Interview
Shirin Sewani: A daily dose of relatable humour !
Shirin Sewani was born in 1993 in Delhi, India. She is an Actress, an Influencer, and a Youtuber. She did her schooling and graduation from Delhi itself. After completing her graduation she went to Mumbai to upskill her acting. Shirin started her career as a model and an actress in 2013. She got her first break in the famous television show ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’, where Shirin played the role of Jasmeet. Being a part of many other daily soap shows such as ‘Nagin’ and ‘Kavach’ she won many hearts. Shirin evolved through characters in significant movies like ‘Khandani Shafakhana’ and ‘Mannat’ also she bagged the chance to work on a short film named ‘Rabiya’.
The Paradox team came up with an interesting interview with her where she shared her overall experience of being a part of the Indian Entertainment Industry. Let’s have a look at what Shirin has to say.
Was being an actress your childhood dream?
Shirin: Yes, I started acting when I was in 5th standard. So, I observed an inclination towards acting since my schooling days and even in college. I got admission to Kirori Mal College through the ECA quota in acting. I was passionate about acting since childhood and that’s why kept acting in theatres in Delhi. Being a single child I was always skeptical of changing the city and I wasn’t aware of the Entertainment Industry. One random day, I decided to visit Mumbai and have a look at the scenario there.
I went to Mumbai just for 2 months with the mindset of just taking a glimpse of Bollywood. But I believe I was lucky enough that during those two months I got my first break and from then it kept going further. I never planned to visit Mumbai and take up acting as a full-fledged career. I guess the universe planned this for me, and it has been great.
How did you get your first break?
Shirin Sewani: I was in Mumbai, giving auditions every day. I used to motivate myself by saying, ‘Why are you here? You left your parents, your house, your friends… just for the purpose to be successful in acting’. But the atmosphere was completely different here. Till yesterday I was at my home, in my comfort zone, getting up with coffee and getting pampered, and today, I’m here alone, struggling for my future, facing rejections and whatnot. I also felt demotivated a lot.
One day I got a call from one team asking me to visit their office. I went there with the thought that they have just called to meet, no need to get happy, nothing much would happen. But when I reached there, they were ready with the contract offering me to play the role of Jasmeet for ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’, and this is how I got my first break. I was very excited about this role.
How was your experience with ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’? Do you use watch yourself on the television?
Shirin Sewani: Yes, I used to watch the show, when it was a regular broadcast on TV. It’s very humanistic to do it, as it’s your debut, you are on the big screen for the first time and you are part of such a big show. All these factors were the reason for being excited. I was excited as well as my family and friends were equally excited about the show. I kept on checking on myself by watching the show, whether I was good at acting, how was the overall performance, did I paid justice to the character I was playing, where I was not that good, areas where I can improve myself, were the emotions correct.
So, I always watch my shows and every time I go through a particular scene then I think that I would have done better here. And I like doing this activity as it makes me more prepared for my next role. The learning never stops. No one is perfect and that is the reason why you need to keep on learning and improve yourself.
Out of all the characters you have played, which one is your favorite?
Shirin Sewani: I never compare the characters, every character is different from one another. Every character has its own story, own script, and own journey and I think that is the beauty of being an actor. Jasmeet will always be a special character for me as it was the first character I played. Also, Jasmeet was a character who became very popular and a favorite amongst all the mothers. I think that being a Delhi girl helped me to add a bit of Punjabi flavor to the character of Jasmeet. These factors make Jasmeet a very special character for me. If we talk about my personal opinion then I played the character of ‘Rapchik’ in the series called ‘Only For Singles’ which was released on MX Player.
This was a character that is very close to my heart as I was able to relate to it up to a great extent. The nature, the vibe, and the inner core of the character were quite relatable to me. I was very happy playing this role as I was able to act in something different from the roles I used to play in the previous shows. I enjoyed a lot playing that character.
Are you a travelholic as your character ‘EVA’ from the show ‘Backpackers’?
Shirin Sewani: Yes, I am a travelholic. I love to travel and explore new places. I haven’t traveled much yet because I was pretty occupied with my work. But I will travel as I get time. I am the kind of person who is always up for the plans of trips and travels. Eva was a character that had a sense of commitment and had no plans of settling down, but I guess I am a bit different from her at that point as I decided of settling down much earlier.
How will you differentiate the experience of working in serials from the experience of working in movies?
Shirin: This is the most common question I had come across, as I have worked in T.V, movies, and web series. And I have always said that it doesn’t matter. Being an actor I haven’t ever thought that I will act in the movies and serials differently. I read the script, try to understand the character, and see what the director is looking for in the character. It is about how you want the story to be narrated and how you want the character to be portrayed.
For example,
there will be no difference in the character of Jasmeet. She is a Punjabi girl who is a little crazy and weird, a little loud and she will be the same even if she was in the movie rather than in the serial. This is because the character and the director wanted it to be like that. Only the platform will be different, you are working for a T.V show where you need to work for 12 hours and perform on the spot, but I think this makes you more skilled. And to provide the audience with quality roles is the job of the actor, even under high-pressure situations.
What was your parent’s reaction when you decided to give your passion for acting a shot and visit Mumbai for 2 months?
Shirin Sewani: I have heard many people complaining that their parents are not supportive of them. But in my case, it was different. They were supportive more than I expected. In every possible way, they showed their support and told me that I can do whatever I want to. They had a good amount of trust in me and they believed that I know what I was doing.
The second thing is that they never put pressure on me for that, they were like, ‘if you want to go then give it a try, give your 100%. If you succeed then it’s best, but even if you don’t then no problem and at least you won’t have any regret.’ I would advise all the parents to let their kids try, even if they fall. If something is meant to happen then it will happen no matter how much you try to avoid it. Let them live on their own. Just give your 100% and don’t worry about the results.
Whom would you consider as your favorite co-actor?
Shirin Sewani: I would say, Aman Sharma, because he was my first co-actor. He was more experienced than me. I was very scared during the initial days because it was a new city, with new faces and it was a completely new industry for me. He helped me a lot during that time. We used to rehearse acting and dancing together. I remember we used to have dance practice for the show at 12, but we used to be there by 10 and rehearse. We used to convince our choreographers to teach us by the time everyone arrives and get ready. We were always ready for the practice and sometimes we even shout at each other when we make mistakes. But we did all these because we wanted to do our best and shine in the performance.
Any incident/memory from your previous projects which you will never forget?
Shirin Sewani: There is always some sort of memory from each project we do. You create a memory with every show you do, every project you do. I remember when I was performing for ‘Only For Singles’, there was a scene in which the character wanted to wrap up things and get back home, and was very tense. I got so indulged and drawn towards the scene that even after the cut I was crying and then the crew came for help and tried to collect myself.
And I think this is the beauty of acting that you try to relate with the character and the scene from your real-life incidents and experiences. There are tons of memories while shooting for ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ as well. I remember we were in Lucknow shooting for the show and my parents visited me there, spending quality time with my family after the shoot is also a memory. So these are all the memories and there are a lot more as well.
Who has been your inspiration, as you said you dreamt of being an actor since your childhood?
Shirin Sewani: To be honest, many people have been inspiring me. It started when I used to mimic my teachers in school when I was in 3rd or 4th standard. I use to mimic the people who inspired me. But if I have to take names from the industry then it would be Abhishek Banerjee. I have seen him since my college days, he struggled a lot. He gave many years to casting and did amazing films as a casting director. Then he did films like ‘Stree’. He was my senior in college and now watching him in such great projects inspires me.
If you wouldn’t have picked acting as your career then what other profession you would have chosen?
Shirin: I graduated with B.Ed. So the plan was of being a teacher if I won’t have been an actress. I completed my B. Ed, while I was doing ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’. I had 2 options, I would have been a chef instead as well. I love cooking and enjoy it like nothing else. If I get the chance then I would have done something in this field as well. I love hosting people as well whether it be for a party or an event. So if I wasn’t an actress then I would have many options to look up for.
How do you manage your personal and professional life? And what do you do in your, ‘Me Time?
Shirin Sewani: First of all it is all about learning to manage the time between both of them. I have never given anyone a chance to complain that you don’t give us enough time. Everything asks for efforts to make them sufficient. I always prioritize both things equally. It shouldn’t happen that you get into work so much that you fail to enjoy the time with your family and friends. You should work, of course, I also love to work but I manage to give time to my family as well. So, this balance is very necessary.
And, answer to the question that what I do in my free time is in my hobbies. I do cooking and try to make more delicious dishes. I love doing it and enjoy it in my free time. I also try to work out during that time as well. Also, I always do something related to my profession. I chill out with my friends, go to their place, and have fun. I choose what I want to do and then enjoy it accordingly.
You recently got married, so how did you meet your life partner? And how did you decide to get married to each other?
Shirin Sewani: I met him at my friend’s party. It was a very casual meeting, there was no drama or love at first sight sort of things. My friend introduced us and then we became friends. Then our parents met and got things ahead. I believe that he was someone who was supposed to come into my life. This is because all these things were so unplanned and came all of a sudden. And the journey has been great since then.
What are the advice and suggestions that you would give to the people who are entering the industry?
Shirin Sewani: I would say that be well prepared and then come into the industry. If you think that you can do it, there is nothing much, it would be easy, then it’s not correct. It is not that easy. Trust me the process is really difficult, the struggle is real, and you need to be sustainable. Give your 100% and remember that our industry works on luck as well, be prepared for that. Learn to face rejections, you will be giving many auditions and facing the rejections as well.
Be prepared for that. Be patient, it is not an easy industry to get in. you need to be patient and wait until the opportunity comes to you, you won’t get work from the first day itself. Don’t give up easily, be patient, and stay consistent. Work up on your skills. Acting is not all about looks, you need enough skills to give justice to the character. So, work on improving your skills.
What kind of roles do you want to play? Like the role which you want to play once in your career?
Shirin Sewani: Honestly speaking, I am happy with the kind of roles that came my way. All the roles which I have played are different from each other. But if you ask me what kind of roles I would like to play then my answer would be roles that are a little raw and not afraid of anyone. The role of Kangana in the movie ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, was very impressive. I like this kind of role which is a little more realistic. I am not very choosy about the roles, whichever you will give to me I will accept it and try to give my best for that character.
What are your future projects?
Shirin Sewani: There are a few projects which I will be announcing soon. And there are a few web series coming as well. But all things took a back seat due to the pandemic. I hope that all these problems get solved soon so that we can start shooting again. Hopefully, everything goes well and I will be back on the screen as soon as possible.
Did you ever plan how your wedding would be? Any childhood dreams for your wedding?
Shirin Sewani: I wanted to keep my wedding very simple. I wanted to keep my wedding private and keep it between our families only. It was a mutual decision by both of us that we want to keep it simple and enjoy our moment rather than be with the crowd and the guests. I think the decision came out to be perfect, we enjoyed the whole ceremony and it was very beautiful.
https://instagram.com/shirin_sewani?utm_medium=copy_link
Shirin Sewani Instagram is all things fun laugh and relatable!
This was the interview with Shirin Sewani. She talked about her struggles, her journey, her most memorable moments, and much more.
The inspiring journey and the humble nature of the actress will leave a mark, on your heart. All the best to Shirin for all her future projects.
Meenal Jain- Voice that reaches souls
Meenal Jain is a fantastic singer who started her music career from being a girl who participated in Indian Idol 2, who made it to the top 6 finalists. And has been seen in many other reality shows such as Music Masti and Group. And here she is inspiring each and every one of us. Let us look at what Meenal has to say in this exclusive interview.
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Q1). Tell us about your journey, you participated in Indian Idol 2 and now Meenal Jain is a singer.
Meenal Jain: I came to Mumbai just for the music and to be something in Music. I was 10 years old and I was with Suresh Ji for a few months. Being the youngest sibling in my family, I’ve always been pampered by my mother which was the reason why I couldn’t live there, as it was a Gurukul system there. I’m basically from Indore, I went back and came to Mumbai. There’s a saying “jaha ka dana pani likha hai, waha pe aa hi jate ho aap kaise bhi” There I found my first ever Guru- Shri. Manohar Raiji & Smt. Krishna Raiji who agreed to teach music to me.
And the moment they came to know that financially I’m not able to sustain the expenses of Mumbai along with my family’s expenses living in Indore, they never talked about the money required to learn music ever again. I believe finding a Guru like them is no coincidence, I might’ve done some good deed, good karma to find them.
Also the age when I started learning music was perfect as there’s no burden of any kind of responsibilities. I just have to study and Riyaz. And that’s how Indian Idol came into my life, before that I participated in all the competitions whether it be in Jai Hind College, or Malhar etc. I studied in Mithibai College and by god’s grace I always won. And Indian Idol 2 was such a different experience, the reality show where I have to put make ups. I’ve never put on makeup before, or known how the cameras work, where to look. You have to take care of a few things, present yourself glamorous on stage,and that is it.
Q2). Were there anybody before you, from your family who played music or are you the first one?
Meenal Jain: In my family, it is like they have a good taste in music- my father and my uncles but they never learned music. Music as a profession… nope. I’m a Jain Marwadi Malvi from Indore so I don’t think there’s any kind of connection with music here. I think my father was always meant to be an artist or a sportsperson. When he heard me singing for the first time he thought that I have something, some blessings for music. So he thought what can he do? All he can do is to make sure I get proper guidance and knowledge about music.
Becoming a successful singer was a different thing. Because today’s definition of success is getting 1 million views on the songs, reels that I post or being popular on social media. I’m a little laid back in social media though I try to push myself. I don’t see it as wrong but that is how I am. Off camera, I’m a very very jovial person but when it comes to camera I’m a little laid back in all these things.
Q3). At what age did you realize that you are ready to step into reality shows?
Meenal Jain: The time when Indian Idol 1 came I could have participated but I think it’s good that I didn’t participate because I still have a little bit of time. As I said I participated & performed in Mithibai since the first year itself but when it comes to reality shows, it’s a whole different thing. I think in today’s music world, especially for female singers, they want us to look like Kareena Kapoor and sing like Lataji, which is difficult. And our main thing is singing, so that should be our focus. This has been divided into different departments because being an actor is not easy. If you’ve naturally been that beautiful it is a different thing but to maintain that needs a lot of time and effort. Everything takes time and giving time to music is never enough.
People are always in a hurry to finish tasks, going from one reality show to the other. And they expect us to have loads of money which I wish and pray that we have. One of my friends used to say that it is necessary to be in love with music. Loving something takes time, whether it be a thing or a person, profession, or passion, it takes time. One should understand that the only competition is you, yourself. Because if you want to learn something, it needs time.
Q4). How did you manage to learn singing along with your school and college life?
Meenal Jain: That credit goes to my mother and my father. Especially my mother, she stayed with me. As I said, that was the age where I had no other responsibilities on my shoulders. The younger audience who wants to ask me about singing, I would always say take advantage of that age. You can practice singing, do Riyaz for more than 10 hours. As you have your parents, no need to worry about earnings, etc and your life is easy. Trust me these are extremely practical things which I’m talking about. Because today if I want to do Riyaz for 5 plus hours, I won’t be able to do it. As I have ten thousand other things to finish… I have responsibilities. And that was the time where I had no responsibilities.
Q5). Being from a different state & place, it is very difficult to manage our voice tone. How did you manage your voice tone?
Meenal Jain: Voice? It’s the same. As I said, I used to do Riyaz when I was younger, I have put a lot of time and effort… which helps me even today. That was a really important part of my life. And I really wish I could’ve given more time when I was younger, then I would be much better now. The more you practice and love your voice, the more others will love it.
Q6). Many viewers want you to sing, but before that I want to ask a question, what are the genres or languages in which you sing?
Meenal Jain: Honestly, I’m a singer. And I would love to try all the genres possible in this lifetime. I don’t want to restrict myself. I especially love to sing Ghazal, Sufi and of course old songs. But I also equally enjoy dance numbers. I want to sing everything… As a singer,I have sung in Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi of course,.. Also I love western songs.
Q7). What encouraged you to work so hard for you to make your dreams come true?
Meenal Jain: You get inspired by a lot of people in your life… of course the people who are already there, who you look up to as successful musicians and singers. But yes, my parents, my sisters, my guru inspired me. And my friends,they do so well in their lives and inspire me to do better everyday. We tend to learn some things from various people in our lives. And yes we somehow find inspiration… if we look at it, and use the inspiration, we tend to do better things than we already are.
Q8). From your family someone got inspired by you and started a career in music.
Meenal Jain: There is a nephew of mine. He really wants to learn music but of course he is studying as well. However, he is also doing music of his own. His name is Yash. And I’m so proud of him because he’s trying to find a way on his own.
Q9). What is your personal favorite genre in which you like singing?
Meenal Jain: As I said, I like to sing in every genre.. It mostly depends on my mood, sometimes I feel like I want to sing old songs and sometimes I just want to sing dance numbers… upbeat songs.. There’s no particular genre, it is all about mood.
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Shridhar Mankar who fairly is regarded as the saviour by many Computer Science students and related branch students, it does justice to his work! From making their academics easier with 5 minute videos to helping quick revise some topics this 5 minute engineer is a boon to the online community of students who prefer learning complex concepts through youtube. And with this interview you will know why he enjoys so much following and love from his students and subscribers!
- How has your Engineering background influenced the content you published?
I finished my engineering degree with a background in computer science, and now that I’m talking about my channel, 5 Minutes Engineering, I aim to provide answers to questions concerning CS. Since it took me 4 years to complete my CS engineering, I strive to provide solutions in my channel in a matter of five minutes. Both are connected because I am applying what I have learned over the course of my four-year journey and providing topic-related solutions within five minutes in the most easy manner. Additionally, I picked up time management skills while studying engineering, and I try my best to represent that in all of my videos. so that it takes less time for those watching, who also get the solution, and can also enjoy learning from it.
- What difficulties did you overcome to transition from Engineering to Content Creation?
I absolutely will not deny that it wasn’t difficult for me. Since it was something I had never done before, it was challenging. I had a difficult time changing from being an engineer to a content creator. I was the first person in my family to enter this industry, therefore I knew less about it and there was no instructor or someone to guide. Additionally, there are many challenging phases that people go through when you begin something new. However, I wanted to start a new and fresh concept for the people that could help in their growth as professionals. In the beginning, it was challenging to record using my camera because at that time, not everyone could afford one. I used to record it using my mobile instead, but it was challenging to look at the camera constantly, so I used to keep my toy nearby while recording and used to teach it so that I could record my topics’ related solutions. Students used to visit my channel throughout examination season, and that gave me the inspiration to keep going. It’s my turn to help the students in the finest and simplest manner possible. It was definitely challenging, but I’m glad to see that it benefits so many people broadly. I started this during my third year of college engineering, and I plan to grow my channel enormously.
- Could you briefly describe your college life?
Speaking of my college experience, I actually started crying during the first lecture on my first day of college. I cried because I was unable to respond to my professor’s basic conceptual questions on computer science. I wasn’t even sure I understood the questions he was asking at the time. due to the fact that I completed my 12th grade education through PCMB and had no prior experience of computer science. Above that, I noticed that my classmates were answering questions with thorough justifications and even engaging in debate with the professor. I got scared when I saw the scene in my class, but I didn’t give up; I kept working on myself and began making changes. Because of my persistence, I have reached this point in my life where I am doing interviews and people are watching my videos and learning from them. I went from being a student who struggled to understand basic computer science engineering topics to now making videos on YouTube and assisting many students in passing from it. All of this is a result of my perseverance and mentality of never giving up on myself. I was completely focused on my studies during my time in college, so I didn’t participate in any cultural activities and, when I did, it was only to enjoy as an audience. I ranked among the top students in my department. I first started interacting with people when I went for my masters.
- Which of your YouTube-related experiences have you found to be the most rewarding, and how have those experiences benefited your life and career?
YouTube has given me a lot of things. First of all, it has given my life direction in ways I could never have imagined. In addition, while working on it, I have learnt a lot from YouTube. I’ve discovered through YouTube that I can be a teacher who can simplify complex concepts. I used to teach the subjects during exam time, so learners would write and do well on their exams. Therefore, I then considered turning everything I had learned into an audio-visual format that would be helpful to many students taking exams. There is no alternative for YouTube, in my opinion, and it is the finest platform for those looking to start for a larger audience. It is the most priceless compliment a student can give to a teacher, and YouTube has made it possible for me every time I post a video and get to see those three magical words, “thank you sir.” When you receive feedback from others, it greatly motivates you to work more. For this reason, I am truly thankful to God for the learner’s feedback that I am currently receiving. YouTube has been extremely beneficial to me.
- What are your YouTube channel’s future goals, and how do you see its content evolving over the coming years?
We need to keep up with the times in this fast-paced world. As you can see from my youtube videos, I attempt to teach topics simply but in a more practical approach because students are more engaged in practical ways than in other ways. This also applies to the teaching profession. We must remain current in teaching as well, first in terms of knowledge, then in terms of upcoming new technology, and finally in terms of curriculum. As I previously stated, if you compare my current videos to those from the past, you will see a difference in the amount of practical advice I tend to give with conceptual solutions. I constantly work to integrate new technology and curriculum updates as the students become more involved. I’m working on it and will continue to work on it because the process is ongoing.
- What made you want to pursue a career in engineering, and how did you begin?
I’ve never considered becoming an engineer, and when I was younger, I didn’t even know what engineering was, so I didn’t consider it. However, I achieved grades above 90% in both maths and biology during my 12th grade year. People assume that if you are good at biology you will enter the medical field, and if you are good at maths you will enter the engineering field because maths is the dominant subject there. After giving it some thought, I decided on engineering because I had read that while medical required a large budget, engineering could also be accomplished on a smaller budget. This was my only goal, therefore I chose engineering with the idea that I would find employment after finishing my studies. But after enrolling in engineering, I discovered that we must specialise in a specific area. There were many alternative areas, but I decided on computer science because everyone around me told me it had a wide range of opportunities. As I previously stated, when I chose computer science as my area of speciality, I knew nothing about it. However, because of my persistence, I am now the person teaching on this subject.
- What led to the start of 5 min Engineering ?
5 minutes engineering has a pretty interesting backstory, When I was in my third year of college and it was examination time. I used to study everything at home before coming, and I never saved anything for the last minute. In order to ask me to clarify a few issues to them before the tests began, my classmates would gather around me at that time. I used to explain things to them so they could score marks. This was routine, but one day my peers informed me that although you were explaining concepts to them, there must be more people outside of this college campuses who needed assistance. They suggested ideas for videos because I had real proof—my classmates—that the topics I was discussing would help them do well on their exams. I can even make videos about the topics and assist people after that. I started making videos and posting them on YouTube because, as I’ve already stated, it’s the finest platform for reaching a wider audience. I didn’t receive much feedback at first, but as soon as the examinations started, my videos received a lot of views. At that time, I had only posted 25 videos, but I still received a lot of views during exam time. I was inspired to work harder after that. People began to give me positive feedback and create memes. The journey that I began when I was in my third year of college is still going strong and will be working on it much more effectively.
- How do you bring your expertise to your videos?
I create information in a way that requires that it be knowledgeable, simple to grasp, and short to create. I make an effort to create videos that students won’t view under stress but instead learn from in a more efficient and entertaining manner. The planning, updating, searching for examples, and creation of visualisations that take place behind the scenes are what give the camera its simplicity and flexibility. My whole focus is on making sure that the students understand the material on a deep level, especially so they will never forget it and so they can achieve good grades. Since the name of my channel is “5 Minutes Engineering,” it is maintained in a way that considers people’s mindsets. They would assume that it would be simple and quick because it only takes five minutes. It then says engineering, indicating that I will solely cover engineering-related topics in my five-minute presentation. However, because some topics are too broad and can be challenging to cover in five minutes, we still provide the best answer we can.
- Who is your favourite youtuber ?
I typically watch the videos of one particular YouTuber, whose channel is called Craylyf Rohit. He is Rohit Sharma in real life, and he is one of the persons whose videos I enjoy watching. I spoke with him and found him to be such a wonderful person. He tries to portray a cheerful existence through his vlogs, plays practical jokes, and engages viewers in his work. And this kind of content is something that people nowadays actually need. I like viewing his video, and he is like a genuinely nice person.
