"I feel like people need taste when it comes to appreciating women in comedy," says Harshita Gupta as she talks about her content creation journey, enduring hateful comments and enjoying her work as a creator.
People have talked so much about content creation that it is not an alien concept anymore. In fact, the easy access and constant churning of content might make people lose their originality in the way. Not to forget the added pressure that creators, with their dedicated audience, have to face to stand out in the crowd. Despite all the clutter, Harshita Gupta feels like there is a sense of versatility in content creation that will always make it interesting. A former RJ and now a full-time content creator, Harshita is a very well known comedy content creator today.
As someone who started her content journey 7 years ago, Harshita has faced her fair share of disappointment as a creator. From getting zero traction to having over 35k followers, only to be stuck at that number for a long time, she understood the trials and triumphs of the content world early on her journey. “I was trying every possible content but it was stuck. But I also think it was because of the same year that I value the number of people who like my content.” She describes her journey as learning to ride a horse; it's bumpy and rough at the start, only for one to have fun after learning how it works.
One thing she has learned over the years is to adapt to the versatility that this field offers. “The beauty of how versatile it is to be a content creator is that you can create content at any point in your life.” She has tried to move on from one particular genre to another as her own life developed, to keep things fresh not just for her audience but for herself too. Just as she continues to improve herself for her audience, there is a lot that goes into being a creator. We spoke to her to learn about this journey and how it feels to be a part of a growing community like content creation.
Also Read: To exist in sanskaar and stigma as a transgender in India!
Here’s what she had to share!
What does your filming process look like? Is everything scripted? If yes, does your dad contribute to the same?
It’s all scripted, I usually ideate and write the scripts. My father sometimes has improvisation sessions. We improvise a lot when we’re shooting though. I make sure I don’t say something that makes him uncomfortable, and when it is related to my mom, like a punchline with my mom’s reference, vo mujhse uska proper meaning puchte hai. Like mummy ka sugar daddy ka matlab kya hai? What is a sugar daddy? If I tell him, aap Mishra ji ke friends with benefits hai he is okay with that because who is Mishra ji, he doesn’t care. But jab mummy ke liye kehti hu, he asks me, mummy ke liye kuch galat toh nahi keh rahi ho in the wrong context? The rest he skips, but if mom is involved he is going to ask me the meaning of that particular term, that way we improvise at times ki ‘nahi, isme kuch maza nahi aara hai, kuch naya socho, kuch aur karo, aur dekho,.’ He becomes reluctant at first saying, ‘Nahi yaar log kya sochenge’ but the moment I say that it might go viral, he says screw it let’s do it.
Have there been encounters with your followers that made you feel good about your job?
I am very grateful for my job and I've had such amazing encounters with my followers, people who love my work on the streets, or in random places where you could least expect. I was in Bali shooting and there was this isolated beach and someone came up to me and said, ‘We love your work’ and I was like, in Bali what? In another instance, I was in Dubai, and there were people in Burj who recognized me and I was shocked because you don’t expect people to recognize you internationally. Nationally you know a lot of people are consuming your content, but this has happened a lot of times actually wherein people recognize me internationally. And I’m sure they must be living there or must have gone for a trip, but jo ek vo international recognition that na on that beach and the top of Burj Khalifa, that really shook me, made me feel so grateful for the job that I do and I love it.
Your content mainly was about you being single. When you announced getting engaged and then to be married, were there any funny reactions from your followers?
It was such a hilarious moment when I announced my engagement. This was also because I kept my relationship hidden for quite a long time, and I think, it was properly hidden. I didn’t want to reveal it on social media at all but then, when it was decided ki hum shaadi kar rahe hai, I had to publicly announce it but my audience felt betrayed. They were like this girl taught us not to love, not to fall into a relationship, not to fall for guys and now she is getting married. I still can’t forget when someone on social media wrote, ‘this girl convinced the entire generation not to get married and then soft-launched her boyfriend and got married in two months.’
Women in comedy are still frowned upon, despite how many talented comedians we have. Like a few other platforms, content creation has given many the space to share their stories. What are your thoughts on people looking down on women in comedy?
I feel like people need taste when it comes to appreciating women in comedy, although there is nothing like 'women in comedy'. Comedy is just comedy. However some people believe that women are not funny, they can't crack jokes and they have said that to me as well. When in fact we have some brilliant women who are doing great in comedy like Sumukhi Suresh, Uroj who I personally love. These are like standup comedians who I look upto.
As a creator, you have to endure hateful comments along with the praises. What is your way of dealing with them?
Actually, after so many years, I have developed crocodile skin and I don’t care anymore. The moment I read one negative word I block that person immediately. If I’m so bad that you had to take the time to post such hateful comments then you shouldn’t watch me.
As a prominent creator who holds value in the creator economy, what future do you foresee for the creator economy in India?
I think it's just growing in a massive way which everybody’s trying to figure out. Everybody’s exploring this field and especially with the government conducting National Creator Awards, I think it’s just going wider and bigger. Anybody who wants to be a creator and pursue creation as a full-time career should definitely do it. It requires a lot of commitment and consistency which people do not realize in the beginning, but if you are willing then you should go for it.
Have you also been following her content? Let us know your favourite video of hers in the comments below.
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