Vidhya Iyer shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Vidhya, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Drink a glass of warm water and read a book. then drink my cup of tea. And do some morning pages or stretch.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Vidhya Iyer. I’m a writer/director/comedian. I’ve written for TV shows like Harley Quinn, Solar Opposites & Hazbin Hotel. I also write, direct and produce indie films and tv through my production company ‘Tingi Inc’ . I love making stuff that is low stakes and high entertainment with a focus on flipping stereotypes and subverting expectations. I gravitate towards stories that feel optimistic and leave you feeling hopeful in a world that increasingly doesn’t quite feel that way.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I actually think the world and everyone around me had a path charted out from me from the very first moment I can remember. I’m only now figuring out who I am outside of expectations and conventions. The biggest realization I’ve had is that I don’t have to just be one thing and I can pursue anything that excites me at any point in time – not just as a career or from a work standpoint, but even hobbies or friendships or activities. I’m realizing there are these external limitations I had imposed on myself with this idea of what my life, career and choices needed to look like and the image I felt I needed to present to world. I am becoming somehow both progressively humble and increasingly confident in my journey and I’m excited to see what I might do next. I feel like I’m in a phase of experimentation and really having fun with it.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I distinctly remember a time during the WGA strike being on the picket line and speaking to a friend to learn a piece of information that really felt like the last straw for me. It made me question whether suffering in silence in the hopes that it will lead somewhere was worth it. After a lot of long conversations with friends and my support system (I’m very lucky to have a great crew), I came to the conclusion that I could not let these things get me down especially when I have done harder things. I literally moved halfway across the world from India, leaving everything I knew behind to pursue my Hollywood dream in a city where I knew no one. And I’ve made my tv writing dreams come true and continue to do so, but there’s lots more to achieve and I’m knocking down those dominos slowly but surely.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I just did the CAPE Showrunner incubator program that was run by showrunner Melinda Hsu. She has made me believe it’s possible to lead with kindness and have success and make money in this business while staying grounded and true to yourself. I really look up to her. If you haven’t you should listen to her ‘Lead with Kindness’ podcast and she has a book coming out too.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Yes, I’ve been directed my own films now. My debut short, ‘Giving Mom the Talk’ has been playing at film festivals. And I’ve basically been tap dancing everytime I’ve seen it on a big screen with an audience. There’s a massive thrill to watching a comedy with the audience and hearing an entire theater laugh as they enjoy your work. As a comedian whether you’re doing standup, improv, or making film & tv, I think we tend to be addicts and the thrill of getting a genuine laugh is a real high that I would like to shoot directly into my veins.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @heyiyer
- Youtube: @heyiyer
- Other: tiktok: @heyiyer
Image Credits
Ritvik Dhavale
