I try to watch the content that I create from the lens of the viewer. This makes me look at my own creation objectively and helps me stay motivated as I myself get the pulse of the audience and am able to innovate and bring in freshness to the content
Tell us more about your background and journey.
I started my career as an assistant director at a very young age, I was 21 years old. Thanks to my father, Imtiaz Hussein the writer of Parinda, Vaastav, Gulam-e-Mustafa, Iss Raat ki subah nahin among other films, I always knew that I wanted to be a part of the film industry.
After assisting on various TV shows for almost 2 years I gained enough confidence to start looking for work as an independent director. With the grace of God and the blessing of my well-wishers, I was able to break out quite quickly. After successfully directing TV shows for all major networks for a few years I got my first chance to direct a movie, in 2005 which I also wrote. It is titled "Kaisay Kahein' and was produced by Mrs Smita Thackrey, it was released in 2007.
I continued to direct TV shows till 2015, I associated with all some very successful shows during this time and my career was going pretty well, with back to back shows with some of the biggest producers of television. In 2015 I along with my wife Ms.Chhavi Mittal took a bold step and we started our own digital production company, Workshop Inc. This was the inception of Shitty Ideas Trending popularly known as SIT a YouTube channel and Facebook Page. Though I knew nothing about how the digital content industry works, how it gets monetized etc, we took the plunge and the rest is what followed.
Today we have built a strong community of over 7 Million users in a form of subscribers and followers who are invested in the content that we produce. The love and admiration that we receive are highly gratifying.
What inspires and motivates you to keep coming up with new content?
I try to watch the content that I create from the lens of the viewer. This makes me look at my own creation objectively and helps me stay motivated as I myself get the pulse of the audience and am able to innovate and bring in freshness to the content. And for inspiration I just look around, SIT content is a slice of life and life exists all around us, all one needs to do is look at it from a different lens.
Could you recall your experience directing 'kaisay kahein'? What all challenges you had to face?
Kaisay Kahein has been one of my biggest and most gratifying experiences in so many ways. It gave a fresh perspective to my career and life. I was only 28 years old when I signed the film. Though I had experience directing television shows, I was a total newcomer when it came to films.
What inspires and motivates you to keep coming up with new content?
I try to watch the content that I create from the lens of the viewer. This makes me look at my own creation objectively and helps me stay motivated as I myself get the pulse of the audience and am able to innovate and bring in freshness to the content. And for inspiration I just look around, SIT content is a slice of life and life exists all around us, all one needs to do is look at it from a different lens.
Could you recall your experience directing 'kaisay kahein'? What all challenges you had to face?
Kaisay Kahein has been one of my biggest and most gratifying experiences in so many ways. It gave a fresh perspective to my career and life. I was only 28 years old when I signed the film. Though I had experience directing television shows, I was a total newcomer when it came to films.
To shoot something on film was my childhood desire and I was able to fulfil that at a young age. I got the opportunity to interact and collaborate with some outstanding talent of the film industry including Pritam (Music composer), Irshad Kamil (lyricist), Sonu Nigam amongst others. So I am very grateful to Smita Thackrey who stood by me through this journey.
Tell our readers more about SIT and BeSafe?
SIT is a relatable and a slice of life take on everyday events in every couples' life. The narrative is funny with a touch of emotions and drama. What makes it unique is the fact that everyone who is watching the content feels a part of the story-telling. BeSafe on the other hand is designed to be an edutainment channel.
Tell our readers more about SIT and BeSafe?
SIT is a relatable and a slice of life take on everyday events in every couples' life. The narrative is funny with a touch of emotions and drama. What makes it unique is the fact that everyone who is watching the content feels a part of the story-telling. BeSafe on the other hand is designed to be an edutainment channel.
In today's digital era where everything is connected to the internet, how safe are we. With BeSafe, what I am trying to achieve is to educate the viewers about the various threats and dangers that we are susceptible to & fall prey to while being online but do not comprehend.
Which is your favourite book and why?
For a father of 2, I think universally all the favourite books are children's books as those are the only ones I get to read.
Tell us about your upcoming projects. Where do you imagine yourself 10 years down the line?
So SIT and BeSafe is both pretty established now, the next step is to scale and try to create a bigger ecosystem and produce more content, tell newer stories, dabble with other formats etc. I don't plan too much in advance, I believe in the power of the greater being, I keep putting in my efforts and leave the results to fate. Jo Hota Hai Acche Ke Liye Hota Hai.
Which is your favourite book and why?
For a father of 2, I think universally all the favourite books are children's books as those are the only ones I get to read.
Tell us about your upcoming projects. Where do you imagine yourself 10 years down the line?
So SIT and BeSafe is both pretty established now, the next step is to scale and try to create a bigger ecosystem and produce more content, tell newer stories, dabble with other formats etc. I don't plan too much in advance, I believe in the power of the greater being, I keep putting in my efforts and leave the results to fate. Jo Hota Hai Acche Ke Liye Hota Hai.
Interviewed by - Ashwarya Jha
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