“The biggest change in me over the last year is that I have become disciplined with my routine. That’s why there have been some visible changes in me, physically and otherwise. I used to be extremely erratic, not sticking to a routine at all. But now I do, and I feel like it’s like writing a love letter to yourself.”
An internet sensation, Kusha Kapila came into the public eye as an influencer because of her humor and Punjabi aunty skits. As seen in Thank You For Coming and Sukhee, there is a lot to her story, which remains untold.
A New Delhi ‘Kudi’
Hailing from New Delhi, Kusha holds two degrees in English literature from Indraprastha College for Women and earned a bachelor’s in design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology.
In terms of her professional career, she has worked as a Fashion Editor at Times Internet and Head of Digital Content, Strategy & Brand Communication at RockNShop.com. Kusha was also a Copywriter at SapientRazorfish, a Trend Analyst & Features Writer at Fashion Forward Trends, and a Fashion Correspondent at Apparel Online.
Growing up, her career choices have always been the opposite of what is considered conventional, and despite the reproval from people, she aced the task of finding a niche for herself.
In one of her interviews, Kusha talks about her journey as a creator and how she sees creativity as a process rather than a series of events. She believes that the process should be one os self-care and reinvention.
Charting New Waters
Kusha grew up in a family where it was the job of men in the family to manage or handle finances. As a result of this, it took a lot of learning to change her relationship with money and manage finances. She shares,
“Investment can start with any amount of money. That’s the beauty of it. It’s not about how much you’re investing but rather about when you start. The real game is about sitting on your investments, just like sitting with your thoughts, letting it happen and grow over time.”
One of the best and most fulfilling things that came out of her journey was building her own home. She reveals,
“One of my dreams was to become a homeowner, and I achieved that. Understanding the entire process, from registration to construction, was no easy task. Especially figuring out things like which raw materials to use, the water supply system, the generator setup, and the water tank. It’s these things that truly make you an adult.”
The Social Media Pressure
Going viral is not always about name and fame; there are numerous pitfalls due to constant comparison, superficial validations and trolls. The only way one can deal with the pressure is by figuring out the audience and being true to oneself rather than jumping on the bandwagon of different trends.
It was Kusha’s debut in the show Son of Abish in 2014 that laid the groundwork for her future in social media. Her satirical portrayal of ‘Billi Masi,’ a South Delhi woman, also made her a favorite amongst the masses and made her an internet sensation.
Lastly, as a note to the next-gen influencers or creators, she says,
“When you are a creator, with time you need to become aware that this isn’t linear. Being on the internet is never linear. You may put out good content with the right intent, and it may or may not be perceived that way. You’re opening yourself up to everyone. You’re no longer performing in a closed room in front of relatives. So when you put yourself on the internet, everyone will have an opinion about you.”
Quotes translated from Kusha Kapila’s interview with Ayush Shukla
