Vanitaa Pande Interview
Q. How do you introduce Vanitaa Pande today as an actor, a singer, or simply as an artist still discovering herself?
I introduce myself as an artist - because that leaves room to evolve. Acting and singing are what I do, discovery is where I live. I’m still becoming, still learning what excites me most, and I don’t see that as confusion. I see it as creative freedom.
“I’m not in a rush to arrive - I’m enjoying the becoming.”
Q. Your bio says “Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive.” In an industry known for rejection and comparison, how do you actually practice that philosophy on hard days?
On hard days, positivity looks less like motivation and more like kindness. I let myself feel the disappointment, then remind myself - this is a chapter, not the whole story. Focusing on the positive is choosing to stay soft in a space that often asks you to toughen up.
Q. Social media often shows the highlight reel. As someone fairly consistent online, what part of your journey do you think people still underestimate or misunderstand?
People often underestimate the quiet effort behind the screen - the patience, the learning, the days of showing up without certainty. What’s visible is the outcome, not the inner work. I think many artists are growing, healing, and figuring things out in silence, and that part of the journey deserves just as much compassion.
Q. You seamlessly balance music, performance, and visual storytelling. Which medium allows you to be the most honest version of yourself and why?
Music allows me to be the most honest. When I sing, there’s nothing to hide behind — no character, no performance, no perfection. It’s just emotion finding its way out. Music lets me sit with my truth as it is, and that honesty is what keeps me connected to myself.
Q. Many young artists struggle with validation in the age of likes and followers. How do you personally separate self-worth from numbers?
I remind myself that numbers reflect reach, not depth. A single message saying my work meant something to someone carries more weight than any algorithm spike. Self-worth has to come from effort, integrity, and growth - not applause.
Q. Your content often feels intimate yet intentional. How do you decide what stays personal and what becomes public art?
I listen to my inner readiness. If something is still healing, it stays personal. When it settles into understanding, it becomes art. I believe sharing is most meaningful when it comes from clarity, not urgency - that’s where intimacy feels respectful, not exposed.
Q. Has there been a moment in your career where something didn’t work out but later made perfect sense in hindsight?
Yes, many times. Back then, it felt like rejection. Today, it feels like alignment. There’s a line from my song Iteffaqe that I truly believe in —
“Jo aksar ek ittefaq sa dikhta hai,
woh farmaan asal mein Khuda hi likhta hai.”
Some things don’t happen because something else, something more aligned, is quietly being prepared for you.
Q. As a performer, how much of your real-life emotion do you bring into your art? Is vulnerability a strength or a risk?
I bring in as much as feels honest. Real emotion gives my work truth, but I’m mindful of how I hold it. Vulnerability is a strength when it’s grounded, it connects people. It only becomes a risk when it’s shared before it’s understood.
Q. You engage with different creative formats reels, music snippets, performances. How has digital media changed the way artists build credibility today?
Digital media has shifted credibility from gatekeepers to consistency and authenticity. You don’t wait to be chosen anymore — you show up, evolve publicly, and let people grow with you. For me, this meant creating work like 1930 — a cyber-crime short film that went on to win honours at national and international festivals and is now headed for a Hungama OTT release — not because it was trendy, but because it spoke to a real issue with honesty and impact.
That’s the new currency: work that matters, not just work that performs.
Q. For aspiring actors and singers watching you, what’s one practical habit that helped you stay consistent when motivation wasn’t enough?
Routine. Even on uninspired days, I show up — rehearse, train, create something small. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline builds momentum.
Q. Do you believe artists today are expected to be too accessible online? Where do you draw your boundary?
Yes, there’s an unspoken pressure to share constantly. My boundary is energy, if something drains me more than it gives, I step back. Access should never come at the cost of peace.
Q. Looking ahead, what kind of work excites you more mainstream visibility or meaningful storytelling, even if it reaches fewer people?
Meaningful storytelling, honestly. Visibility is beautiful, but it can be fleeting. What stays with me is work that feels true — stories that come from lived emotion, that maybe don’t shout, but sit quietly with people. If something I create makes even a few people feel seen or understood, that matters more to me than numbers ever will.
Q. If your younger self were scrolling through your Instagram today, what do you think she’d feel inspired, surprised, or reassured?
Reassured, more than anything. That it’s okay to take your time. That growth doesn’t have to be loud to be real. Everything doesn’t need to make sense immediately, some things just need faith and patience.
“This phase is built on sukr for how far I’ve come, and sabr for what’s still unfolding.”
Q. If your life right now had a background score, what genre would it be and who would you trust to compose it?
It would be soulful — calm, introspective, quietly hopeful. Something minimal, layered with emotion. I’d trust someone who understands silence as much as sound.
Bio:
Vanitaa Pande is a singer, actor, and artist who tells stories through music and emotion. Her work blends performance, creativity, and personal expression, spanning music, acting, and visual storytelling. Open to collaborations and creative projects, she shares her artistic journey across platforms, including YouTube.
Interviewed by: Nidhi
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