, and how did that encourage you to become a full-time content creator?

Well, the response wasn't always very positive. I remember getting a lot of hatred over controversial or basic tweets. However, with time, I stopped caring. But yes, initially, when the tweets started going viral and appearing across meme pages, I felt like, 'Wow, maybe I have it in me!' 

Your content often revolves around Bollywood and its quirks, such as your take on Alia Bhatt's Pregnancy, Rohit Shetty's Films, and Karan Johar's Koffee With Karan. What inspires you to find humour and satire in these everyday situations, and how do you ensure your content remains relatable and entertaining?

I think I always draw inspiration from my everyday situations. Whether in a cab or at a cafe, I'm constantly observing the people around me. Even watching movies or shows, I look at characters and their traits. For example, how that one side character acts around the main lead. I've grown up being a fan of cinema, so a lot of my inspiration comes from there. I believe I own up to who I am and what I like, which brings relatability.

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Growing up in an army background and constantly being on the move, how has that influenced your perspective on life and creativity? Has your passion for travel and other hobbies like playing the ukulele, singing, dancing, painting, and fashion experiments played a role in shaping your content?

Being an army kid has given me the confidence to enter any group and start a conversation. Unfortunately, that confidence wasn't applicable at 'cool parties in Bombay.' However, moving around a lot exposed me to various cultures and diverse groups of people. Some of my characters are based on the friends I met in middle school and high school in different cities.

As far as my passion is concerned, I love trying and learning new things. The ukulele and singing came to me during the pandemic when I wanted to learn something new. Even today, I'm learning Kathak and will soon start martial arts classes. These hobbies give me a routine, keep me sane, and keep my creative juices flowing.

You have collaborated with various well-known brands. How do you approach brand partnerships and ensure the sponsored content aligns with your unique style and resonates with your audience?

I owe my managers all the great partnerships and deals; they get the best for me. For sponsored content, I always like to think of it this way: Will I watch this video as an audience, knowing it's a branded video? That keeps me in line to keep the integration as subtle and smooth as possible.

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Can you share any memorable or challenging moments you've encountered on your journey as a rising digital star? How did you overcome those challenges, and what lessons did you learn?

As a freelancer who took up content creation full-time right after graduating from college, it has been challenging not to have a routine. When it comes to creativity, sometimes you have brilliant ideas, and sometimes you don't. You can't work on it every day, and I love being productive, so I'm hard on myself when I'm not doing anything. There are days when I can't think of new ideas or narratives, and I feel like this is it for me. I constantly find myself comparing myself to others online – how they are reaching milestones, and I'm not. The days when I'm unable to work are the hardest, but I think that's the thrill of doing content. Everything can change in a day; one call can just change everything for you. So, that keeps me going.

It's not easy to create content every day, and you know some days can be overwhelming; how do you push yourself during those creative blocks?

I force myself to sit and do nothing. It might sound weird, but sometimes you just have to stare at the ceiling, look at the lamp, do a little diary entry, paint, or dance your heart out. You must tell yourself that you're exceptional at what you do and here because of you. Your creative juices will kick in with time. Just trust the process and go with the flow.

Do the troll comments irk you, or how do you handle the not-so-good comments?

I block the haters on my page, lol. I can't do anything about the hate I get on other platforms since I'm not active there, and I don't see it every day, so it's cool. They can write anything about me there, but my page is like my cute little virtual diary with my work, my ideas, and my edits, lol, and I don't like it when people try to take the vibe away, so I simply block them.

There are so many creators out there, and the competition is intense. How do you ensure you keep your sanity in check amidst the competition and not let any of those thoughts impact your content

I call up some of my creator friends because I know I'll go down a spiral just thinking and comparing myself. So luckily, I've made some good friends here who remind me that what I do is very different from what others do, and everyone is really on their journey. One thing that stayed with me was when a creator friend said that I was in here for the longer race, not the instant milestones, and it kept me going to just work on my ideas, writing, and acting more.

Do you ever get overwhelmed by the pressure of being a public profile? 

I enjoy it a lot. It has always been a dream to be recognised and get clicked with people in public spaces, so I enjoy it a lot.

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How has your life changed after getting the recognition? How did your friends and family react to it? 

Nothing has changed with my close friends; we still hang out every time we get the chance. They have always celebrated my wins, from sending me cakes to sending me cute notes. My family always gets excited every time someone recognises me in public. My mom feels the proudest, and watching her makes me feel like I've done something right.

Lastly, what's your message to your supporters and a quick suggestion to anyone who wants to go viral on the internet?

I'm just grateful. These words really can't express how I feel. All my life, I was made to feel so mediocre by people so close to me, but the fact that so many people on the internet loved what I do allows me to live my dream life today. My heart will always be full. And to anyone getting into content, please never overthink the end goal, and don't stress over the results, whether it's followers, views, or algorithms. Just enjoy the process. The thrill of content creation alone can take you to places, and just hold on tight. You're one text or call away from everything changing and turning in your favour. That's the best part of what we do!

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