Meet Tanishka Juneja

We were lucky to catch up with Tanishka Juneja recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanishka, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

My generosity stems from a deep-rooted belief in the power of kindness and the positive ripple effect it can create in the world. Growing up, I was fortunate to witness my parents constantly giving back to others, whether it was supporting our house help, offering a listening ear to a friend or helping a stranger, without expecting anything in return. That showed me the true meaning of selflessness and giving.

As I got older, I realised that even the smallest acts of generosity — whether it’s offering my time, resources, or simply support — can make a significant impact on someone’s life. And I’ve experienced this first hand when I travelled to another city to emotionally support a friend during her tough times or surprised a friend on her birthday by visiting her house as soon as I landed in my city. These gestures could be small for us but it could mean the world to the other person. In fact, it’d be something they’d always remember. And it’s not just about being kind to people you know or can get something in return. What matters the most is that you’re generous to someone who can’t benefit you in any way.

And believe it or not, the kindness you put out in the world has a way of coming back to you. This motivates me to be generous whenever I can.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hi, I’m Tanishka Juneja, an author, (former) journalist, screenwriter, director and producer from India. I was always inclined towards some or the other art form while growing up, but I never thought that writing or storytelling would be my true calling. It’s funny how it all started after I had watched Twilight as a young teen and was fascinated by vampires that I decided to write my own story involving them. After typing on my computer for a few days, I gave up and the document just ended up in the recycle bin. But soon, I jumped at the opportunity of reading “adult” fiction novels, mostly thrillers, in my school’s library. And thanks to them, the lenses (glasses) of my spectacles got thicker because I would read books late at night with one bedside lamp on, as an attempt to fool my parents into believing that I was asleep. It was then that I realised my desire of wanting to see my name on the cover of a book, (which I eventually did). I published my first novel called ‘Let’s Rise in Love’ when I was 19 and that was the first step I took towards my writing journey. It was my mother who made me realise that I should consider writing as a career option and I’ll forever be grateful to her.

I remember that I was always fond of reading interviews in the magazines that were delivered at my home. Who would have known that one day, I’d end up interviewing celebrities and someone just like me would enjoy going through those interviews. After working remotely as a journalist for different fashion and lifestyle magazines for almost three years, I came to the US to study screenwriting at New York Film Academy. In the past year, I’ve worked and managed multiple short films and played diverse roles ranging from Writer/Co-Writer, Script Supervisor, First Assistant Director or Producer. And the most rewarding thing about being a creative individual is that you have the ability to create your own world, take the audience on a journey with you that can evoke emotions, shift perspectives and make people feel seen, heard and understood. And that’s an incredibly special gift. Which is why, I don’t want to limit myself to doing just one thing in life. But having said that, I want different creative labels attached with my name only by striving hard to excel in them and not just for the sake of it.

One thing that I’m extremely proud of is the fact that for my first short film as a writer and director, my team and I built an elevator set from scratch inside an apartment. And trust me when I say this, for a second even I thought we were shooting inside a real elevator. Something that I learnt during that experience (apart from writing simpler scripts) was that if you’re truly passionate about something, you’ll always find a way out and God will be there to guide you. It is a challenging industry but as my professor said, you must always keep your mind open and protect your heart.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Honestly, there’s a lot to learn and explore and my journey has just begun, but here are a few lessons that have impacted my journey.

Being a risk taker – Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. Be bold in your creativity and push boundaries. Every risk might not pay off, but each one teaches valuable lessons.

To have faith – in yourself, in your talent and in the universe. If you’re truly passionate about something and are consistent, universe will find a way of making sure that you accomplish that and your dreams come true. Be patient.

Lastly, I would say that building genuine and meaningful relationships are really important for success in any area. You must surround yourself with people who inspire you and challenge you. The energy of being around other passionate individuals can spark new ideas and perspectives you might not have considered alone.

These skills or qualities are not only important for career success but also for personal growth as a creator.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes, I’m always open to partnering and collaborating with creative individuals who are passionate about storytelling. I’m particularly interested in working with filmmakers, other storytellers and producers who are looking for fresh perspectives in screenwriting or who need a writer to help bring their vision to life. Whether it’s short films, feature-length projects, or web series, I enjoy contributing to projects that have a clear vision and the potential to make an impact. I’m especially drawn to projects that explore different cultures, perspectives, and human experiences. If you’re interested in collaborating, the best way to reach me is through direct messages on my social media accounts mentioned below.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanishka.juneja/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanishka.juneja.7/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tanishkajuneja57
• Other: “Click to buy Let’s Rise in Love”

  https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Rise-love-Fall-Love-ebook/dp/B088ZN1R4M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2R62MX41ZSUAX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.F8MS2VfVNMwSMg2OcLlBDdIXTKIhBRICKMGGCfLiuICpmP5c7yTPGVM3Lh17G9Umo_aMpfaT7jtMo8Ivs_3M2mHA1UimMqAzn3Uy49mfzICcDj69j4sUarvzIg-pvAbyC6H1hjbgM-t2TbuhxJJ3wk4fU81QcqUbFFkP92wuQzHzOCPjUD3iXB02fnEMj7B2g8Ri7uzvq9oUQDJi9MluHw.xtXoDSTuujlEElR8ckCHiorKCUgJz9k0h53bwpP4G_4&dib_tag=se&keywords=tanishka+juneja&qid=1716321134&sprefix=tanishka+juneja%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1

Image Credits

Ekam Juneja – https://www.pexels.com/@ekam-juneja-61080223/highlights/
Jagruti Savant – https://camerawoman9.weebly.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYCnjpbxNkwIw3ZJ_dlBQeLdxtqRgdbIDOhOkiF3JGEek-g_Ug5meX8IMg_aem_AUI2LBirw3xrVMmpcoG9jLE6BatttOtAl7KvOcJBGA9Z8Bdz_Qj2qCRgnOWmApZWBGuyrXBqEq1BNrt0BWP5uqkI