1. Can you tell me about your background and share your journey?
I was born in Mumbai and retired as an effective coordinator and communicator with 39 years of experience as a Manager of Corporate Communications at ICICI Bank (retired 2012). I was invited back by my bank as a consultant for a year after retirement to archive history and create an in-house museum product for the bank, since its inception in 1954. I finished my schooling at JB Petit High School and acquired a Diploma in Secretarial Sciences thereafter. At the age of 48, while working at the bank, my love for entertainment led me to acquire an event management diploma from NIEM, Mumbai, to fulfill my dream. Thereon I took a certificate in voiceover & dubbing from Sugar Mediaz, Mumbai.
Today I am an author, podcaster, interviewer, actor, dubbing actor & filmmaker, freelance consultant, soft skills trainer, capable in people management, with excellent proofreading and editing skills (especially annual reports). I am the author of five books – two nonfiction (Young & sixty and Reboot Life), two fiction (Twisted Tales and More and Tales of Friendship (age 6+)), and a poem book (The Poet in Me). I have contributed two Hindi poems to an anthology “Andaz-e-Bayaan’. All the books are available online. I actively support the cause of Dementia & Alzheimer's and have also contributed a chapter in the first exclusive one-of-a-kind book in India on Dementia, titled, "Remember Me-You, Me and Dementia" written by Sailesh Mishra. I also edited, researched, and co-wrote a book on Switzerland for a friend. In the past, I have also authored, created, and designed a handbook for women entrepreneurs for a Women Entrepreneur Enclave event held in March 2018. I have freelanced from home, taking interviews and writing profiles of local heroes/celebrities for Times of India in their local editions of Lokhandwala, Kandivali, Mira Road, etc., and for a locally circulated paper, Planet Juhu (distribution: Juhu-Oshiwara-Versova belt) (planetjuhu.blogspot.com) until they shut down the editions.
I was awarded the Karmaveer Chakra - Bronze and Rex Karmaveer Global fellowship instituted by iCongo in partnership with the UN in 2018-19, which is an inclusive and one-of-its-kind fellowship where people are chosen based on their integrity and capability to create a positive attitudinal transformation in our society as champions of change. I have been featured on TV and the senior channel of Tata Sky and have been interviewed many times for my work, inspiring others and living a fulfilling fruitful life as a senior. I have been recognized by www.womensweb.in on World Senior Citizen Day 2020, as one of the "7 inspiring older Instagram influencers who prove that age is just a number, to follow your passion and influence people".
In December 2022, I conducted a soft skills workshop for 26 young minds at e-Mudra, Bangalore. I have mentored Fellow Designates of the Yes Foundation Media for Social Change Fellowship on 'communication skills and content writing' in the years 2016, 2017, and 2018. I have also worked single-handedly on a project titled, "Voice Industry Blogs" for top voice artist, Darrpan Mehta’s Sugar Mediaz website. The project involved preparing interview questions, interviewing top industry people, transcriptions, and writing blogs on various topics concerning the industry. I continue to be part of the core team of Sugar Mediaz's "India Voice Fest", India's first & only conference and awards event dedicated to the Indian Voice Industry and craft of voice acting, initiated in 2018. As a volunteer of the Talent Training Ekjute Theatre group, I assisted in their events and theatre workshops for children in 2018-19.
I have written, directed, and filmed two social cause films one on dementia and one on child education (both available on Youtube). My directorial entry "The Selfless Soldier" on Sailesh Mishra of Silver Innings, at the YES Foundation's YIAC 101-Hour Social Filmmaking Challenge 3-minute short film on social causes in September 2016 was ranked amongst the top 10 films. I have acted in several short films and my short film #TheBlueHelmet which has garnered over 1 million views was featured in 2023 on Hotstar Disney and continues to be showcased on YouTube. I also received the Critics Award for Best Actress at the Acharya Tulsi Short Film Festival 2018 for this short film for playing the main protagonist.
I have been the host and have been scripting the UMANG, (a show for the 50+ seniors that provide them with a platform to display their talents) for Silver Innings, Mumbai, since 2018 till date. In the past, I have curated and hosted Maharashtra Day celebration events for an audience of over 1000 residents of Lokhandwala Complex for many years. I have been a part of the core team member - stage management, event flow in-charge, and co-host of #BeHappy free streets (2017-2018), a community togetherness initiative at Lokhandwala Complex, Andmyi West, wherein residents took over the streets from 7am to 10 am on every third Sunday of the month. I am a Founder Member and Hon. Secretary of “Arunima”, a women’s forum created to interact, support social causes and create awareness on various issues. I am a staunch supporter of the cause of Dementia & Alzheimer's and women-child empowerment.
Connecting with people especially those achieving new boundaries has always fascinated me. My love for sharing my experiences, talking to people, and learning from them led me to start my own podcast titled #crossleggedwithhiramehta. In Season 1, I spoke on life values and shared my thoughts, and Season 2 kicked off during the pandemic, I went live on Instagram every week, with a show called “Gupshup Diaries - conversations with people from all walks of Life”, and interviewed 180+ people and edited some of those conversations into podcasts. My love for inspiring and motivating others is reflected in Season 3 which is called “Rewire Life in one and a half minutes with Hira Mehta”. Each episode is a positive vibe and thought-provoking on how best to tackle life’s values keeping in mind that all are busy, with a million things to do, I have kept the podcasts to a short and interesting 2 minutes.
Today, as a senior, I believe in constantly continuing to learn from people from all walks of life (especially from other successful women and those in the creative field). My love for the entertainment industry continues with hosting events, interviewing people, acting in short films, and studio hopping. Writing and re-cycle craft are my passions.
A proven mad Parsi, as I call myself, I am married to a Gujarati, have two kids, and am proud to have fulfilled my son’s dream to become a pilot. My husband has since retired and I have two children and three grandchildren.
2. What inspired the change from the corporate world to the creative world? Among your various roles, which one resonates with you the most personally?
After 39 years of working in a corporation and a few jobs for a year thereafter, I decided that having given my all to a 9-5 job, necessary for fulfilling my family obligations, and my son’s dream to be a pilot, it was time for me to do what would make me happy. There is no doubt that I loved my job and would have loved to continue working, but I realized that in the corporate world today, there is really not much space that seniors can fill in after retirement. Thankfully, even with those responsibilities, along with my job I had managed to keep my dream and passion to work in the entertainment field intact and going in small ways. I love to talk and make friends, so social media became my best friend. That is where I continue to get connected with people I admire and it leads me to new avenues and opportunities in the creative world. I have written five books, with the sixth one on the way, directed and written three social cause short films of my own, acted in short films for friends with over eight films to my credit, given several interviews and even taken interviews and more. I have recently started my stint of dubbing for films and am truly enjoying it. My Podcast titled “Rewire Life in 1 ½ mins with Hira” on Hubbhopper.com, Jio Savan, and Spotify, is one thing of the things that makes me truly happy these days because I not only write my own episodes but voice them too. I just completed 100 episodes of Season 3 of my podcast and whether the listener agrees or disagrees with my thoughts, the messages you will find within the thoughts, hopefully, will get them thinking enough to relook at whatever comes their way and handle it better. I just believe that if one heart is touched or learns something by listening to my podcast, for me it is definitely, better than a million+ followers.
3. How does the process of writing differ from the experience of speaking in public for you?
I see no difference between writing and public speaking when it comes to using words. Words either written or spoken carry power. One wrong word, or misinterpreted word, can change the meaning of an entire sentence for the other person. We really cannot control the way people interpret what we say, but words can make or break the point you may be trying to make. For me, writing is a must daily, and afternoons are always spent either writing on the laptop or on the Whatsapp page of my own. As an author, I believe one must pay a great deal of attention to detail, researching revising, and editing, because we owe it to the reader. When speaking in public or otherwise, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is to speak straight from the heart. I have realized, that when I am genuine about what I am saying, people listen and don't judge me. I would like to believe that my honesty, excitement, and positivity compel others to support and pay attention to me. Everyone is impulsive when it comes to talking, even me, yet speaking should definitely be about using words correctly, and carefully and making sure the timing is right.
4. As someone who dons so many hats, how do achieve the work-life balance?
I just believe in going with the flow of life and grabbing every opportunity that comes my way. If there is something I want to do, or somewhere I want to be, I never hesitate to reach out to my friends. Believe me, my love and passion for going on the sets of dance reality shows has been ongoing for years, all because I ask. I do not believe in 'when the going gets tough' because everything in life is tough. I believe that God clearly says to me that I have charted my life and the end of the road leads straight to me, but he has never said I can't choose my path or take a new road to change my destiny. It is my rat race and I run it my way because I would have otherwise ended up settling for something far less than what I could truly capable of and I really do not have to prove anything to anyone but myself.
5. Can you share some key soft skills that you believe are crucial in today's personal and professional landscape?
Today, people are so hesitant to approach another. Asking others for help is such a crucial skill today. According to me, what worst can happen but a No. Seeking help is not cowardice, but it should be about making sense, knowing when to ignore it, when to listen to it, and when to do something about it.
Another skill that we must develop is learning to take feedback. The fact is that we are never ready to accept feedback, constructive or otherwise. Feedback helps you push past those uncertain feelings and propels you to face difficult situations with the wisdom shared by others. Yet, we tend to recoil at the inkling of something that doesn't resemble a compliment or a thing we do not want to hear. Most of us try to avoid responding to someone dear for fear of offending others because not everyone is okay with it. Honest feedback is always difficult to accept, so only when you can listen, and react without getting annoyed or losing confidence in yourself whenever you are given feedback ask for it.
Do not believe in regret. Take the learning and always remember that it was probably the right decision you took at that time, given the circumstances.
Last but not least to understand that expectations are plenty, from family, friends, and society, but it is okay to be selfish sometimes and keep the me in you always alive.
6. Could you share the inspiration behind your books?
My late Mom and my hero loved reading quotes and had this passion for writing down quotes that touched her in a notebook, which I still have. Perhaps that is why I find myself not just writing books, but even quotes of my own on my Insta page keeping me happy and positive about everything that comes my way. My Mom's untimely death taught me a lesson of life that all of us have this one time on this earth and to make the best of it. Friends inspired me to write my first non-fiction book ‘Young and Sixty’, egging me on saying that I needed to share my zest and experience of living life as a senior, with other seniors, like me. Reboot Life, happened during the social distancing days of the pandemic times, when I realized that all of us needed to revisit and re-look at so many aspects of our life.
7. What is a book you love and would recommend our readers to give it a try?
Goes without saying, I would recommend my books to the readers. Why, because "Young And Sixty" is a non-fiction book written in a conversational style packed with inspiring insights and tips about living life as a senior, because we all grow old. I promise that before you have finished the book, you will realize that, you have already begun to find the courage to discard the guilt and the mental and physical obstacles that stop you from celebrating life NOW.
Or perhaps you could read "Reboot Life" another non-fiction book of mine that will challenge you to wake up and discover your true self, take life with a pinch of salt, channel your competitive spirit and fears, create mindful relationships, laugh more, and explore many more simple facets of life taken for granted. It is said that life is a literal reflection of the choices one makes. The book will push you to take chances and make choices to live your life wholeheartedly.
Like reading short stories then, “Twisted Tales And More" is for you. If you enjoy strange incidents, unexplained events, and violent deeds, browse through this book's pages. I am not telling you here who did it or how.
Pick up any of my five books and I promise you will enjoy reading them.
8. What is your life mantra and what message would you like to give our readers?
My life’s mantra is a quote by Erma Bombeck that goes, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.
To you, I say, close the doors you need to, but always keep the window partially open for an opportunity to. Free that dream tucked away in the corner of your heart. Don’t stress and waste the best years of your life stuck doing something you do not love, because it is allowing you a great lifestyle. Being unhappy is a downward path to self-destruction. Quitting or letting go of that elusive goal is alright and so long as you have tried enough, it is not defeat, but always a wise happy decision made for the better.
I love to motivate and applaud people so to get motivated, please follow me on my Insta page and listen to my podcast.
Interviewed By- Shreya
Edited By- Pragya Lamba
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