Exclusive! The Audio Series Provides an Excellent Platform For Honing Your Writing Skills: Swapnil Jain

Swapnil Jain, hailing from Bhawani Mandi in Rajasthan, has made his mark in the Audio Series industry with 'Insta Millionaire,' captivating listeners on Pocket FM. Initially known for his supporting roles in web series, Swapnil's exceptional writing skills set him apart. His collaboration with Pocket FM proved to be a game-changer, leading to the resounding success of 'Insta Millionaire.'

In an exclusive conversation with us, he talked about his journey. Here are a few edited excerpts from the interview.

Tell us what childhood was like, how did your family motivate you towards the creative field, and what was your father's role in shaping your career?

I grew up in Bhawani Mandi, a small town in Rajasthan, and was immersed in Jain culture due to my family background. My parents actively participated in religious ceremonies, with my father singing bhajans and my mother creating fine art through paintings and other mediums. This early exposure to art shaped my interests. As I grew older, I developed a fondness for ghazals, influenced by my father's admiration for artists like Ghulam Ali Saab, Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, and Mehdi Hasan. Although I never formally studied ghazals, I listened to many of them through my father's appreciation.

During my school years, I found great joy in Hindi and English classes, where I could read and listen to poetry, stories, and plays. I vividly remember never missing a class when our Hindi teacher recited passages from the Mahabharata. Despite limited exposure, my curiosity motivated me to delve deeper into this field. Although my family had a business background and desired me to follow suit, I decided to pursue art, recognizing it as my true calling. I am grateful that my parents respected and supported my choice, leading me to where I am today.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swapnil Jain (@swapnil_sunil_jain)

Was entering the world of writing and acting your first choice, or have you tried hands at other professions also before zeroing down to this? What are the two lessons you learned from those fields that are helping you in the creative field?

After finishing school, while everyone else was heading toward graduation, I found myself in a state of confusion. I wanted to pursue something in the media field, but due to a lack of exposure, I didn't have a clear path ahead. For a whole year, this confusion lingered. During that time, I watched numerous films like 'Paan Singh Tomar', 'Raanjhanaa', 'A Wednesday', 'Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani', '3 Idiots', 'Taare Zameen Par', and 'the Batman Trilogy' by Christopher Nolan. It was then that I made up my mind to become an actor.

When I arrived in Jaipur, I joined a theatre group with the intention of pursuing acting. However, fate had other plans for me. I ended up writing for my very first play. The appreciation I received from fellow actors and directors motivated me to explore writing further. Alongside writing and acting, I dabbled in design, direction, and facilitation. These experiences helped me gain a deeper understanding of my craft and expression. I believe that everything I have done in the past has contributed to my journey and enabled me to sustain myself in this field.

From actor to writer, this is an interesting journey. How did you start about it? Take us through your journey from your first project to landing up writing for Pocket FM's blockbuster series 'Insta Millionaire.'

The journey has been quite interesting. Initially, I was a shy and reserved person who never participated in any cultural activities at school. However, my inner urge to express myself led me to join a theatre group in Jaipur back in 2014. There, I met some wonderful friends with whom I am still connected today. During one of our plays, which involved improvisation, I wrote the dialogues for a scene to help make it more effective. The director and my fellow actors loved it, and that's when my journey as a writer began.

At first, I focused on writing poetry. With the guidance of my Head of Department, Mr. Himmat Singh Jadeja, I started developing stories and honing my writing skills. He mentored me on the importance of rewriting and taught me the art of writing screenplays. Additionally, theatre directors Mr. Abhishek Goswami and Mr. Sahil Ahuja encouraged me to write plays. Our theatre group started performing plays I had written, and they received a lot of appreciation. This boosted my confidence, and receiving two awards was like the cherry on top.

However, life took a challenging turn with the arrival of Covid-19, and I tragically lost my father. I had no choice but to temporarily put aside my passion and focus on our family business. However, the calling to write kept buzzing in my head. Eventually, I decided to close the business and took a job in the educational sector. But fate had something else in store for me.

One fine day, I received a call from Mr. Vishal Vijay, an actor from movies like 'Lakshya', 'Chittagong', and 'Halla Bol', offering me an opportunity to write for Pocket FM. I eagerly embraced this chance and began my career as a full-time writer. I worked with incredible creative minds like Riddhi Kotecha, Shruti Shrivastava, Ratish Marulkar, and Aakash Abhang. Together, we developed "Insta Millionaire," which has become a blockbuster success.

Insta Millionaire is buzzing, and Lucky's journey is resonating with many. How did you ideate the character, and do you personally relate to it?

I connect deeply with Lucky's character because I value the same principles he embodies. He is loyal, down-to-earth, and humble, and despite coming from the wealthiest family in the country, he is incredibly helpful and kind. When developing the character, our focus remained on these values and creating situations where they are challenged. We set the story in a college setting to appeal to a younger audience. And since love is a popular topic among young people, we crafted it as a love story.

The Indian audience loves masala content and is visually driven by the action, romance, and drama sequences. Do you think audio series justify their needs? Is it competing with visual mediums like TV, OTT, and Films?

I have an opposite perspective on this. I believe that audio series provide tough competition to TV, OTT platforms, and films, and 'Insta Millionaire' is a prime example. Audio series fulfill the audience's needs and offer them the freedom to imagine the story, situations, and characters. In a world filled with excessive visual exposure, audio series allow people to take a break from the visual overload and use the visuals already absorbed in their minds. It gives them the opportunity to tap into their imagination.

There have been many great writers in the Indian entertainment industry, but usually, they get lost in this competitive space and don't get their dues for years. What's your take on this? Have you faced the brunt too? Also, do you feel with the audio series, now it's time for the writer to take the front foot, unlike the presenters?

It's true; I've experienced the same challenge many times. However, if you remain honest and dedicated to your work, you will receive recognition for your efforts sooner or later. Undoubtedly, the industry is highly competitive and would benefit from better structure and decentralization to facilitate easier navigation. But alongside the competition, handling the opportunities that come your way effectively is crucial.

Fortunately, numerous opportunities are emerging for writers, and audio series are one such avenue. The audio series provides an excellent platform for honing your writing skills. Not only does it offer the chance to write in a disciplined manner, but it also keeps your creative spirit alive and flourishing.

While we understand writing for audio differs from writing for visually driven content. What are the 5 things you keep in mind while writing for audio series?

When writing, I follow a few key principles:

1. I aim to provide concise and straightforward narration to create the desired mood.
2. I focus on crafting dialogues that effectively convey the character's needs.
3. I create ample opportunities for sound effects (SFX) to enhance the overall experience. I prefer using simple words to ensure a smooth listening experience.
4. I make sure that the characters and their desires are clearly defined, allowing the listener to distinguish between them without relying on visual cues.

If Insta Millionaire gets adopted into an OTT web series, who would you want to be the main leads (male and female), the director, producer, and writer, and why?

That's a tricky question, and I ponder over it from time to time. Personally, I think Rajkumar Rao would be a great fit for the role of Lucky, and Rashmika Mandana would be ideal as Radhika. Regarding directing, I believe Rajkumar Hirani or Rohit Shetty would do a fantastic job with the content. As for the writing, I would choose myself. As for the producer, I don't have a specific name in mind, but I would look for someone who can handle the scope of the story effectively.

While you've made your place in writing, do you still wish to act? Which actor would you like to share the screen with?

Absolutely! If given the chance, I would love to act. There are numerous actors I admire and would be thrilled to share the screen with, such as Ranbir Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkumar Rao, Vidya Balan, Tabu, Alia Bhatt, and many more.

Who's your inspiration when it comes to a) acting and b) writing? Why?

In the field of acting, the late Irrfan Khan is someone I deeply admire. We both hailed from the same city in terms of our work. His performances in movies like 'Maqbool', 'Paan Singh Tomar', 'Haasil', 'Lunchbox', 'Piku', 'Madaari', and more captivated me. His on-screen presence felt incredibly natural and authentic. Exuding such calmness and honesty in front of the camera is quite challenging. The authenticity he brought to his roles was commendable, and he continues to inspire me and others like me who are trying to establish themselves in this industry.

When it comes to writing, I am a fan of the screenplay work by Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani. They can remarkably shape narratives, striking a balance between entertainment, information, and education. Apart from them, I greatly appreciate the writing of Gulzaar, Varun Grover, and Javed Saab in films, as well as the works of Shakespeare, Vijaydan Detha, Murakami, Leo Tolstoy, Badal Sircar, Piyush Mishra, and Henrik Ibsen in the realm of theatre and literature.

It is believed visuals have a greater impact as compared to audio on the mind. Do you agree to it? Also, is audio series the next big thing in the world of entertainment?

Absolutely! The invention of the camera itself was a revolutionary step. Its ability to capture reality with intricate details and truth is remarkable. However, we must not overlook the impact of audio. As I mentioned before, audio creates a personal impression in your mind. It's an impression that you cannot share with anyone, yet it's shared by everyone who has experienced the same visuals. I believe that audio is closer to music. Like how we love to listen to music and enjoy its rhythm, poetry, and melody, the audio takes us to a different world.

On the other hand, visuals are closer to paintings, sharing similar characteristics. What matters most is effectively conveying the emotion and thoughts, regardless of the medium used. Therefore, the medium itself is not a significant limitation. Undoubtedly, the audio series is set to become the next big thing in the world of entertainment.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Swapnil Jain (@swapnil_sunil_jain)

What is a piece of golden advice that you'll give to budding writers and actors? And why should one listen to Insta Millionaire?

The key to being a writer is simply to write. It doesn't matter if you write occasionally or consistently; what matters is that your words come from the heart, with honesty. As a writer, being open to feedback is important, as it plays a crucial role in your growth.

No matter what challenges life throws, if you desire to write or act, go for it. In particular, I recommend listening to Insta Millionaire. It tells a unique story where a wealthy individual doesn't flaunt their riches but instead uses them to help those in need. It's a tale of true love, compassion, and duty. Embark on this captivating journey where you'll witness how Lucky goes beyond boundaries for love and family.

Also Read: Exclusive! Patience and perseverance are essential qualities for success in any business, says Dr Pooja Sawant-Mohandas