By Nivedita Vasu (yes, the one who thought she was being interviewed, but ended up giving the masterclass)
It usually starts like this:
“Hey Nivedita! Long time. Big fan of your work.
We’re building something exciting — let’s jam sometime?”
I smile. I reply. I hop on the call. Because I’m me — always up for a good story, a solid hustle, a pitch that might just go somewhere.
Cut to:
Me, 45 minutes in, holding a green tea, wondering whether I’m in a meeting, an audition, or just one more episode of “Shark Tank: Freelance Edition.”
Because guess what?
They’re not hiring.
They’re harvesting.
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The Media Buffet
Over the last few years, I’ve been pitched to by TV channels, OTT platforms, production houses, and about 487 people who want to launch “the next Netflix but desi, quirky, and bootstrapped.”
Some came with dreams.
Some came with decks.
Some came with Canva presentations and VC buzzwords they half-understood.
What they all had in common?
They wanted my brain.
Not on the team.
Just on the table.
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Not Complaining. Just… Connecting the Dots.
I love conversations. Always have. I believe stories grow when they’re shared.
But somewhere down the line, I noticed a pattern.
People would reach out to collaborate.
Then quietly collect — my thoughts, my contacts, my content strategy.
And then… disappear like that actor who promised to do TV and now does reels in Dubai.
It wasn’t evil. Just… easy.
For them.
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So, Who Hired Who?
Turns out, in many of these meetings, I wasn’t the one being interviewed.
I was the hire.
I was giving them their pilot blueprint, their brand language, their budget strategy — wrapped in wit and warmth — and doing it for free.
Meanwhile, they were off to pitch it to someone else.
Sometimes with success.
Sometimes with my pitch deck reworded in Comic Sans.
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Let’s Call It What It Is
These aren’t collaborations.
They’re consultations disguised as coffee chats.
And vibe isn’t a form of compensation, darling.
Here’s the thing: I’ve built shows, scaled channels, launched platforms, mentored teams.
If you want all that — amazing.
But let’s do it right.
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So What Do I Say Now?
I still take the calls.
Still love the brainstorming.
Still believe magic happens when people come together with good intent.
But now, I gently (and firmly) say:
“Happy to explore — but wherever I come in, I come in with skin in the game.”
Whether that’s equity, credit, or creative control —
It has to feel like a two-way street. Not a talent donation camp.
Because I’m not here to freelance someone else’s dream.
I’ve done that. I’ve overdone that.
Now I’m here to co-own stories that mean something.
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Final Word?
If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Did I just give away my best idea for free?”
You’re not alone.
Welcome to the club.
We’ve got snacks, scars, and a sharper radar now.
And if you’re reaching out to me — fantastic.
Just know:
This time, I’m not bringing just my experience.
I’m bringing standards
