PULSE OF THE CREATOR CULTURE

Get your Beats on with rapper Srushti Tawade and digital creator Niharika NM as they talk about breaking barriers, conquering creative blocks, and staying real

- ANURAG TAGAT

BETWEEN OF THEM, ONE'S THE TWO GOING ON A FIRST DATE WITH STAR CRICKETER GILL AND ANOTHER IS CHOOSING SHUBMAN "BREAKFAST OVER BAE" AND SHUNNING A TOXIC EX.

Both Niharika NM and Srushti Tawade have rocked the cover of Rolling Stone India before and now they're here together and taking stock of their respective journeys as creators so far.

The pair give us a crash course on what it takes to be a content creator in 2023, even as they're in the spotlight for Budweiser Beats' collaboration series Real Behind The Reel, which aims to empower creators to conquer obstacles, ignite inspiration, and unlock their fullest potential. It aims to uncover the hidden stories, celebrate the visionaries, and amplify the voices shaping the future of creativity and define what it means to 'Get Your Beats On.

If there are things they share in common, it's not difficult to point out -- Niharika and Tawade have both amassed a massive following often for their humorous turns, but also keeping their comedic intent rooted in awkward and sometimes even uncomfortable truths.

From dating advice to always pulling the funniest facial expressions on the Internet, engineer-turned-digital creator Niharika NM says authenticity stays at the core of her writing now that the Bengaluru girl has arguably broken into the mainstream. Tawade, for her part, is still staying close to hip-hop but doing it her way, moving forward with the confidence that "whatever is served plenty" will eventually become part of mainstream consciousness rather than a niche with one-time relevance.