We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarab Sahni a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sarab, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I embarked on my creative journey with photography at the age of 12. Through photography, I started creating series of photographs that evolved into storytelling. This path eventually led me to the world of moving images, and it took six more years for me to finally discover filmmaking.
During my undergraduate years, I immersed myself in the basics of editing, directing, producing, sound design, and color grading. This foundational knowledge fueled my passion and desire to master the art of filmmaking, encompassing writing, directing, and producing to craft and capture beautiful stories.
As a Punjabi born and raised in the Middle East, I often felt out of place, neither fully belonging to my roots in India nor fitting in completely with the local culture. This duality of identity is a common thread among immigrants worldwide, and it has inspired me to create stories that resonate with people from similar backgrounds. I strive to reflect characters from traditional yet contemporary Punjabi families in my narratives, similar to directors like Mira Nair and Gurinder Chadha.
Driven by curiosity and a desire to master all aspects of filmmaking, I have embraced multiple roles. These diverse experiences have honed my skills and enriched my artistic vision. Drawing from my unique background and personal journey. Now, as I continue my filmmaking journey in New York, I am eager to immerse myself in the heart of the movie-making world. My goal is to amplify and uplift South Asian stories that need to be heard and seen. With my experience, I aspire to help other filmmakers tell compelling stories that resonates most with their personal journeys.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As someone who has moved across countries—from the Middle East to the UK and now the USA—I have sought opportunities to amplify voices like mine. As a Punjabi writer, director, and producer, I aim to tell stories that are nostalgic to those who grew up in a foreign country.
My journey into the industry began in film schools, where I met many talented filmmakers achieving success. Driven by creativity and determination, I aspire to continue creating. Filmmaking demands discipline, especially as an independent writer and director. No one imposes deadlines on me; I set my own and maintain the determination to show up, write, research, and progress toward my goals.
With my diverse experiences in various filmmaking roles, I often share my insights as a writer and director through editing, which I believe is crucial to powerful storytelling. I provide feedback and guidance to those who seek it, leveraging my background in multiple aspects of production.
Some of my recent achievements include premiering my short film, “My Miracle Boy” at the prestigious Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and my latest spec commercial on Nature Made Multivitamin at Cineworld in Ireland. These milestones bring me joy, knowing my work touches audiences worldwide.
What sets me apart is my collective skill set, developed through diverse experiences across various types of production. This broad background, along with my experience in multiple filmmaking roles, enhances my ability to contribute meaningfully to productions.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is bringing the limitless imagination of my thoughts and situations to life. Watching the characters, words, and worlds that once existed only in my mind come alive on paper and then on screen is incredibly fulfilling. The ability to create and share this boundless world with others is the most satisfying part of being a film director. Crafting new perspectives through an artistic lens that can impart diverse meanings to a situation is a true blessing. However, the key to this creative process is showing up every day and writing. As Steven Pressfield says in “The War of Art,” “The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
As artists, many of us have faced, and may still be facing, the struggle to be seen or heard. Our minds can often build insecurities. When surrounded by individuals who do not understand our creative journey, the problem lies not with them, but with us for allowing such doubts to hinder us or take control over what keeps us sane. In all aspects of life, from entrepreneurs to artists, those who take risks are the ones who succeed. For me, artists who commit fully to their craft are truly successful. The only thing needed is faith. As Julia Cameron writes in “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity,” “Creativity is a spiritual practice. It is not something that can be understood by the rational mind alone. It requires faith.”
Whenever I feel like I am falling behind, I turn to “The Artist’s Way.” One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from this book is the practice of Morning Pages. Many of our internal thoughts are hidden, and the only way to fully understand ourselves is through writing—writing without judgment or limitations, writing freely. This practice has personally taught me a great deal about myself and has deepened my understanding of others.
For artists, each project is a personal piece of themselves, a concept that can be difficult for those outside the creative world to fully grasp. It’s often only when artists achieve visible success that they receive the “right attention.” What non-creatives might not realize is that from the moment we embark on our creative journey, we’ve already achieved something significant. This pursuit not only keeps us fulfilled and grounded but also drives us to find innovative solutions to financial challenges.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarabsahni.com/
- Instagram: @sarabfilms
- Linkedin: Sarab Sahni
