COVER STORY: Asees Kaur, Mithila Palkar and Malini Agarwal on Being India’s Foremost #WomenInCreativity

The path to creativity is scary.  Who teaches you the essential skills and who nourishes the hunger to be creative? Not every home and certainly not the current educational system. To choose to be creative is to embrace uncertainty, resolve and a keen love for the process — things that we as a society neither teach kids nor train teachers in.

In a climate as discouraging as this, picking the path of creativity is an act of courage. This cover story is a chronicle of three journeys that have displayed dedication and defiance in their pursuit of creative careers. Asees Kaur is a distinguished vocalist and playback singer. Her most notable songs have been “Chogada” from Loveyatri (2018), “Raatan Lambiyan” from Shershaah (2021) and “Kacchi Doriyaan” from Maja Ma (2022). Kaur is breaking ground in the Indian film industry as an artist who can sing hit playback songs as well as viral non-film music, thereby cementing a hybrid, comprehensive audience across the world.

Mithila Palkar is an actor and content creator who has made a name for herself in both the film and digital space. With her unique blend of talent and charisma, Mithila has become a fan favorite and has starred in numerous web series including Little Things and Girl in the City. Her contributions to the world of entertainment have helped to redefine the industry and have inspired a new generation of actors and creators.

Malini Agarwal is the founder of MissMalini (India’s leading entertainment website) and The Good Creator Co for influencers. Over the years, she has grown MissMalini into a successful digital media platform, authored a book and become a powerful social media influencer. Agarwal is a pioneer in digital media, leveraging social media to build a loyal audience and a successful brand, making her a role model for entrepreneurs and a notable figure in today’s fast-paced media industry.

In this interview with Rolling Stone India, Agarwal, Palkar and Kaur discuss creativity, entrepreneurship, what it takes to be successful and more. Read below:

Why do you think it is important to have a ‘Women in Creativity’ list?

Agarwal: I used to struggle a lot with the idea of women’s awards or women’s lists or for instance being part of Women in Creativity. But I learned this actually from my husband and he wasn’t mansplaining he was actually giving me some great insight, that in a world where men do get more opportunities and historically have had so many more chances, if we were to make one global list of people who are creative just by the virtue of the population that has had that access, there would be more men on that list. So I think it’s great that a spotlight is being shone upon women in creativity or women of impact and I’m here for this narrative.

I think one day we won’t need to make that differentiation and I’m sure there are more than enough lists that are not just men and women, there’s now non-binary and every spectrum of the rainbow but I think that instead of focussing on feeling squeamish that, why do we have to have a separate lists, I think we should focus on the fact that there are so many incredible women who deserve to be on a list at all and I think that’s where I’ve kind of made my peace with it. I think the thing I do struggle with is celebrating Women’s Day once a year. I think we should celebrate men, women, entrepreneurs, people who are creative and good kind-hearted people every single day and live our best lives and not wish time away. I think it’s never a bad thing if somebody is trying to highlight a good skill.

Palkar: I think the issue of Women in Creativity is important because this is something that we’ve been fighting for a very long time and it is taking its own course to change and I will not deny that change is happening, but I think the more we talk about it, the more we action it, is when we will actually experience the change. So it is very important that we all come together, are our own voices and speed this process up. Because we deserve the best.

Kaur: This issue is very important and very close to my heart because women genuinely need more recognition in every field and if we promote women in music in influencing, in acting, in films, everywhere, I think the world will be a better place. The industry will be s better and a safer place.

What are your thoughts on the hustle culture?

Agarwal: I believe in the hustle and understand sometimes that it can be overwhelming and it can really get to you and cause a lot of anxiety. But I think it depends on how you look at hustle. I like the hustle for the energy, keeping myself on my toes and the challenge. I don’t like the hustle of the compare-and-cancel culture.

What is it like at being the best in your field?

Palkar: I mean, it’s a lot of pressure and a lot of responsibility. It’s kind of you to say that and I don’t take it lightly. I just hope that I can keep doing better so that a lot of us find our voices to be better versions of ourselves.

Kaur: My only thoughts will be thank you so much. I’m really glad to hear this and I just pray and hope to maintain this for a long time.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Agarwal: I’ve written a whole chapter in my first book called ‘A Letter to My 18-Year-Old Self’ in which I basically told young Miss Malini before she was Miss Malini that you have the most wealth. You have the wealthiest and most valuable currency in the world which is time. You have so much time to make mistakes, make friends, learn things, grow, fulfill all your dreams and I think that’s what I really wanted her to know that she should value that time and never wish time away.

What should people know about entrepreneurship?

Agarwal: I think that I would like to demystify the belief that you have to be an MBA or business minded to become an entrepreneur. I think you can be an entrepreneur no matter what your background is. I have met so many incredible entrepreneurs who started off in the pandemic deciding to make cake in jars and especially for women who a lot of times feel, ‘I’m not a businesswoman or I’m not an entrepreneur,’ you absolutely must stop telling yourself that because I used to think that way and look at me now.

What are some musts for a career in creativity?

Palkar: Persistence and resilience are two very important things that I follow, and I think it is important to really hold on to those, especially in the world that we live in. 

Kaur: I think hard work and dedication is something that really helps you to do better in any field and for creativity, I think keeping yourself sane is very important because if you are at peace only then you can create amazing things, amazing music, amazing films, whatever you are doing.

How has diversifying helped your entrepreneurial journey?

Agarwal: Today you can make anything your career and it’s fabulous. I can be a makeup artist or a social media influencer. There are careers that are going to exist for Gen Alpha that don’t exist yet. But I think what’s incredible about the women on this list is that even though they are so unique in what they do and so vast in their skill set I think they all have a string of empathy and high EQ that you will find in common with each of them. They work hard, they hustle hard, they’re extremely creative and I think that they don’t take no for an answer even though and I’m sure they’ve all had, and I’ve spoken to many of them, bouts of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, dealt with patriarchy, dealt with many a no. I think as a result of it the women on this list never become hard, they still have a soft mushy interior and I love that about them.

Diversifying is so key, I think for me diversifying was being platform agnostic. We’re not just about being a blog, people don’t go around saying I’m a blogger, they say I’m a content creator or an influencer. Tomorrow there will be another word for it. But it’s about being inclusive, platform agnostic and collaborative. I love this quote and I repeat it everywhere, ‘You don’t have to unscrew anybody else’s lightbulb to shine.’  

What would you like your legacy to be remembered as?

Kaur: I would like my legacy to be somewhat like Madam Noor Jehan Ji because I am an ardent fan of hers and I really quite like my journey so far and I look forward to make it even better and melodious.

What is your proudest moment?

Kaur: I think I am proud of the fact that today I am living my dream because if you are not living your dream and you are living a life which is under someone else’s control or under someone else’s influence that is a very difficult thing to do. So for me to be proud of something is living my own dream and living it in a beautiful way possible. 

Cover Credits:

Watch partner: Tissot India
Photographer: Priyankk Nandwana
Art director: Nikita Rao
Cover design: Tanvi Shah
Brand director: Noha Qadri and Tulsi Bavishi
Styling: Peusha Sethia and Sakshi Prithyani
Mithila’s outfit: ZARA
Asees’s outfit: Cover Story
Malini’s outfit: ZARA
Malini’s earrings: Pipa Bella x Rhea Kapoor
Hair and Make-up:
Asees and Malini: Gayetri Chakravarthy and Nitu Tamang
Mithila: Kajol Mulani