“You’re not becoming an engineer?”
“You’re not writing any entrance exams?”
“So… what are you going to do?”
I’ve heard these questions on repeat ever since I decided not to take the usual route — not because I had everything figured out, but because I knew what I didn’t want.
Where I come from, if you’re not an engineer or a doctor, people ask what’s wrong. There’s an odd reverence for these roles — the nods get more respectful, the relatives more approving. Anything outside of that? A shrug at best. Silence at worst.
I always wanted to do something different, but I didn’t always know what. At one point, Delhi seemed like the place for it. But it turns out, the universe had its own copy to write.
Bombay happened.
And not in some dreamy, planned way. I came here after 12th, at a time when I honestly thought I had missed all my chances. I had no college to go to, no clue what I was going to do next. But somewhere deep down, something kept telling me to just keep going — to trust that gut feeling.
I didn’t know what copywriting was back then. But I knew I was curious about advertising. It felt like a world full of gutsy ideas, cool people, strange briefs and somehow, that chaos made sense to me.
I still remember my first real assignment as an intern. It was for an NGO brand — something that felt serious and unfamiliar. The brief was to write relatable content for their social media. I was nervous. I didn’t know how to approach it, and it showed. When I shared the piece with my mentor, I completely missed the mark. But instead of making me feel out of place, he took me on a walk and explained how to think, how to write, how to ask the right questions. That walk changed everything for me. It made me see that being clueless is not the end — it’s often the beginning.
There were many moments like that — where I struggled, but stayed curious. I kept showing up because I wanted to learn.
But the internship was short, and I had to start looking for a job. When I finally joined a creative agency, it felt like being thrown into deep water. People expected me to write something crazy from the get-go. My colleague, who joined with me, cracked an idea that had everyone clapping. And I just sat there, wondering if I even belonged.
I questioned myself constantly.
Was I creative enough?
Was I even cut out for this?
It took me a while to realise that you don’t have to be a genius every day. You can’t be. There’s a whole narrative about creative agencies that we’re all walking around with witty one-liners and edgy ideas ready to go. But the truth is most days are quieter. Harder. Some days you’ll write six headlines and hate them all. But some days, you’ll get it right and that feeling makes it worth it.
Over time, things started to shift. I switched jobs. I found better environments. I met people who gave me space to learn and unlearn. People who didn’t expect me to know everything, but did expect me to stay curious. That made all the difference.
Sometimes I still think about the day I didn’t go to Delhi. The day I packed my bags and came to Bombay instead. It felt like a mistake at the time like I had taken a wrong turn. But now, it feels like the only turn that mattered.
I didn’t start off with a plan. I didn’t have a big dream or a five-year goal. But I had something — a gut feeling that refused to quiet down.
If you’re reading this and wondering if you’re meant for this field — here’s my honest answer: you don’t have to wait to feel cool or confident. You don’t need a portfolio that turns heads on day one. Start from wherever you are. Even if all you have is that little gut feeling.
Because that’s what brought me here. And I’m glad I listened to it.