Neha Srivastava was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and below is the Q&A session with her
Neha Srivastava As Exclusive Cover Story – May 2023
How do you introduce yourself?
Neha Srivastava: Neha Srivastava. A Mom. Not because I want respect but because I respect that designation above all others.
I have 28 years of experience in creative writing, if you don’t count the school magazines. I have won 40 international awards/selections for screenwriting.
After working for 13 years in the advertising industry I chose to be a full time mom, chose to work 24×7 from a mere 9×5, although I gave up my job but could not give up writing therefore kept working as a freelance writer. At present, I am juggling roles of a creative writer, full time Mom and teacher of underprivileged children.
Childhood to Adulthood – How was your transition from childhood to adulthood and what are the bad and good things you remember?
Neha Srivastava: Born to two amazing human beings, I was a pampered second born. My father was a fiercely honest bureaucrat, my mother a housewife, we lived in suitcases as he was often transferred for his rigid stands. We were taught a value system that perhaps doesn’t exist in the world. It sometimes makes my sister and me unfits in the society. The unrealistic ethics that are engrained in my sister and me hinder our growth but that is who we are.
From an over protected home and a governmental setup, I stepped into the private sector after completing my MBA. The advertising world taught me discipline to follow deadlines and gave me the creative leverage to express myself freely. Writing was something that came naturally to me, so I excelled in the field or so I believe. Advertising and media is one field where your parents can actually see your work. So, I guess I made my parents proud and they also learnt that careers existed other than being an IAS and IPS.
Struggle – What hardships have you gone through in life?
Neha Srivastava: Emotionally it has been a tough last three years as my father passed, living without his guidance, living without his laughter, living without his comforting physical presence has been harrowing. But such is the rule of life.
Other than that, I believe that life comes in the shape of mountains, up and down and up again…one has to keep climbing. When I was operated for my tumour (benign) and told that we, Parikshet and me, had only 2% chance of having a baby after the operation, I did not believe the doctor, I believed in the power god, of miracles and sure enough, we were parents to the cutest kid, Akshat (Udi). So every challenge reaffirms my faith in my god.
What do people usually not know about you?
Neha Srivastava: That I am extremely impatient. That I dislike cooking. That I can see a waterfall for the whole day. That I feel peaceful when I see the sun setting in the mountains everyday. That I adore Shah Rukh Khan. That I respect my husband for his patience. That I have stage fright.
What sets you apart from your competitors in the industry and in life?
Neha Srivastava: ‘No one can compete with me, as I don’t compete with anyone.’ There is enough space for everyone in the industry and in the world. Everyone has a different DNA, specialities and uniqueness. No one else has my thumb print.
What are your upcoming major events – Unforgettable Moments or products/services that you want to promote/inform?
Neha Srivastava: Completed shooting my fourth short film, ‘Orange Sun’. It is under editing now. My film, ‘Toys’ is in the festival circuit. Short films, ‘Game’ and ‘Sabina’ have been awarded at some international festivals and are on our YouTube channel under ‘Heartbeat Films.’
What are your food preferences and body measurements?
Neha Srivastava: Chocolate brownie with cold coffee.
What expert advice would you like to give?
Neha Srivastava: I doubt if I am capable enough of giving any advice, but what I do is that even if I do not want to write…I open the laptop and write,’I do not want to write today…’ Once I have opened the page, the writer in me nudges me to write a few lines.
Just write – otherwise only you will know what a great writer you are…the world won’t. Also, screenwriting is the only place where kids can show their parents their work on screen.
Your social media handles and website links?
Neha Srivastava:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-srivastava-b96a5b121
Twitter – @nehasrivi
Instagram – https://instagram.com/nehasrivi?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==
Imdb – https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm12784411?s=3ebf2dde-f784-21d9-d826-a73648232b0b&site_preference=normal
Anything else you want to add?
Neha Srivastava : After writing advertisements, prose and poems for about 28 years, I thought of writing screenplays at the insistence of my son. My writing career started as a creative in an advertising agency, I worked for 14 years in the advertising world, then got the biggest promotion life can give us, I became a mother, so I quit the mainstream 10 to 5 job and started freelance writing with the 24 x 7 job of motherhood. My short stories were published in international Anthologies. My micro short story, ‘Game’ got a diploma at the IVth edition of the prestigious Fundación César Egido Serrano, Museo de la Palabra micro short story competition. Between 2021 and 2023, I wrote 7 scripts, three features and four shorts, they have been awarded and recognised at 39 international film festivals. I got the platinum Remi award for my script, Fairy Dress in 2022.
