India has a rich history of theatre but due to its decline in popularity, the theatre industry in India is currently struggling to reach the heights that it undeniably deserves. With the growth of Indian cinema, its theatre counterpart has taken a backseat until its recent resurgence with the spread of theatre festivals all over the country. Because of this, there has been a lack of awareness and misconceptions circulating around Indian theatre in general. This not only discourages many budding artists from pursuing theatre but also may lead to the ultimate death of theatre as an art form. And that’s exactly where Shikhar Mishra and his ingenious brand thetheatrewala strive to make a difference and revive Indian theatre. 

Shikhar Mishra: Early Life

Born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Shikhar Mishra most popularly known as thetheatrewala had very humble beginnings. Studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mishra hailed from a family of musicians who had stopped producing music due to a lack of support in the 80s. But the gene of a performer was somewhere still alive in young Shikhar Mishra as he got pulled into the world of theatre. Initially, the primary reason Mishra got on stage was to help him get over his stammering and the teasing that came with it. Joining the realm of arts for practical reasons Mishra soon fell in love with everything that theatre had to offer. The freedom to express and be anyone one wishes to be gave Shikhar Mishra aka thetheatrewala the push to pursue theatre full time.

His journey into theatre was not all smooth sailing as his family was a bit hesitant about this journey in the initial days given the condition of theatre in India. But despite all of that he trudged through it all as he felt a calling in his art for theatre. Shikhar Mishra also mentions how his lack of interest in academics also left him with one option which is theatre. With his elder brother’s support and his grandfather as his inspiration, he continued his theatre journey to Delhi to understand the art of theatre and drama better.

Shikhar Mishra: A Life in Theatre & Cinema

Although Shikhar Mishra shifted to Delhi with big dreams life was anything but easy in the capital of India. Struggling to establish himself as a serious actor, Mishra finally managed to make people take a second look at his potential with his role as Dheeraj Adhikari in the famous thriller play by Piyush Mishra, San 2025 in the year 2020. The role not only gave space for Shikhar Mishra to establish himself as an actor but also allowed him to explore a different kind of character that was very out of the ordinary. 

Learning a lot from theatre, Shikhar Mishra explains to us how he gets into the head of his character. For him, every character is rooted in a particular city or place and that’s where his journey as the person representing him begins. Packing his bags Mishra heads to the origin place of his character and tries to understand how the character must have lived and struggled or enjoyed his life. Plus, the added benefit of the locals giving him tidbits about the place just helps him fine-tune his role as an actor. Apart from changing his lifestyle to suit the character he represents, he emphasises the importance of being disciplined and delivering the dialogues at the right time to do justice to a character. 

Although the name Shikhar Mishra is synonymous with theatre today, he still shares a deep love and respect for the art of cinema. Having acted in critical films like Main Atal Hu alongside his super senior Pankaj Tripathi, Shikhar Mishra shares how he learnt something new every day by staying on the set of the film even after his part was done for the day. Apart from improving his acting skills, he also learnt about how to manage the camera, set up the frame, and much more. One day he wishes to enact the role of a person in defence as being a former scout he has deep respect and admiration for people in that field.

Despite his cinematic debut, Mishra still feels a 60% pull towards theatre because of its unique feature of getting immediate feedback from the audience. Shikhar Mishra explains how though the audience does impact how he performs a role he does try to act in a way as if no one is watching to ensure that his character gets his due justice. It’s all about the balance according to Mishra. Mishra cites Irrfan Khan, Kumud Mishra, Makarand Deshpande, Sheeba Chaddha, and Moin Akhtar as his inspiration in theatre due to their ability to master both the stage and the reel and deep respect for both the art forms. 

Being ever grateful to his fans, Shikhar Mishra takes some time to answer a few questions by one of his ardent fans, Vivaan Aras and advises him how important it is to understand your own self and emotions and those of character to be able to strike a balance and fill the void and do justice to a role. He also shares some tips about how to be more expressive on stage and recommends joining a dance or martial arts class to free one’s body.

Journey of thetheatrewala

Shikhar Mishra elaborates how the name for thetheatrewala was very random but the vision behind the same was very concrete, which was to help connect people to theatre. In an attempt to help people learn and understand theatre at affordable prices and to dispel any misconceptions around the art form, thetheatrewala was brought into existence. Reviving the Indian theatre teachings of the Natya Shastra and fusing it with Western traditions, thetheatrewala offers a unique blend of art form that is rooted in Indian culture and Indian theatre. To help the corporate world with the power of storytelling and drama, thetheatrewala also provides a space for collaboration.

Shedding light on the humble beginnings of thetheatrewala, Shikhar Mishra explains how hard it was for him and his team to find the right audience for the brand. It was only through social media that his brand finally took off. Leveraging on the “75 HARD Challenge” which was a fitness challenge, Mishra tweaked it and made it for actors by giving them certain tasks to complete in a day and asking them to post a pic of the same. This provided the brand with the momentum it truly deserved.

Message for Dreamers

Keeping it simple, Shikhar Mishra urges dreamers to “Stop procrastinating, stop thinking and start doing”, as according to him it’s only when you do it, do you realise if that’s what you want to do in the long run. He further adds that attending workshops may seem like a waste of money now but in the long run, it’s actually an investment in yourself, so once again you need to start doing it rather than thinking about it.

In the serene calm city of Salem, located in the southernmost state of India, Tamil Nadu, Bala Nivetha’s artistic journey began as a childhood hobby—colour pencils and crayons scattered across her other stationery favourites, doodled pages, and painted canvases. Today, she stands as a multifaceted artist and teacher, known for her expertise in sculpture painting and art, and her ability to transform her passion into a thriving profession.

In an interview with Bala Nivetha, prominently recognised for her nature-esque sculpture paintings, we discuss about the joy of art and craft and the luxury of being able to follow one’s dreams without fears.

A Passion Born Early: Bala Nivetha and the Beginnings of Art

For Bala Nivetha, the allure of arts and crafts started way back in school. As a student, she was always up and about all art competitions and anything artsy. Bala wasn’t just fascinated with art, but also quite excellent at it. The passion continued, and Bala knew she wanted to completely embrace her creative talents. Thus, stepping away from the tech-driven expectations often tied to her generation, she pursued fashion design during her undergraduate and postgraduate years. It was an extension of her passion for arts and crafts. By the time college began, Bala was already selling her artwork. “I started selling my artwork during college and later shifted to teaching online through Facebook and then Instagram,” she explains. This gradual evolution allowed her to lay the groundwork early on.

Experimentation and Growth: Sculpture Paintings, Resin Art, and More

Bala is a mixed-medium artist, playing with several mediums of arts and crafts. “I used to get bored with one medium, so I’d experiment every time I visited a stationery shop,” she recalls. Even as a child, she’d shift from colour pencils to water colours, one from another, as if to quench her thirst for newer ways of creation. As an adult now, she juggles between chalk paint and acrylics to resin and sculpture art, her work reflects a continuous drive to learn and adapt. As a teacher, Bala believes she must remain updated with the newest trends and mediums of art. Her workshops became a platform for exploring new trends and sharing them with her growing audience.

Her signature, however, lies in sculpture art and painting, a highly embossed, 3D art form that has gained popularity in India. “It’s therapeutic and unique,” she says. Sculpture art is almost like a replica – layer by layer – of different objects. Most of Bala’s running themes with her sculpture painting remain nature – particularly floral themes and ponds. Nature, as she says, has been her primary source of inspiration since forever.

As for resin art, Bala comments that it is an easy-to-master art form that doesn’t require much training. However, resin art has environmental concerns tied to it, which makes her hesitant to use this art form much.

How Does Bala Nivetha Navigate Challenges and Creative Blocks?

Despite the joy her craft brings, Bala is not immune to challenges. The digital age has introduced issues like concept theft, with people copying her ideas or reposting her reels without credit. “It’s heartbreaking, but I remind myself that it’s because we’re doing something right,” she says with a tone of resilience.

When creative blocks arise, she turns to Pinterest or revisits basic mediums like doodling to reignite her inspiration. Moreover, other artists on Instagram, from different countries and regions, also serve as a respite and inspiration during creative blocks.

Balancing Passion and Profession

For Bala, art is more than a job—it’s a way of life. “I don’t take breaks. This is my hobby, profession, and passion,” she shares. Bala works seven days a week, without any breaks, and she quite thoroughly enjoys it. The freedom of being a full-time artist allows her to work on her own terms, a privilege she deeply values. After all, Bala’s mantra to life in her words is, “Being successful means being happy, that’s it.”

Bala also emphasizes that success in this field requires persistence, hard work, and patience. Art is a very competitive landscape that continually demands creativity and newness. In this field, standing out is essential.

When asked what she hopes to influence others with her art, she replied with a simple answer: to encourage others to nurture their passions. “Don’t let the little child inside you fade away. Whether it’s drawing, singing, or dancing, connect with your soul and enjoy the process,” she advises.

For beginners, her guidance is simple: “Master one thing before moving on to the next. Experiment and keep learning—it’s a journey, not a one-day job.”

Looking Ahead

Bala has her art studio in Salem, which she plans to transform in a personal gallery in the near future. Although she has no immediate plans for exhibitions, she hopes to conduct her workshops across the globe and not just in India.

In a world of hush and rush, driven by expectations, deadlines, and competition, Bala Nivetha’s journey reminds us of the beauty of persistence, creativity, and the simple joy of doing what we love!

When you reach a certain age everyone starts expecting certain things from you. Society starts expecting you to behave in a certain way. It’s like they forget that you too are a human with your own wishes and fancies. Your age which opened doors for you as you transitioned from a child to an adult becomes your biggest barrier when you go beyond adulthood and enter old age. Even though your body feels fine and your mind is ready to climb the next Everest society tells you that it’s not right and you should take a break. Defying all these silly expectations that society has set for people who are old, Neeru Saini trailblazes her way through it all. And we know it as she shared the same with us in our interview.

Neeru Saini: Early Life

Born in Batala, Punjab, Neeru Saini was a bright young girl. At an early age, she showed tremendous interest in sports and even became a national-level sportsperson as a child. But at the young age of 20, she was married off. And as married life entered the mix, her passion for sports, dance, and fitness took a back seat. She completely devoted herself to raising her family.

For many years after the marriage life was stable and calm with the usual chaos from children. But soon the storm came that uprooted Neeru Saini’s life from the ground. At age 28, her husband was diagnosed with blood cancer. And in four years they had drained up all the family savings but sadly her husband lost the battle to cancer. A housewife with no money in her early thirties and two daughters to take care of life seemed like an endless dark tunnel. Many people may have given up but Neeru Saini didn’t even think about giving up. She believed that there was still more to life and it was not the end for her or her children.

Neeru Saini: Building A Life Again

After the unfateful incident that resulted in the death of her husband, Neeru Saini picked herself up and restarted her life. She began by providing tuition to school kids and studying simultaneously to help her gain a better job. Soon she started working as a full-time teacher in a private school and later in a government school. Through it all she ensured that she never lost faith in herself and ensured that her kids got all that they needed. She even urged her daughters to find their own future even though it may take them far from her. She ensured that her daughters were independent and could blaze through life like she did. Even to this day, she looks back to those times in her life when she started her life from scratch after her husband’s death as the time that really moulded her into the resilient person that she is today.

But even after building herself up, things changed in such a way that she couldn’t help but fall apart once again. She loved others around her so much that when she was left by herself she just couldn’t understand what to do. That’s when she had to find herself. She even considered going for a second marriage but her uncle became her voice of reason and told her to focus on herself if she wanted to get out of her depression and not another person. He suggested her to try meditation and she joined a meditation camp, where she realised that there was so much she could do by herself. 

Gradually she re-connected to her first love, sports and soon dancing followed. And little by little she found bits and pieces of herself that she had lost over the years. Neeru Saini learnt to love herself all over again.

Neeru Saini: Social Media Journey

Soon enough she asked an ex-student of hers, a yoga and dance instructor, to teach her the same. And while dancing her heart out and perfecting her yoga postures she asked her student to record the same and one day with her permission he posted the same on social media, and she realised that she felt good doing it. And that’s how her social media journey began.

As a way to empower women in her area, she formed many a WhatsApp group for different activities, from running to biking to dancing. Initially, she posted her dance videos in the groups to encourage her fellow female friends to express themselves and not hold back. When she started posting on social media like Instagram, and YouTube her goal remained the same, to help other women in India realise that it’s never too late to do what you love.

Rather than following any trendy diet, Neeru Saini focuses on eating clean and organic food and exercising regularly to stay fit. As and when some of her videos started becoming viral, haters followed suit. Initially, it did bother her as many commented on how she should act according to her age and not post such dancing videos on social media. But while meditating she realised if she was actually doing something wrong she shouldn’t feel happy about it or do it at all, there was no point in doing it but not posting it on social media. Hence, she realised that she was not on the wrong side of things.

But being a teacher by profession she couldn’t just tell the haters to shut up, she decided to explain to them her side of the story and as predicted many did understand and sympathised with her and even apologised for their comments. To this day she believes in focusing on herself rather than thinking too much about what others think, keeping her faith in “kill ‘em with kindness” Neeru Saini turns a hater into a follower with her patience and grace. With her goal of influencing more older Indians to be fit and put it out on social media, she hopes to increase the number of older female Indian fitness influencers.

A Message for Young Dreamers

As someone who has been on social media for a long time now, she realises that you need to have a thick skin to truly feel happy about what you put out. She urges the younger generation to think thoroughly about what part of their life they are comfortable showcasing. As that part may be put through a lot of scrutiny and may receive negative backlash. She suggests that they apologise if they are in the wrong but she also suggests that they stand their ground if they know they didn’t do anything wrong. At the end of the day, she suggests to just enjoy their time on social media and be themselves.

Isn’t it always hard to find a balance between what you love and what you have to do for money in the long run? But what if all the stars align and you get to do exactly what you love and earn money out of it too? In the age of social media, everything has become possible. And the story of Khushboo Khanna and Yashraaj Singh and their page @eatthisdelhi proves just that. As Yashraaj Singh was a little under the weather the day of the interview we managed to have a one-on-one chat with Khushboo Khanna instead, let’s explore their story.

@eatthisdelhi: How It All Began? 

Growing up in Prayagraj and then doing a masters in Noida to working as a software analyst channel developer for 2-3 years, Khushboo Khanna never thought that social media would become such an integral part of her life. She initially started the page @eatthisdelhi with her partner Yashraaj Singh as a passion project as they both love to explore the world of food. As devoted foodies, it came rather naturally for them to share their love for food with their audience and help them explore the hidden gems in Delhi.

Initially, they just put forth their love for food without thinking or even knowing anything about influencer marketing or the job profile of an influencer. It all started when they got invited to a small cafe to try out their food. And upon further research, they discovered the limitless opportunities of influencer marketing. They started their page in 2019, but with COVID-19 bringing the world to a standstill it pushed Khushboo Khanna and Yashraaj Singh into the kitchen to inspire people to cook and do more from what they have. They may not be able to travel and explore the hidden gems but they can surely create some gems right at home. 

@eatthisdelhi: Creative Process

Khushboo Khanna describes that whenever they review a place they focus on three things, food, ambience, and service. According to her dining out is an experience in itself. Sure, the food matters, but it’s the ambience and service that just lifts the whole thing to another level. @eatthisdelhi prioritises honesty and transparency with their audience over anything. So according to Khushboo Khanna, she and Yashraaj Singh ensure that to pursue fame they don’t compromise with quality as according to them it would be like cheating your followers, something they are very against. Hence, if they don’t find anything of value at a particular restaurant they avoid recommending the same on their page. 

Travelling is a new aspect of their page which they are still exploring. But after the constant travel during the year 2023, they got quite a hang of things and figured out a way in which they can enjoy and create content at the same time. According to Khushboo Khanna what drives her zeal for her page @eatthisdelhi is the thirst to experience more such wonderful things that she has experienced till now at different places. 

@eatthisdelhi: How It’s Going?

According to Khushboo Khanna, Yashraaj Singh plays an integral role in the day-to-day activities of @eatthisdelhi. It is his creative ingenuity that allows the page to come up with such innovative content that captivates any user in seconds. Whenever they received bad criticism according to Khushboo Khanna it was Yashraaj Singh who would calm her down and remind her that “haters gonna hate, hate, hate, but you just gotta shake, shake, shake, shake it off” (just like Taylor Swift did). He would also come up with witty comments that would silence any hater in seconds according to her. 

Initially, the struggle with keeping up with the ever-changing algorithm and figuring out what the audience likes and doesn’t was a challenge but with time as @eatthisdelhi grew both Khushboo Khanna and Yashraaj Singh got a hang of it. Khusboo Khanna talked to us about the tale of the “rasgulla making video”. She described how initially it didn’t receive any views or engagement because of the change in social media algorithm. But when she deleted and reposted the same video at a later point in time it boosted her page to another level. 

The breakthrough moment for @eatthisdelhi happened when they got to make a video with chef Ajay Chopra for the channel Zee Zest with Prill India. Their particular video cemented their position in the social media food network. Currently, Khushboo Khanna is balancing her work as a freelance interior designer along with her page @eatthisdelhi with her partner Yashraaj Singh. As a recovering workaholic, she is proud to announce that she has finally found the zen balance between her personal and professional life.

Afterword: A Message For Young Artists

Starting on social media, Khusboo Khanna had to figure out everything by herself with only her partner Yashraaj Singh to help her out now and then. Hence she prioritises constantly working on herself to come up with original content ideas. According to her, it’s important to be true to yourself and be patient as you can only sustain in this industry if you are genuinely enjoying the work that you are putting out and are not doing it only for money. 

She also emphasised helping your food community grow along with you. Khusboo Khaana feels blessed to be a part of this industry that allows her not only to explore and share her passion for food but also ensures that other small business owners and street vendors also grow with her and get the recognition that they deserve. She also encourages inculcating the same values in upcoming food, travel and lifestyle content creators.

It takes courage to leave the comforts of a high-paying job (comfort only comes from the security of the monthly salary; otherwise, corporate jobs are far from comfort) and take up art as your full-time profession, beginning from scratch. Vani Vardannagri, the perfect A+ grade student and the most valuable employee said goodbye to her corporate job at an IT firm and relied on her savings to begin her new venture in painting.

In this conversation, Vani Vardannagri shares about this transition, from corporate to colours, Pichwai art, life and the tidbits of courage we all need. “There will always be doubts and challenges,” she says, “but nothing is more rewarding than doing what you love.”

Introducing Vani Vardannagri: Early Life, Academic Journey and Love for Art

Born and raised in Hyderabad, Vani Vardannagri always topped all her classes and papers. Growing up, all she knew was excelling in one’s academics. ‘Extra-curriculars’ was out of her dictionary. She mentions that even the school she graduated from didn’t even have extra-curricular subjects. She graduated with a BTech degree and was soon employed in an IT firm. As an employee, Vaani excelled in all her tasks, which led her to lead projects very quickly. All through this while, as a student, and later as a working adult, Vaani always loved sketching and painting. In her free time, she’d get her paper, colours and paint away. On weekends, she would surf through YouTube tutorials and try on new abstract paintings, sketches and drawings which used to come out beautifully well.

The Transition From Corporate to Full-Time Art

Vani’s friend, who was well-versed in her paintings, suggested she start an Instagram page and post her paintings. The same friend then suggested she start taking online orders through her page. Vani began taking orders and would work on them on weekends. Her paintings were received well online. During this time, Vani realised she couldn’t see herself caught up in the routine mundanity of corporate life.

We all know that being an artist in India comes with a lot of risk. ‘Art’ or ‘Artist’ doesn’t qualify for a career in the eyes of many. They dismiss it as a mere hobby. Of course, the decision to leave the job didn’t come easily. She attended workshops, listened to other artists’ journeys and eventually realized that she needed to pursue something more fulfilling. While not entirely supportive, her parents gave her the freedom to choose her path, leaving the ball in her court.

It took nearly a year of living off her savings before she began earning from her art. It wasn’t after 1.5 years that her Instagram page crossed 1,000 followers. But through it all, Vani’s determination kept her going.

The financial instability that came with leaving her job led to immense stress. Vani fell into bouts of overthinking and anxiety, wondering whether she had made the wrong decision. The stress took a heavy physical toll on her. Her doctor diagnosed her with gastritis and she had to take a break from work for a month to recover.

During this time, Vani turned to regular gym and strength training, which helped her reset both mentally and physically. The workouts brought clarity and balance, and when she returned to art, her focus improved. Soon after this one of her first reels went viral, boosting her online presence.

Pichwai Art: What Form of Art is it and How Did She Get Into This?

While exploring different artists and art on Instagram, Vani came across an artist doing Pichwai painting. She was intrigued by its minute details and intricate designs. Even though she didn’t know anything about the style, she decided to try her hand at it and came to like it a lot. Pichwai art, which originated in Rajasthan, is known for its depictions of different kinds of lotuses and its distinctive leaf shapes, often used in muted tones to reflect classical Indian aesthetics. However, Vani added her twist by incorporating bold colors and contemporary touches. Through this, she found her niche, using Pichwai as a medium to represent her culture while making it uniquely her own. Apart from Pichwai art, Vani does a lot of abstract art. That is her second favourite niche of hers.

Vani Vardannagri on her Creative Processes, Creative Blocks, and Social Media

Vani’s creative process is deeply personal and, in many ways, methodical. She describes it as almost obsessive, with each painting needing to be visualized perfectly in her mind before translating it into a sketch. Unlike many artists who do rough sketches, Vaani skips this step, sticking strictly to her own rules to achieve the level of precision she seeks. This meticulous approach, while rewarding, can sometimes feel overwhelming, as the pressure to get things “just right” is always present.

Social media, particularly Instagram, is a double-edged sword. While it helps her share her work and connect with a broader audience, it has also led to moments of doubt and creative blocks. The constant comparison with other artists and overthinking about her progress often leaves Vaani feeling stuck. To overcome this, Vaani has had to remind herself to focus on her own journey rather than comparing it to others.

Vani Vardannagri’s Message for All Aspiring Artists

For Vani, the journey from corporate life to full-time artist has been anything but easy, but it’s one she’s passionate about. She emphasizes the importance of creating a clear boundary between work and personal life, especially when working from home—something she struggled with early on. Having a dedicated space for your art, even if it’s small, can make a huge difference.

Vani Vardannagri’s advice to aspiring artists is to treat art as a business. In the beginning, there are sacrifices, like the absence of a safety net or fixed monthly income. The hustle is 24/7, and there are no weekends, but she believes once you’re settled, it gets easier. “People will have opinions about your work, but it doesn’t have to matter. Focus on your journey, don’t compare, and be grateful for what you have while striving for more.”