"Creating content isn’t just writing jokes—it’s digging into emotions, fears, memories, even pain."
I’ve never had a straight path. Honestly, I was just trying to figure out life the way everyone around me expected me to. First, I did BBA because I wanted to help my dad grow his business, maybe do an MBA too. But after graduation, I realized—I didn’t know a thing about business.
I didn’t want to waste two more years doing something that didn’t excite me. I tried singing professionally for a while because my father believed in my voice. Then I went to Rishikesh to become a yoga teacher, did free classes, enrolled in courses, but I still didn’t feel fulfilled.
Vastu came in next—mainly because I wanted to escape for three days and stay in a 5-star hotel. But it gave me a moment - for the first time ever, I admitted to someone that I wanted to become an actor. Her reaction wasn’t judgmental, and that moment cracked something open in me. Then I did numerology professionally, and even though I started earning well, I was coming on Aaj Tak for all the astro talks but still it wasn’t something I could see myself doing forever.
I tried so many things—some I liked, some I didn’t, but none of them felt like me. The only time I truly felt alive was when I was in front of a camera. Whether it was shooting videos with YouTubers for free, being on long exhausting sets without food but still I felt like I belonged. That whisper that kept telling me, “You’re meant to perform” became too loud to ignore. That’s when I knew—it wasn’t just a phase. This was it.
Q. After a major financial and emotional setback, what inner dialogue or belief system helped you trust your voice again and start over?
In 2019, I took a leap and partnered with a YouTuber, investing my parents’ money—over 20 lakhs—to create something I thought would work. We made videos, poured our heart into them, but none of them worked. It failed—completely. I felt like the biggest failure. I was shattered, heartbroken, and depressed. I remember sitting alone in a park at 2 a.m., feeling like life had no meaning, wondering if there was even a way forward.
But even in that darkness, something inside me whispered: “Start your own channel.” I was like, No way, I don’t even want to be a YouTuber. I want to act. But that whisper didn’t stop. When I told my father, he said, “Start it. What’s the worst that can happen? It’s not a shop you’ll need to shut down.” My parents stood by me, and with my sister Tena, we launched The Paayal Jain in August 2020.
There was fear. But there was also this crazy belief in myself. Somewhere deep down, I knew—I was meant for more.
Vastu came in next—mainly because I wanted to escape for three days and stay in a 5-star hotel. But it gave me a moment - for the first time ever, I admitted to someone that I wanted to become an actor. Her reaction wasn’t judgmental, and that moment cracked something open in me. Then I did numerology professionally, and even though I started earning well, I was coming on Aaj Tak for all the astro talks but still it wasn’t something I could see myself doing forever.
I tried so many things—some I liked, some I didn’t, but none of them felt like me. The only time I truly felt alive was when I was in front of a camera. Whether it was shooting videos with YouTubers for free, being on long exhausting sets without food but still I felt like I belonged. That whisper that kept telling me, “You’re meant to perform” became too loud to ignore. That’s when I knew—it wasn’t just a phase. This was it.
Q. After a major financial and emotional setback, what inner dialogue or belief system helped you trust your voice again and start over?
In 2019, I took a leap and partnered with a YouTuber, investing my parents’ money—over 20 lakhs—to create something I thought would work. We made videos, poured our heart into them, but none of them worked. It failed—completely. I felt like the biggest failure. I was shattered, heartbroken, and depressed. I remember sitting alone in a park at 2 a.m., feeling like life had no meaning, wondering if there was even a way forward.
But even in that darkness, something inside me whispered: “Start your own channel.” I was like, No way, I don’t even want to be a YouTuber. I want to act. But that whisper didn’t stop. When I told my father, he said, “Start it. What’s the worst that can happen? It’s not a shop you’ll need to shut down.” My parents stood by me, and with my sister Tena, we launched The Paayal Jain in August 2020.
There was fear. But there was also this crazy belief in myself. Somewhere deep down, I knew—I was meant for more.
Q. Your content often reflects middle-class Indian life with warmth and humor. How do you preserve authenticity while scaling for a mass audience?
All of these trial and errors , my experiences I pour into my content . I have always been very very observant in life , it’s not something I taught myself but I have been born with it . I never thought this can ever become a power for me . People watch our videos and they say your observation is crazy , it’s like you have cameras in my house .
I’ve either lived or seen those moments of saving, adjusting, dealing with relatives’ opinions, and managing emotions in small spaces. It’s all real. The aunties, the nosy neighbors, the loving sometimes annoying parents, the school stories—I’ve lived all of it. That’s what I bring to the content.
Even now, when I sit down to write or act, I pull from those lived experiences. All the ideas just keep flowing in my head , it’s like something spiritual helped me write the script. I think that’s why people connect.
Even now, when I sit down to write or act, I pull from those lived experiences. All the ideas just keep flowing in my head , it’s like something spiritual helped me write the script. I think that’s why people connect.
Because when we show Savitri, our very famous character of Mom, or Chinky-Chintu, or school exams, thousands of other characters, people don’t just laugh—they see themselves. We’ve always made it a rule to never copy, never chase trends, and never make content just for views. We create from our truth. That’s what keeps us grounded.
Q. In an industry driven by virality and trends, how do you stay rooted in your core values without compromising creative integrity?
Right from day one, we set our boundaries. No trending content, no copying, and no compromising on who we are. In fact, when we started, people told us our videos weren’t working because we weren’t following trends. But we stuck to our values. We believed—if it comes from the heart, it will reach the heart.
Our first video that went viral, “Every Girl’s School Ever,” was made with no expectations, just pure love and storytelling. Then came “Exam Days in India,” and it became a turning point. We had just gone through the worst—our parents had COVID, dad was hospitalized—and editing the video during that time was the hardest thing. But we pushed through. And it was our first sponsored video too, which made it even more special.
Even today, when we make content, it’s about what we believe in, not what’s trending. We don’t want virality if it means losing our voice.
Q. In an industry driven by virality and trends, how do you stay rooted in your core values without compromising creative integrity?
Right from day one, we set our boundaries. No trending content, no copying, and no compromising on who we are. In fact, when we started, people told us our videos weren’t working because we weren’t following trends. But we stuck to our values. We believed—if it comes from the heart, it will reach the heart.
Our first video that went viral, “Every Girl’s School Ever,” was made with no expectations, just pure love and storytelling. Then came “Exam Days in India,” and it became a turning point. We had just gone through the worst—our parents had COVID, dad was hospitalized—and editing the video during that time was the hardest thing. But we pushed through. And it was our first sponsored video too, which made it even more special.
Even today, when we make content, it’s about what we believe in, not what’s trending. We don’t want virality if it means losing our voice.
Q. What role does emotional vulnerability play in your creative process, especially when crafting characters that are both humorous and deeply relatable?
Vulnerability is everything for me. There were so many times I cried before shoots, or sat in the washroom overwhelmed. Creating content isn’t just writing jokes—it’s digging into emotions, fears, memories, even pain. Our characters work because they’re real. Savitri Mom exists in every Indian home. The school girl who fears exams, the daughter fighting to be heard, the girl crying after a breakup—I’ve been all of them.
When I bring them to life, it’s not acting—it’s reliving. And I think people feel that. They don’t just laugh with us—they cry, relate, and heal. And that’s the biggest reward.
When I bring them to life, it’s not acting—it’s reliving. And I think people feel that. They don’t just laugh with us—they cry, relate, and heal. And that’s the biggest reward.
Q. Looking back, what would you tell the version of yourself sitting in that park at midnight—torn, uncertain, and on the verge of becoming Paayal Jain?
I would sit beside her, hug her tight, and say—“You’re not lost, you’re just being redirected.” I’d tell her, “I know you’re tired. I know you feel like giving up. But this pain is going to become your purpose. You will make people laugh, cry, and feel seen. You’ll become someone your parents are proud of. And one day, millions of people will wait for your videos to feel a little better about their day.”
I’d remind her that she’s not here to fit in. She’s here to create something of her own. Her own empire. And I’d say, “Paayal, your story is going to matter. Just don’t stop writing.
Bio
I’d remind her that she’s not here to fit in. She’s here to create something of her own. Her own empire. And I’d say, “Paayal, your story is going to matter. Just don’t stop writing.
Bio
Paayal Jain is a digital content creator known for her clean, relatable comedy rooted in everyday Indian life. With over 14 million subscribers on Paayal Tena Short Videos and more than 4 million on The Paayal Jain. She has become a household name in Indian digital entertainment.
Coming from a middle-class family with no industry connections, Paayal initially pursued conventional paths—completing a BBA, dabbling in yoga, vastu, numerology, and even SSC prep—before realizing her true calling: storytelling. A failed YouTube collaboration in 2019 left her financially drained, but it sparked the birth of her own channel in 2020, supported by her sister Tena.
Her breakthrough came with sketches like Every Girl’s School Ever and Exam Days in India, followed by viral hits on her Shorts channel, including Before Marriage. Characters like Savitri Mom, Chinky, and Chintu are now widely loved. Paayal’s videos frequently trend in YouTube India's top 3, and she has earned multiple Creator Awards.
Through consistency, courage, and originality, Paayal has built more than a channel—she’s built a legacy. Her content not only entertains but heals, offering laughter and connection to millions.
Instagram - thepaayaljain
Coming from a middle-class family with no industry connections, Paayal initially pursued conventional paths—completing a BBA, dabbling in yoga, vastu, numerology, and even SSC prep—before realizing her true calling: storytelling. A failed YouTube collaboration in 2019 left her financially drained, but it sparked the birth of her own channel in 2020, supported by her sister Tena.
Her breakthrough came with sketches like Every Girl’s School Ever and Exam Days in India, followed by viral hits on her Shorts channel, including Before Marriage. Characters like Savitri Mom, Chinky, and Chintu are now widely loved. Paayal’s videos frequently trend in YouTube India's top 3, and she has earned multiple Creator Awards.
Through consistency, courage, and originality, Paayal has built more than a channel—she’s built a legacy. Her content not only entertains but heals, offering laughter and connection to millions.
Instagram - thepaayaljain
Interviewed by Ishika Ahuja
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