Saniya Mirwani Interview
Q. Your bio sets the tone instantly-unfiltered, funny, and unapologetic. When did you decide to fully lean into this version of yourself online?
I don’t think there was ever a dramatic moment where I decided to become a certain version of myself. I’ve always shared online-Facebook, Ask.fm, Snapchat-social media has felt like a diary with a punchline for as long as I can remember. Earlier, there was definitely pressure to curate and make everything look perfect. But underneath that, I’ve always had a very clear internal setting of this is me-take it or leave it. I’m comfortable being polarising. I don’t need to be the most liked person in the room; honestly, that sounds exhausting.
Q. Humor is a big part of your content, but there’s also sharp observation underneath it. Where do you usually draw inspiration from-real life, chaos, or pure masti?
Mostly real life pretending to be chaos. I actually started out doing political comedy in Canada-joking about immigration, government systems, and being a woman in film. Patriarchy, bureaucracy, and social norms are incredibly serious topics, but when you really observe them, they’re also deeply strange and unintentionally funny.
Over time, I’ve learned to be intentional about what goes online and what belongs on a live stage. I believe all art is political-even a knock-knock joke carries a worldview. My work has always focused on representing women unapologetically: women who are ambitious, messy, horny, angry, hilarious, and contradictory. For far too long, women in media have been flattened into neat, one-dimensional archetypes.The fact that a video of me farting crossed two million views is absurd-but also revealing. Women doing basic human things is still treated like groundbreaking content.
Q. You juggle multiple creative lanes-performing, making films, and running Sherni Studios. How do you switch between being in front of the camera and calling the shots behind it?
Film was my first language. Long before content creation or stand-up, I studied filmmaking, worked as a creative producer, wrote for publications, and directed short fiction films. Being on both sides of the camera makes me better at both-it sharpens empathy and craft.
But honestly, the real magic is the team. Content is never a solo act, no matter how it appears online. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with people who are talented, supportive, and brutally honest. Whether it’s a theatrical release or a vertical social media reel, it truly takes a village to make anything meaningful.
Q. “Parental Guidance Advised” isn’t just a warning, it’s a brand. How do you decide what lines to cross and where to stop?
“Parental Guidance Advised” is half branding, half legal disclaimer for my personality. I talk about sex, I swear, I make inappropriate jokes. I’m not trying to be a role model for teenagers-I’m just making the kind of jokes I’d make with my best friends in my living room.
I do have a moral compass, and it’s very much intact. But society is still far more shocked by women speaking the way men do. So I prefer to set expectations upfront: this is the content, this is the tone-proceed at your own risk. And if you don’t like it, unfollowing is a very peaceful option.
Q. Your content often challenges norms and expectations. Has there ever been pushback that made you pause-or did it push you further?
Getting cancelled has almost become a rite of passage for comedians today. Everyone has an opinion, and while some criticism is thoughtful and worth engaging with, a large part of the internet thrives on outrage, trolling, and bullying. I’ve received everything from hate comments to death and rape threats.
Of course it affects you-I’m human. But I’d still choose being disliked over being invisible. Indifference is the real failure. If people feel strongly about my work, it usually means something landed, stirred discomfort, or forced a reaction-and I’m okay with that.
Q. What does a normal day in Saniya Mirwani’s life look like when you’re creating, planning, and still making time for yourself?
My day starts at the gym-partly for physical health, but mostly for mental stability. After that, it’s classic freelance chaos: writing on deadlines, missing deadlines, rewriting drafts. I try to post a reel every day, which is a creative discipline disguised as social media.Right now, I’m also in pre-production for Someone Stop Saniya Season 2, so my life is an even mix of spreadsheets, scripts, and existential dread.
Q. For someone building such a strong, fearless voice online, what doubts or insecurities do you still deal with behind the scenes?
The insecurities never fully go away. I constantly wonder how I’m being perceived-whether the jokes will land, whether I’ll disappoint the audience that’s grown with me. What helps is staying offline. Surrounding myself with people who don’t live on the internet-friends and family in completely different worlds-keeps me grounded. It’s very easy to spiral into the content rabbit hole and forget that reality exists outside Instagram analytics.
Q. Looking ahead, what excites you most right now-bigger stories, bolder films, or even more chaos? And what advice would you give to creators who are scared to be themselves?
I’m really excited about returning to stand-up and writing fiction-that was my first love, and I feel myself being pulled back to longer-form storytelling. Bigger narratives, messier characters, and hopefully even more chaos-just with better lighting. To creators who are scared to be themselves: being palatable is overrated. Someone will dislike you no matter what. You might as well be disliked for being honest than forgotten for being boring.
Bio:
Saniya Mirwani is a filmmaker, writer, producer, and digital creator known for her sharp humor and socially driven storytelling. She creates films and content that spotlight underrepresented voices, blending comedy with commentary on gender, culture, and identity. When she’s not producing or directing, she’s probably online oversharing-on purpose.
Interviewed by: Gunjan Joshi
){kind=link}
0 Comments