Stories of Reinvention, Bold Women & Mumbai’s Magic: Vrushali Samant on The AboutHer Show
What happens when a journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker all live inside one person, and she also happens to be a mother, a media professional, and a fearless storyteller?
Meet Vrushali Samant, our guest on this week’s episode of The AboutHer Show, and a brilliant example of how creativity doesn’t follow a straight line. In a world that often demands women “pick a lane,” Vrushali has followed many, and made her mark in all.
She’s authored four novels, written award-winning screenplays, directed a powerful short film, and re-entered the writing world after motherhood with renewed clarity and drive. Her story is a vibrant tapestry of second acts, self-discovery, and storytelling that refuses to be boxed in.
This episode is part of our Next Chapter series, celebrating women who reinvent themselves not by walking away from the past, but by building something richer from it.
Meet Vrushali Samant
Vrushali Samant has worked across genres and formats in Indian media, from CNBC and NDTV to MTV, from writing bestselling novels to co-writing feature films like My Birthday Song. Her short film Bena won Best Director at the Berlin Indie Film Festival and was showcased on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
Her books Can’t Die for Size Zero, Prime Time Crime, He Loves Me Not, and Madness in Mumbai have all made waves, two of which are in the process of being adapted for screen.
Now, as a student of Boman Irani’s Spiralbound screenwriting program, she continues to sharpen her craft and explore new ways to tell powerful stories.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
1. Genre Isn’t the Starting Point—People Are
Vrushali doesn’t pick a genre first. She’s drawn to the soul of a story—its characters, contradictions, and emotional arcs. The genre, she says, dresses itself around the story.
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2. Body Positivity Began with Lived Experience
Can’t Die for Size Zero was born out of a deeply personal moment. Instead of shrinking herself to fit an image, Vrushali decided to expand the narrative—sparking a body-positive movement that led to her writing a column for Marie Claire India.
3. Screenwriting vs. Novel Writing: Two Different Muscles
While novels allow you to “get inside” a character’s head, screenwriting demands subtlety and visual storytelling. “You have to show what someone thinks—without them saying it,” she explains.
4. Bena and the Realities of Indie Film
Her award-winning short film Bena was inspired by caregivers who change their identities to retain jobs. Filmed post-COVID with minimal resources, it’s a testament to how powerful stories can emerge from close observation and empathy.
5. Indie Fuels the Soul, Mainstream Pays the Bills
Vrushali candidly shares the contrast: mainstream media offers structure and financial comfort, while indie projects feed the soul. Her advice? Try to keep a healthy balance of both.
6. Learning from Boman Irani Changed Her Craft
Through Spiralbound, Vrushali learned how to strengthen characters, rewrite entire narratives, and approach storytelling with clarity. She believes even established writers benefit from mentorship—just like athletes need coaches.
7. Motherhood and Pause, Not Barriers
When asked about industry barriers, Vrushali explained that her pauses weren’t because of discrimination, they came from her choice to be a hands-on mother. Re-entering wasn’t always easy, but it enriched her storytelling in ways that only lived experience can.
8. Advice to Aspiring Women Writers
“Have your finances in place,” she says, with refreshing honesty. Creative careers are fulfilling, but also uncertain. Stability can give your art room to breathe.
9. Technology Is the Great Enabler
Whether it’s shooting on a smartphone or publishing on a blog, Vrushali believes creators today have unprecedented access to tools that can amplify their voice—without waiting for gatekeepers.
10. Writing as Ritual
Her mornings begin with chanting, journaling, a poem, and at least 300 words of writing. That quiet, consistent rhythm keeps her grounded—even in the madness of Mumbai.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
➡️ Spotify: https://shorturl.at/4U4v0
➡️ Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Yqn3L
➡️ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/DDg0Y
Let this episode be your dose of inspiration if you’re navigating your own second act, struggling to find your voice again, or just looking for a story that reminds you what’s possible.
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Let us know what part of Vrushali’s journey resonated most with you. Your story might just inspire someone else’s second act. 💛
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About the Author: Sangeeta Relan
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I’m Sangeeta Relan—an educator, writer, podcaster, researcher, and the founder of AboutHer. With over 30 years of experience teaching at the university level, I’ve also journeyed through life as a corporate wife, a mother, and now, a storyteller.
