Nishant Yadav Interview
Stories don’t need minutes to feel real—they just need to be true
Q. You describe yourself as an “amateur filmmaker” even though your work feels polished and intentional. Why stick with that label, and what does it say about your philosophy as a storyteller?
I’ve always been a confused kid. Honestly, I never thought filmmaking would ever be a part of my life. Since I was little, I was passionate about dancing. My mom put me in a dance class, and with time I just fell in love with it. Till school, I was pretty sure I’d do something in that career. I was also stubborn, if I focused on something, I had to break through it.
But with time, like everyone, I had to choose between passion and future. Somewhere in that process, I lost dance, and yes, I regret it. But I also believe everything happens for a reason. Back then, I used to upload my dance videos on YouTube, which I shot and edited myself. And when dance went away, the only thing I was left with was video editing and videography.
Everything I know, I learnt from YouTube tutorials. And the day I realized this could actually be something I loved, I never looked back. I never stopped learning. Storytelling has been with me for the last three years, and I think it’s the best way to show my skills, to share my untold stories and maybe inspire some kid out there to take that leap of faith and never let go of their passion, no matter what challenges come.
Calling myself a “filmmaker” feels like claiming I’ve mastered the art. But I haven’t. I’m still an amateur. Still a lot to learn, Lot to work, lot to experiment and Lot of stories to share.
Q. Storytelling on social media often demands brevity, while filmmaking thrives on depth. How do you navigate these two contrasting worlds without losing authenticity?
Honestly, it’s tricky because both are completely different worlds. Before Reels, I used to upload full-length travel films. Documenting stories, cultures, and festivals from different corners of India. Shifting to short form was tough, but once you understand the structure of how to script it, you realize even 20 seconds can carry a story if you know the emotion you want to leave behind.
In longform, I let that same feeling breathe, with more layers, more silence, more depth. But in both, the rule is the same 'honesty'. If the story is truly yours, no one else can tell it better. Because stories don’t need minutes to feel real, they just need to be true.
Q. Your Instagram often feels like a visual diary, raw, unfiltered, yet cinematic. Do you consciously craft this aesthetic, or does it flow more instinctively?
Yes, I plan everything, from pre-production to post. Scripting, shot division, storyboards, even the colors. It’s all thought through. I give as much time as I can to craft each piece because I want it to feel complete, not random. In the beginning, it was tough handling everything on my own. But fortunately, I found a few talented friends who help me execute these projects and bring them to life.
Q. Many creators struggle with vulnerability online. How do you draw the line between being 'unfiltered' and protecting your own creative or personal space?
Keeping a balance is really important for me. I’m an introvert, and storytelling is one of the few ways I can express what I feel inside. But putting my private life out online is not something I prefer. What I love is making videos, that’s been my way of speaking since day one, and that’s what I know best. So for me, the line is this: My emotions live in my stories, but my life stays with me.
Q. Mumbai is more than a backdrop, it’s a living character in many of your works. How does the city influence your storytelling style and creative choices?
I was born and brought up in Kolkata, that’s my hometown. But because of limited opportunities in my field, I moved to Mumbai about six months ago. This city isn’t easy to live in, not just because it’s expensive, but because it constantly tests your patience. Back home, my biggest complaint was the comfort zone. Here, I’ve been forced to grow. I’ve learned new skills like cooking, taking out time to call my loved ones, and most importantly, I’ve learned to live with the chaos.
Creatively, that chaos keeps me alive. Every small challenge, every little accomplishment gives me new ideas. Growing in life is never smooth, it’s tough, sometimes boring, and your mind is always running. But I try to use that chaos as fuel for my storytelling. In a way, Mumbai gives me stories every single day.
Q. You’ve built a community that resonates with your perspective on life and film. What’s the most surprising or meaningful response you’ve received from your audience?
This one will always be special for me, and it happened recently. My mom is a tutor, and one of her former students, who’s actually about 12 years older than me DM’d me on Instagram. He told me that back when my mom used to teach them, I was just a little kid, and she would say, “I don’t want my son to be ordinary.” She manifested that I’d do something creative and different in life.
Reading that hit me differently. Because here I am now, doing what I love, and in a way, living the dream my mom once spoke out loud.
Q. If someone made a short film about your journey so far, what would the opening scene look like?
The opening scene would be 14-year-old Nishant, sitting in a small room, watching YouTube for the very first time. His eyes light up, not just at the video, but at the possibility of creating something of his own. He turns to his friend, and in that simple moment they decide, “Let’s try.” That’s where it all begins. Because everything starts the day you start creating.
Q. You have a reel called ‘The Story of me visiting India’s most haunted place Bhangar Fort’ where you blend storytelling, atmosphere, and cinematography. What draws you to stories or places that are eerie or mysterious, and how do you translate that mood into visual storytelling?
Well, great question. I’ve always loved to travel and document that journey. But when it comes to places with mysteries, I get a real kick out of it, it excites me to explore the unknown. For me, it’s not just about showing a location, but about presenting it the way it should be felt.
Writing becomes my tool to execute those stories, because it gives structure to the atmosphere I want to create. Even beyond this reel, most of my recent work is built around stories that everyone has inside them, stories people want to share and hear. I just step in as their speaker, giving those feelings a cinematic voice.
Bio:
Nishant Yadav is a Filmmaker and Visual storyteller who calls himself an “amateur filmmaker” not out of doubt, but out of a restless curiosity to keep learning, experimenting, and exploring new stories. Born and raised in Kolkata, his work carries the colors, rhythms, and quiet truths of his hometown, the small moments that often go unnoticed. Moving to Mumbai for greater opportunities, he found a city that constantly challenges him, fuels his creativity, and teaches him to turn chaos into ideas. Through cinematic travel films, reels, and brand stories, Nishant captures life in its raw, unfiltered form, guided by a simple belief: stories don’t need minutes to feel real, they just need to be true.
.jpeg)
){kind=link}
0 Comments