Exclusive: “Don’t Do It For Fame”: Ruhee Dosani Shares Tips For Budding Content Creators
We know where she gets her inspo from too!
If there’s one thing that will be the end of all of us, it’s the doom-scrolling on Instagram. The reels really have us hooked on our phones as we endlessly scroll through content and share it with our friends, be it a cute cat video or a meme or just something relatable. But not many of us see those on the other side of the camera, I’m talking about the content creators y’all. Without the content creators flooding our feeds with content, we wouldn’t have anything to scroll through. And Covid-19 gave the platform to many creators to build their profiles and gain fame in the booming influencer market. We sat down with one such influencer, Ruhee Dosani (who is also making her debut at Cannes 2023, BTW), for a fun chat.
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The US-based Indian content creator rose to fame after one of her many (amazing) videos was shared by our ultimate favourite Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh. Ruhee Dosani opened up about fangirling over Diljit (we totally had a fangirling moment just talking about him), her content creation journey, collaborating with A-listers and how she maintains her mental health among other things. And guess what? She also shared some tips for budding influencers.
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Q. How Has Fame Changes You?
Ruhee Dosani: My God, a lot. I like to buy expensive things (laughs). I’m just kidding. I feel it has definitely changed me but not in a negative way. If it does then, I do have people around me to remind me to chill out. They remind me like – “You’re not doing anything if we know you. You’re just doing this, you just started doing this. If you’re making people don’t think that you’re doing such a big thing.” They keep me on my toes and the people I’m talking about are like my family, my mom, my friends and my team. So, I feel like it has put things in perspective that yes, we do this for validation. And if people say that we don’t then it’s BS.
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Also Read: Ruhee Dosani And Her ‘We Desi’ Friends Are Reel-ing Indians In With Their Hilarious Dance Videos On Instagram!
When I meet people outside and they come and say certain things like “you make my day” or “I remember you from 2020”, these things make me happy and they motivate me. If I’m having a low day, I feel like I should keep doing what I’m doing. I’m a people person so, I’m always excited to see people’s reactions. My ears and eyes are everywhere even if I’m ignoring certain things, if I’m waiting for something to happen.
For example, if I see a group of people talking about me or if I hear them or my friends hear them, I see if they’re making a move and if not, I only go and talk to them. So, I value everything. Fame ke wajah se log udte hain and vo aa gaya na toh then you’re just gonna go down the hill. So, just always be on your toes, do what you’re doing not just for fame but also if you like it genuinely because if you do it for the fame then you’re not going to go anywhere. People don’t connect to those who do things for fame.
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Q. Covid inspired your journey in the content creation industry. Was this how you coped with the situation? How did content creation at a tough time like that affect your mental health?
Ruhee Dosani: When I started it, it wasn’t my goal. I didn’t know content creation was a proper job, TBH. I used to make videos pehele se and then Meta #MadeOnReels happened. I was one of the few people who started posting from the beginning. I was making videos earlier because I enjoyed shooting and making videos with my friends. I was away from home and that was like a way for me to connect with India by listening to Indian music and doing Indian dance and making videos.
So, I started doing it without thinking about all of that but I feel like it helped me a lot. It changed my lockdown completely. I think it was one of my best years. It’s so sad that some people had a really tough time but for me, it was a life-changing moment. So, it definitely helped me cope in a very good way. I was happy, I was like – lockdown? Yeah, let’s stay home, let’s make more reels. Also because I was in the US and it wasn’t that bad. I enjoyed my lockdown and I wish thoda extend ho jaata because we got so comfortable. TBH, I can’t even remember life on social media before Covid-19. I don’t know if I was watching anything or if I was on it. It feels like reset ho gaya hai brain ka.
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Q. You make some funny and relatable content. Where do you get inspiration from?
Ruhee Dosani: By watching people, talking to my friends and ideas pop up. TBH, I don’t sit and think. I do have those days when I’m like – chalo rakhte hain meeting and let’s sit and talk and think about content but nothing happens. And then when I’m driving or chilling with my friends and something happens, I observe very nicely and I think every creator does. TBH, nowadays everybody is looking for that one thing that is relatable, you know.
For me, my niche is nostalgic music, old 80s music and jingles. So, it’s very easy for me to connect with that age group and that audience. I feel like by just observing people is how I get my inspiration, it’s the easiest thing. Or else then, you just have to keep scrolling trends and I feel like if you’re doing a trend you have to put an organic touch to it. So, it’s more relatable instead of just copying a following trend or just start a new trend.
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Also Read: Exclusive: Kajal Aggarwal’s Couple’s Beauty Ritual Involves Pinning Hubby Gautam Down To Do His Skincare!
Q. From being a newbie influencer to getting noticed by Diljit Dosanjh and meeting A-listers from Bollywood. Your journey has been a roller coaster. What kept you going during the tough time? Tell us something about your journey that no one knows.
Ruhee Dosani: I feel like Diljit Dosanjh is the only person I would fangirl over. But yeah, I go through my gallery and I feel look at things and think, yeh kar liya, inse bhi mil liya. I feel like everything happened in a very short span of time and I didn’t even have the time to process it all. When I went back to the US after doing everything that I did here, I would go through my gallery and I was like – what did I do in the past 2 months in 2022? I did my first collab with Aamir Khan and my journey started when Diljit shared my video on his profile. And the excitement and the love I got from people was what kept me going, till now.
I do have my days, a lot of negative days. I mean, it’s a job. I am someone who likes to be better and improve in anything and everything I do. So, it gets to you but I sit and deal with it. I take my time and then I go through my profile and I stop myself and tell myself that I can do better than this. I think that’s what keeps me going and, of course, the love from people and the little things they do. People who write me notes on tissue when we’re at a restaurant or things like that. These little things count when I’m struggling or have a creative block. And it reminds me to get my shit together and focus on what I like and why I started doing this.
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Q. You’ve been making a lot of reels with celebs. Does that really help with the content? What make you want to introduce celebs to your reel content?
Ruhee Dosani: I feel like it definitely does. Yes, because they also have a proper fan club. I feel the content has changed, everything has changed including people. Actors are collaborating with influencers and it does help with views because they have their own audience. But again, you have to be creative with what you do. There are a lot of restrictions and everything too but it’s understandable because if I’m collaborating with someone I would want to put my touch to it and theirs too. So, yes, it did help me a lot in growing my page. My followers keep asking ab kaun aa raha hai next, who’s the next person? But it is important to keep putting your organic content as well.
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Q. You’ve spoken about how your work is often stressful. How do you deal with the dress and maintain your mental health and work-life balance?
Ruhee Dosani: take some time off if I’m having a rough time. I have fun with my friends and my family and do a reboot. Because I have a proper schedule, I’m not someone who likes to pile up my negative emotions. I deal with it, I rest and I give myself that time for peace and then I restart. I don’t like making content for the sake of it. I started doing content creation because I enjoy it and I’ll keep enjoying it. But if I’m having a rough time, I hit the mall with my friends or just sit and binge on something all day or sleep. I think sleep is the best solution for everything.
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Q. These days the Instagram phenomenon can make or break things including newly released songs and films. All industries are now turning to influencers to promote them including the entertainment industry. Do you think influencers reviewing and promoting films actually work with the audience?
Ruhee Dosani: I feel like if you have a community that follows you and you genuinely are reviewing a film or a song and not for the sake of it. Like if you actually like it or you’re giving an honest opinion, it definitely works, it definitely works because that’s how you reach out to people, right? Everybody is on Instagram nowadays. So, it’s the best and easiest way to connect with people and I feel like they should continue doing it. I am on Instagram and sometimes I watch something or a nice interview or something and I’m like let’s go for this movie. So, if it’s working for me, hopefully, it should work for others too. But TBH, it works for certain people and it doesn’t work for certain people but it is a great market to promote anything.
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Also Read: Exclusive: “Expecting Same Pay As The Hero Is Not Possible”: Nushrratt Bharuccha On Pay Disparity In Bollywood
Q. What’s your advice to budding content creators and influencers?
Ruhee Dosani: I give my 100% to whatever I put up. So, I think do it not for the engagement but because you’re having fun. Try to make it relatable. Don’t run for the numbers. Try doing different things and see what works for you and then focus on that specific niche. Be consistent and do not quit. Don’t look out for competition, just focus on yourself, be yourself and do what you have to do, that’s about it.
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FYI, Ruhee Dosani is now a part of #MadeOnReels by Meta which is a program designed by the platform to help brands tap into the potential of Instagram reels with the help of creators across India.
