Authenticity, trend‑setting, brand‑building: Learn the trade secrets from a leading content creator at Rajasthan IT Day 2025

We’re all familiar with the seamless videos and eye‑catching feeds that populate our social media timelines. Yet behind every polished post lies a story of trial, error and relentless creativity. At Rajasthan IT Day 2025, the fireside chat “Behind the Camera: Unfiltered Journeys of Digital Trailblazers” aimed to illuminate precisely that. By drawing back the curtain on the realities of content creation, the session revealed how authenticity and personal growth become the very ingredients of compelling storytelling—resonating not only with followers but also with investors, brands and decision‑makers across industries.

Moderated by Dhawal Singhal, Program Manager at iStart Rajasthan, the conversation featured Nitesh Yadav, whose unique blend of fashion and travel content has earned him millions of views. Together, they explored how creators can sustain their passion, maintain authenticity amid commercial pressures and leverage personal branding to fuel startup success.

Rajasthan IT Day 2025, held at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur, showcased the state’s burgeoning tech ecosystem through panel discussions, hands‑on workshops, pitch battles, a startup bazaar, an expo, and game jams. Co‑organised by iStart Rajasthan, one of India’s most inclusive startup platforms, the event underscored iStart’s mission: to incubate, mentor and fund promising ventures—up to ₹25 lakh without the hurdles of traditional tendering. With over 5,700 registered startups (including more than 2,000 led by women), iStart continues to catalyse Rajasthan’s entrepreneurial growth.

From office cubicle to global stage

Yadav kicked off by recalling his early days in the corporate world, where a strict dress code and limited leave policy stifled his creative impulses. A spontaneous trip to Goa in 2019, which he went on after quitting his 9-5 job, changed everything. “I left my job, traveled for 15 days and started posting every moment. Soon my videos began going viral,” he said.

He stressed that content creation isn’t reserved for a particular niche or generation. “You don’t need any specific niche. Whatever creativity you have—fashion, travel, slow motion, beauty—just create on that,” Yadav advised. He emphasised that viral success often hinges on relatability: “If you share something your audience can use—budget‑friendly travel tips or styling advice—they’ll follow and share your content organically.”

Balancing passion and profession: Has it become too commercial?

Taking the conversation ahead, Singhal posed a poignant question: “When passion becomes profession, does content lose its personal touch? Are creators still having fun, or just chasing followers?”

Yadav acknowledged the tension but argued that social media’s ever‑evolving trends keep the work fresh. “Social media is where things change all the time—new trends, new fashion, new video formats. Every moment you get to do something different,” he said. Rather than mimic viral trends, he urged creators to set them. “Instead of following trending content, create your own. Be on trend by being yourself.”

He also highlighted the financial incentives without compromising authenticity. “Brands won’t pay you less than Rs 1 lakh for integrations if you have good engagement,” Nitesh noted. Yet, he insisted that true passion underpins sustainable success: “If you’re confident in your creativity and believe in your idea, people will copy you once you prove yourself.”

Building a brand: DIY or agency‑led?

In the final segment, Singhal asked: “For startups, is it essential to build your own personal brand first, or should you hire an agency?”

Yadav advocated a hybrid approach. “You can do both. Start creating content early to cultivate an audience that trusts you. Then, whether you launch your own product or run a company, you already have a ready market.” He concluded with a rallying call for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs: “If you haven’t started yet, begin today. Identify your creative spark, or simply share your daily routine. Both can resonate. Social media is a positive tool—use it to learn, grow and prove yourself. Once you do, your family, your society, even your competitors will want to be like you!”

From candid reflections on viral success to strategic insights on branding and monetisation, Nitesh Yadav’s unfiltered journey offered attendees a blueprint for turning creativity into a thriving digital enterprise—an inspiring testament to the entrepreneurial ethos championed by Rajasthan IT Day and iStart Rajasthan.