Justin Rufus: From Mr. Teen India to the Man Bringing Cinema to Instagram (Filmmaker & Creator, 245K+ Followers)

Justin Rufus Interview 

"I realised I don’t have to fit into trends — I can tell my own stories and still connect with millions."

1. Justin, could you walk us through your journey? How did it all begin, and what led you to where you are today?

It all began when I was around 15 or 16. At the time, I was into modelling — I won Mr. Delhi in 2015 and later became Mr. Teen India at 19. I spent a few years in that space but eventually realised it wasn’t something I wanted to pursue forever.

That’s when I shifted towards filmmaking. I started making short films and music videos, learning everything on my own — writing, acting, directing, you name it. I had a strong support system with my team — Nitish Kaushik, Satya Prakash, and Yash Sharma — who are still with me today. Together, we built our own production house and created over 35 films.

Then Instagram happened, thanks to a push from my friend Isha Yadav. I ventured into content creation, and it’s been almost a year now. Everything you see today is the result of all those years of hard work, experiments, and experiences.

2. Was there a defining moment that shaped your path as a creator?

Absolutely. The turning point came when my first reel went viral on Instagram. Until then, I thought only comedy worked on the platform. But when I posted something true to my style — the kind of storytelling I genuinely enjoy and excel at — and it still blew up, I realised I didn’t have to chase trends or copy what was popular.

That moment gave me the clarity and confidence to believe I could stay authentic and still connect with people.

3. What keeps you creatively and mentally motivated in such a dynamic and demanding space?

Filmmaking isn’t just something I do — it’s how I live. Even though I’m creating reels right now, I approach each one as if it’s a scene from a film — from the angles to the emotions to the pacing. I treat every piece of content like cinema because that’s what I truly love.

For me, creativity isn’t driven by algorithms or trends; it’s driven by passion. Just like we need air to breathe, I need storytelling to feel alive. This art form is my purpose, and that’s more than enough to keep me going without relying on external motivation.

4. How do you handle challenges or setbacks? Could you share an experience that truly tested your resilience?

I believe being completely result-oriented isn’t the right approach. Mistakes are a part of life, but I see the process as a form of worship — showing up every day and doing the work quietly.

I don’t let outcomes discourage me; instead, I learn from them. If something doesn’t work, I take it as a sign that it’s guiding me towards something better. I don’t even view them as setbacks — to me, they’re just part of the adventure.

5. What does your creative process look like behind the scenes? Any personal rituals or routines?

Weekends are my execution days — Saturdays and Sundays are strictly for shooting, with no overthinking allowed. The rest of the week is dedicated to writing, observing, planning, and organising.

I spend a lot of time on scripting because that’s where most of the magic happens. I don’t believe in rushing shoots just to upload something. If it’s not well thought out, it’s not worth sharing. That’s the standard I work with.

6. What message or values do you hope your work communicates to your audience?

People often tell me it feels like I’m trying to teach something in every piece of content — and maybe that’s true in a way. But at the heart of it, my goal is to create pure cinema and deliver an experience.

That experience could make someone learn something, feel something, get scared, or even curse me out — and honestly, I’m fine with all of it. If it makes someone feel anything, then I’ve done my job.

7. Lastly, what advice would you give to young individuals who aspire to follow a similar path?

I’m not here to give the usual “you can do it” pep talk. If you’re serious about pursuing this, start by learning — from people, from any source you can, or simply by doing. But make learning your priority.

And if you’re creating without learning, and then failing, don’t blame the audience — blame yourself. That’s where real growth begins.

Bio:

Justin Rufus a creator who carved his own genre — from modelling to short films, to bringing cinema to Instagram reels.

Entertaining millions through pure storytelling, followed by over 200K who believe in real stories, not fleeting trends

Instagram 

Interviewed by Gurbani Kaur 

Edited by: Shantanu Singh