Q1: What draws you to the medium of poetry, and how do you believe it offers a distinctive way to communicate emotions and ideas?
A: I truly believe that the real way of living life is rhythm and flow. There is always a rhythm and flow. It’s just that, in the hustle and bustle of today’s world, especially in big metropolitan cities, we become very disconnected from the real rhythm and flow of life.
I think poetry brings back that connection. Poetry isn’t running or trying to prove something. It simply is. It comes to you naturally. It’s not something you can Google and piece together. It has to come as a flow, a rhythm.
And that, I think, is something… I don’t want to use the word “divine,” but at least it’s something that has a strong connection with universal power. So, to me, poetry is a representation of that kind of communication that you’re still connected with the real flow and rhythm of life.
Q2: Can you share the inspiration behind the theme of your poems and how it influenced the tone and structure of it?
A: I think life itself is an inspiration to me. I believe I am a witness, a deep witness, of whatever is happening around me, within me, and surrounding me. Those observations are my main influence.
Being able to see what is not obviously visible, to witness deeply, and to have the patience to let things unfold, that is my true influence.
And in terms of inspiration, my inspiration is Mother Nature. I’m extremely inspired by our Mother Earth. She is vivacious, beautiful, gracious, loving, and in all this chaos, she maintains a calmness. She nurtures and gives endlessly. I have a deep, deep love and respect for her.
She is my inspiration that no matter what comes and goes, there is always beauty in every moment. There is always a rhythm, a flow, a music to bounce on or flow with. She offers everything to everyone and still maintains her identity. She is my biggest, biggest inspiration.
Q3: How do you navigate the balance between conveying your intended meaning and leaving room for individual interpretation?
A: Yes, I agree. It can become overbearing at times. And while writing, these questions do come up — how much to share, how much not to share, what to keep, what to hide?
Here, I’d say I’m lucky that my professional qualities help me. I’m a creative director by profession. I make television and OTT shows. As you grow in that field, you learn you’re not making content for yourself. You’re creating for an audience. And different platforms have different audiences.
Over a decade of working across platforms has given me the flexibility to know when to wear the creator’s hat and when to take it off. So, the dilemma of what to share and how much — when to allow space for the audience to interpret — has become natural to me through my professional journey.
To be honest, I didn’t struggle with whether I should share something or not. Sometimes I did ponder whether to be direct or use a metaphor. I usually choose metaphors. I’m a firm believer that everyone interprets things in their own way, and that’s the beauty of art. I’d rather not be too direct but leave space for perception.
Q4: Describe your approach to crafting the musicality of your language and how it contributes to the overall experience for readers.
A: I’m really grateful if anyone finds musicality in my language. I believe anything done with utmost love, passion, and joy finds its own rhythm. And if others can feel it too, then wow, the job is done well.
I’d like to believe that the simplicity of my language contributes to the reader’s experience. While I do use some interesting words, I’ve noticed that the understanding of Hindi and Urdu has declined over time. Thankfully, I was born into a family of literature enthusiasts. I’ve read extensively in Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English.
I was a voracious reader. I was that child who got scolded for reading too much. Thanks to my parents, I had access to what felt like millions of books. That enriched my vocabulary. It wasn’t something I worked on deliberately — it just happened naturally.
When I write, that simplicity and love for language come through. I also believe that a little fluency and unstructured writing give a sense of ease. The direct and simple usage of words connects better.
But I do add flowery words here and there. My aim is to revive those beautiful forgotten words. I sprinkle them in like little spikes in my poem — keeping things interesting and preventing simplicity from becoming boring.
Q5: How does your personal journey and background influence the theme and imagery of your poetry?
A: I really think art, at its core, is a medium of personal expression. That’s what makes it beautiful. Each one of us is so unique, and our expression is unique too.
The beauty is that even with that uniqueness, many people still relate to it. And that’s the most magical part of art.
Yes, my background 100% influences my poetry and imagery. My book is titled Zindagi, Ek Ishq Ya Khayal Koyi. As I said earlier, I’m a deep witness. I spend most of my time observing life. And when I’m not, I can feel I’ve become caught up in life — and that’s something I don’t appreciate. I’ve been practicing the art of witnessing for a long time.
That’s why Zindagi and Khayal — these are observations of myself, of others, of life. And about Ishq — I feel we often reduce love to just romantic love. But love is so much more. There are many shades and forms — love for family, friends, animals, nature, life itself.
I’ve even written a poem about how zindagi se mohabbat karna bhi koyi asaan cheez nahi hai. So yes, my writing reflects all these forms of love, and I hope readers feel that.
Q6: How do you use poetry as a means of commentary or reflection on the world around you?
A: That’s the only way I relate to the world. Poetry is my way of reflection. It’s my way of commentary.
I absorb a lot. I reflect a lot. And when I express it, it takes the form of commentary — with rhythm, flow, and beauty. And that’s what makes it poetry.
Q7: What rituals or practices do you follow to nurture your creative process?
A: Ah, this is a topic I love to talk about. Many believe — and I also feel — that writing and music are two forms of art where the creator should never take credit. It’s like you’re simply a channel tapping into universal energy. The downloads come to you.
That said, everything requires practice. Miracles and magic only happen with hard work. I believe in magic, but I know its key: hard work and belief.
About my rituals — I write every day. Trust me, it’s a difficult process. I’m a full-time employee in a very demanding industry, working 10 to 12 hour days. I have my life too. So when I got serious about writing, it was a huge challenge.
I read interviews of writers — from Murakami to Gulzar sahab — and the one common thread was: show up every day, same time. I resisted it initially, thinking, “Okay, I’ll write every day, but ab zaroori thodi hai ki issi time pe?” No, but it makes a difference.
Also, be patient with yourself. It’s not easy to commit to writing every day, but even 10 minutes daily can help. Now I write ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes at night. It doesn’t matter what I write. Even nonsense is okay — the point is to be disciplined.
Discipline is such an underrated virtue. It solves many modern-day problems. So yes, my ritual is simple. No matter what I’m feeling, I show up. I tell the universe — “I’m here. Send me your downloads.” And I show up. Same time, every day. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
Zindagi – Ek Ishq Ya Khyaal Koi! is now available on Amazon — a heartfelt invitation to rediscover the romance of language and the depth of silence.
