The Reel Deal with Aanam C

Dive into a brutally honest, hilarious, and eye-opening conversation with Raunaq Rajani - standup comedian, creator of RelationShit, and one of India’s most viral comedy voices.  In this episode, Raunaq opens up about the creator economy, CPM vs RPM, the reality of social media money, and why same views don’t pay the same. We break down his journey from open mics, viral hits, corporate shows, EIC bootcamp days, and the pressure of juggling multiple platforms. He shares the behind-the-scenes truth about anxiety, creator burnout, platform pressure, and why “fame makes you a bit of an asshole.” This episode is packed with insights on the real creator economy - why older audiences pay more, how CPM and RPM vary by tier cities, and why some views earn 7X more. If you’re a creator, comedian, or anyone navigating online work, this conversation will change the way you look at content. Topics:• Creator earnings explained (CPM, RPM, audience demographics)• Standup vs social media revenue• RelationShit IP & building online formats• Viral hits, corporate shows & early struggle stories• Anxiety of “not doing enough”• Fame, authenticity & creator burnout Chapters :  00:00:00 Stop buying views 00:01:00 I’m a sellout Raunaq 00:01:22 What pays more? 00:04:00 Relationshit Advice 00:05:00 Non comics ruin the vibe 00:07:00 Writing room secrets 00:09:30 Became a lawyer? 00:11:56 Rejection trauma 00:13:14 Academic heartbreaks 00:15:30 First open mic 00:17:00 Why bombing is essential 00:20:00 Real jobs before standup 00:21:30 THE viral moment 00:23:19 Paid bootcamp 00:25:30 The big switch 00:27:00 Identity crisis 00:28:14 The money trap 00:29:00 Crash and burn 00:30:00 Algorithm control vs stage control 00:31:00 Selling tickets vs selling yourself 00:32:46 The unexpected twist 00:33:30 Awkward confessions 00:34:00 Control freak mode 00:39:00 Volume vs craft 00:44:50 Editing struggles 00:45:57 His brutal thesis 00:47:00 Andrew Tate's fame 00:52:29 Skills vs virality 00:54:27 Live show chaos 00:55:39 Rapid Fire 00:59:45 NOT a sellout 01:02:12 Giving Raunaq advice #RaunaqRajani #RelationShit #CreatorEconomy #StandupComedy #IndianComedians #CPM #RPM #YouTubeEarnings #ContentCreatorLife #PodcastIndia #TheRealDealWithAanamC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Aaliyah Kashyap opens up about the real creator life — the pressure to stay perfect, dealing with judgement, rebuilding confidence, brand expectations, slow growth, anxiety, and what people always get wrong about her online. From aesthetic culture to creator burnout, Aaliyah shares an unfiltered look at what it truly means to grow up on social media and constantly be misunderstood. If you’ve ever struggled with confidence, comparison, or the chaos of content creation, this conversation will hit home. In This Episode, Aaliyah Kashyap Talks About: • The dark side of being judged and misunderstood online• Creator confidence struggles & comparison culture• How aesthetic pressure affects mental health• The chaos behind “perfect” Instagram posts• Why YouTube feels real and Instagram feels fake• Anxiety, identity, self-doubt & burnout• Brand deal pressure, money conversations & negotiation• The challenges of being a young woman in the creator industry• The emotional cost of growing up on the internet• Slow growth, algorithm stress & creator expectations It’s a raw, honest, unfiltered conversation every creator needs to hear. Chapters :  0:00 Everyone Thinks I’m Bitchy  3:08 How COVID Made Me Start Creating  5:36 Long Form vs Short Form 8:07 Why YouTube Lets You Be Messy 9:27 Analytics Anxiety: My Views Are Dropping - Now What 11:16 I Neglect Shorts 13:24 Viral Reels vs Branded Reels - The Hypocrisy 14:30 My Two-Manager Hack 17:22 Phone Only? The “You Don’t Need Expensive Gear” Lie 20:57 Apps I Pay For 23:28 From Shy Kid to On-Camera Person  30:51 Brands Asked Me To Delete A Comment - I Said No 32:23 How I Really Make Money: Deals, Projects & Bad AdSense 36:05 I’m Obsessed With Numbers 39:30 Controversial Hot Take: Money Can Buy Happiness 40:57 Rapid Fire: Rumors, “Bitchy” Label & Payment Rage 42:01 Payment Terms = Industry Rot  43:33 Final Thoughts  #AaliyahKashyap #CreatorLife #InfluencerRealities #GenZCreators #MentalHealth #YouTubeCreator #ContentCreation #SocialMediaPressure #InstagramVsReality #CreatorBurnout #ConfidenceStruggles #DigitalLife #OnlineJudgement #AestheticCulture #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to run a podcast in 2025? In this bold and brutally honest episode of The Reel Deal, Aanam Chashmawala sits down with Naina Bhan - actor, content creator, and host of Moment of Silence Podcast - to unpack the real cost of podcasting, creator burnout, and the pressure to stay relevant in the influencer economy. From monetization myths to stealth marketing, authenticity fatigue, and the truth behind podcast production costs, Naina opens up about what it means to build something real in a world obsessed with virality.They dive deep into how women in content are changing the game, the struggle to stay honest online, and what podcasting really looks like behind the perfect thumbnail. In this episode: The business of podcasting in India How Naina Bhan built “Moment of Silence” The burnout every creator hides The hidden cost of being “authentic” Brand deals, production costs & creative control The future of podcasting for Indian creators Whether you’re a creator, marketer, or someone dreaming of starting a podcast, this conversation will make you rethink what it means to show up online.   Chapters :  00:00:00 INTRODUCTION: From Netflix 'Class' to Full-Time Creator Grind 00:04:47 Auditioning Doesn't Pay: Why I Switched to Talent Management 00:06:17 Why You Need Competition to Succeed ?  00:07:22 How MOS Started: Sliding into DMs as a 'Googly-Eyed Fan' 00:08:26 The Anxiety of City Life 00:11:06 Not Being Friends Before Starting a Podcast 00:15:20 The MOS Revenue Model 00:18:37 Podcast Production is Deceptively Expensive  00:22:25 MOS's Secret Weapon 00:26:21 DON'T Start a Podcast If You Think You're Very Interesting 00:28:18 How ₹3 Lakhs/Month is Spent on Production 00:30:45 The Secret to High Energy Content 00:31:30 'Soft Girls' Afraid of Excel Sheets 00:36:38 My Career as an Intimacy Coordinator  00:40:00 The Class Aftermath: Audience Only Wants Steamy Photos Now 00:45:10 Aspiration Cost vs. Cost Per Follower 00:48:52 The Chronic Fear of Fossilizing 00:51:50 Controversial Guest Aftermath 01:02:17 A Brand Refused to Pay 01:04:15 Commission vs. Fixed Salary 01:05:28 The 5-Year Vision: MOS as a 'Women Conducive Media Platform' 01:11:21 Why Brands Are Chasing the Wrong Numbers 01:17:54 Hot or Not 01:20:34 The Biggest Red Flag in a Man Keywords Podcasting in India, Naina Bhan podcast, Moment of Silence, The Reel Deal podcast, creator burnout, influencer marketing, podcast monetization, content creators in India, authenticity in content, women creators, digital storytelling, Indian podcast industry, creator economy, podcast setup, how to start a podcast, podcast production cost, social media burnout, podcast audience growth, content creation 2025   Hashtags  #TheReelDeal #NainaBhan #MomentOfSilence #Podcasting #ContentCreation #CreatorEconomy #PodcastIndia #InfluencerMarketing #WomenCreators #Authenticity #Burnout #IndianPodcasts #AanamC     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really goes on behind your favorite beauty and skincare brands? In this episode of The Reel Deal, Stuti Sethi (Plum Goodness) and Aman Mohunta (Aminu Wellness) sit down with Aanam Chashmawala to uncover the truth about beauty marketing, clean beauty myths, influencer culture, and what today’s Indian consumer really wants. From how brands manipulate perception to why honesty doesn’t always sell, this conversation is an eye-opener for every creator, marketer, and beauty lover. They talk about marketing vs mindfulness, purpose vs profit, and how Indian beauty brands are redefining authenticity in 2025. Topics you’ll hear in this episode: The clean beauty myth — what “natural” really means How influencer marketing changed skincare forever The business of trust: purpose-led vs profit-led brands Why consumers are smarter than marketers think The dark side of performance marketing in beauty What brands like Plum & Aminu are doing differently Watch till the end for insights that every brand & marketer needs to hear. Chapters :  00:00:00 Real or Just Marketing? - The Truth About Beauty & Branding00:00:26 Buying Followers vs Real Fans00:03:13 Aman’s Origin Story - From Finance to Skincare Founder00:03:39 Stuti’s Pivot - From Finance to Beauty Product Design00:05:21 The Visual Trap00:07:33 Copycats Everywhere00:09:55 Why Trust Beats Virality Every Time00:11:01 Virality Isn’t Sales00:13:12 Loyalty Is Real00:15:34 How One Product Made the Brand Famous00:16:14 Copper Peptides Put Aminu On The Map00:20:34 Revenue Reality00:21:54 Quick Commerce vs Premium00:25:01 Performance Marketing Confusion00:28:13 First Principles Approach00:30:47 Why Every Ad Must Also Build the Brand00:31:30 Consistency or Bust00:33:09 Quality Over Quantity00:34:22 In-Person Launches That Actually Work00:36:09 Let Creators Be Creative00:37:17 Handle Negative Reviews00:41:47 Vanilla Caramel Launch - When Everything Clicks00:48:26 The Body Oil That Broke Expectations00:49:30 Why 1M Followers = Not Always Better00:50:22 Engagement, Intent & Niche Signal00:55:00 When Brands Try to Direct Everything00:59:40 Final Takeaways01:00:30 Final Sign-Off #TheReelDeal #BeautyIndustry #CleanBeauty #IndianBrands #PlumGoodness #AminuWellness #SkincareIndia #InfluencerMarketing #BrandBuilding #MarketingPodcast #BeautyTalks #Authenticity #CreatorEconomy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really happens behind the glamorous world of influencers? In this brutally honest episode of The Reel Deal with Aanam C, influencer managers Prashant Dubey (who manages Jahnvi Tiwari & Gopali Tiwari) and Anisha (Manager of Juhi Godambe) pull back the curtain on India’s booming creator economy — and expose the truth that most creators stay silent about. They talk about: Late brand payments and why creators sometimes go months without getting paid The hidden costs of influencer campaigns — styling, production, editing, props, GST nightmares & more Agencies ghosting after approvals, the dark side of “90-day cycles,” and the chaos of chasing money Real talk on CPV rates, brand negotiations & pricing hacks for new creators The emotional toll of managing fame, money, and expectations while running global campaigns Why influencer management is not glamorous — it’s legal contracts, sleepless nights, and spreadsheets If you’ve ever wondered how influencer deals really work, or why creators and managers constantly fight for their payments, this episode gives you an inside look from the people who live it every single day. Watch till the end for insights that every creator, brand, and agency in India needs to hear. Chapters :  00:00:00 Imposter Syndrome — Are Creators Faking Confidence? 00:00:26 ChatGPT Replacing Managers? 00:00:32 Payment Delays Are KILLING Creators 00:01:55 Managers On The Mic — The Real Story Begins 00:03:32 How Anisha Accidentally Became a Manager 00:05:21 Law, Lockdown & The Birth of a Creator Manager 00:07:30 Ghosted By An Agency — The Turning Point 00:11:00 Why Some Creators Survive 10 Years — Discipline Over Luck 00:13:30 Commitment = Content — The Grind Behind “Perfect” Shots 00:17:00 Street Shoots in India Are BRUTAL 00:18:24 Who Actually Runs a Creator’s Life? 00:22:52 GST, TDS & The Finance Headache Creators Don’t Talk About 00:25:30 The Campaign From HELL — Payment Default Nightmare 00:26:54 9 Months Of Ghosting — The Founder Who Vanished 00:32:12 Production Costs & Why Creators Pay Upfront 00:34:31 The “We’ll Pay Next Cycle” Lie 00:36:00 Overnight Edits & Unreal Deadlines 00:38:17 GST & Upfront Payments — Why Creators Are Always Broke 00:41:52 The Financial Chaos Creators Never Share 00:44:00 Travel Looks Glamorous — It’s Actually Exhausting 00:46:54 Travel Reality vs Instagram Illusion 00:49:30 Internal Workflow Hacks — How Managers Escalate & Win 00:50:04 Inside the Manager’s Playbook 00:55:00 Brands Want Full Control — The Creative Tug-Of-War 01:05:26 Toughest Part of the Job — What Breaks Managers 01:15:04 HOT or NOT — Brutally Honest Round 01:16:51 Creative Freedom vs Brand Control — The Real Fight 01:17:24 The Hardest Truth About Being a Manager 01:18:30 Final Thoughts — What The Industry Needs To Change #TheReelDeal #AanamC #InfluencerMarketing #CreatorEconomy #JuhiGodambe #JahnviTiwari #GopaliTiwari #PrashantDubey #Anisha #InfluencerLife #BrandDeals #InfluencerManagers #IndianCreators #CreatorBusiness #InfluencerTruths #BehindTheReels #CreatorMoney #InfluencerIndia #InfluencerFinance #ContentCreation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices