I am proud of every little thing that has gone into making me a part of our brand little by little, day by day. Adding Jagat Nikhar - our lifestyle brand - to Jagat Collection was a very big moment for me.
The love that my content has received on social media is something that gives me confidence every day and I strive to put out real content that does not only make me happy but hopefully adds something to someone else’s day as well.
1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
Having been born and brought up in Rajasthan, my identity and perspective are strongly centered within its ethos, tradition, and culture. I was born and brought up in Udaipur and am currently based here as well. I was sent to a boarding school - Mayo College, Ajmer - at a young age and that has definitely shaped a lot of my personality. I got exposure to a lot of activities ranging from art to academics to sports and got a chance to partake in multiple leadership roles.
For most, an alma mater is where one truly lays the foundation of the extension of themselves that one becomes over time. I, on the other hand, was never really keen on being just a singular version of myself and have always wanted to constantly try out different fields and explore all that the world has to offer. After getting a degree in Philosophy, I moved back to Udaipur to take up my role in our family’s business which is part of the hospitality industry.
Being a little impatient in the beginning probably helped me to try and branch out to newer avenues generating from our umbrella brand - Jagat Collection, which has boutique heritage hotels under it along with a lifestyle store and luxury boats.
2. What project or design elements in your career are you most proud of?
I am proud of every little thing that has gone into making me a part of our brand little by little, day by day. Adding Jagat Nikhar - our lifestyle brand - to Jagat Collection was a very big moment for me.
The love that my content has received on social media is something that gives me confidence every day and I strive to put out real content that does not only make me happy but hopefully adds something to someone else’s day as well.
Honestly, I’m just grateful for everything. It is also important to give a mention to the not-so-proud moments because that is how you grow and how you learn to march on.
3. Are there any new, innovative designs you’re working on now?
There are a few additions that I plan on making to my profile as a content creator and a designer. But obviously, we are all seeing very tough times at the moment and the world has come to a standstill in its effort to fight the pandemic. In the meanwhile, I am grateful to still be able to productively use my time at home to try and learn new skill sets. I am currently learning graphic design online as well.
4. You create content for high-end travel, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Can you tell us more about this passionate side of you?
Well, it started off with my love for putting pictures up on platforms like Facebook and then it slowly evolved into a more creative side with the advent of Instagram. I started receiving a lot of love on a lot of my personal images as well and that turned into brands reaching out to me.
From there on, I gave it my best efforts and have managed to slowly build a page that has a dedicated and niche following. Today, I am very grateful to have worked with some of the top international brands and brilliant designers whom I always admired a lot.
5. What got you into Public Relations?
I feel it was a natural step into the field of PR when I joined the business and ideation, especially, related to promotional activities and marketing was my niche. I enjoyed that and since the beginning, I had a very strong sense of where I wanted our business to be positioned and with what I wanted to align it with. From there, I took it as it came and turned what I could into an opportunity.
6. Who and what inspires you to keep creating and exploring?
I feel reinvigorated when I travel; so, I guess that is something that really inspires me to create content. I feel some of my most heartfelt work comes out when I travel and I guess it also shows on my profile as a lot of my work is travel-related. I have always loved documenting my life because I honestly feel that these are memories that I want to look back at. I explore to create and create to explore.
7. How do you manage to strike a balance between your professional and personal life?
I think I try and approach both with the same levels of genuineness, fairness, and compassion. Once you try to make that a part of your outlook, I think a balance is already struck.
A content creator by passion and hotelier-designer by profession, Akshayraj has now been a part of the umbrella brand of Jagat Collection for the last five years. Having completed his college with a major in Philosophy from New Delhi, he moved to his hometown to carry forward the family business; from where his association with hospitality and content-writing led him to venture out into content creation and designing.
After starting his own label and opening a boutique, he is now strongly involved in the field of public relations and creating content for high-end travel, fashion, and lifestyle brands alongside managing the heritage hotels.
Interviewed By: Farhana Khatoon
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