Agasthya Shah on his passion for content creation and what keeps him going

In this candid conversation with Social Ketchup Ed, Mrinil Mathur Rajwani, our cover star, Agasthya Shah, discusses his passion for creating content and what gives him the motivation. 

In the world of content creation, most creators thrive on fleeting trends, viral moments, and the pursuit of views and likes. A few are driven by passion. Agasthya Shah, a 22-year-old Gen Z content creator who made it to our timelines, rose to fame during the lockdown, has now carved a place for himself in this industry through his dedication, zeal, and belief in hard work. He is in it for the long haul, and his loyal audience, unwavering authenticity and relatable content stand as a testament to all the efforts he has invested to reach this milestone.

For Agasthya, content creation isn’t merely a career; it’s an extension of his personality, a space where his passion for making videos and connecting with people comes to life. His approach to content creation is deeply rooted in consistency, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of growth. And all of this isn’t enough; his charming smile in his videos will do it for you.  In this conversation, themed "Pierced with Passion", Agasthya opens up about his creative evolution, the responsibility that comes with influence, and the mindset that keeps him motivated day after day. 

Also Read: Gen Z's preference for unfiltered content is leading to a cultural shift, experts weigh in

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How different are you from your feed? How are you off-camera? 

When I meet people for the first time, I sometimes ask them if they think I’m the same person on and off camera. Almost 99% of the time, they say I am. However, there are aspects of my life that I’ve chosen to keep private.

So, I’d say I’m 99% the same, but that 1% is just for me—when I’m at home in casual clothes, sleeping, watching Netflix, or doing random things that I don’t want people to see. Otherwise, I think I am pretty much who I appear to be. I believe that’s why I have such a strong connection with my audience—I’ve never tried to put up a front. I’ve always been real and authentic because pretending to be someone else is exhausting. Imagine waking up every day and acting like a different person on and off camera—it’s just not sustainable.

How were you in your growing-up years? Tell us about your life before you became an internet personality.

I was super underconfident in school. I used to shy away from attention because I felt I couldn’t live up to it. Even when I participated in annual day functions, I struggled with imposter syndrome—questioning why people were clapping for me.

But after stepping into content creation, I’ve grown into myself. I’ve realised that I am capable of receiving appreciation, though that imposter syndrome hasn’t completely disappeared. It’s still there, but I’ve evolved.

Back in the day, I never used to overthink things. But now, especially in content creation, I tend to overanalyse everything. I believe creators have a responsibility to be mindful of what they say and do. You can’t just put something out there without considering its impact. Whether you like it or not, people are watching, and that carries a certain responsibility. I don’t want to do anything wrong or unintentionally insensitive. Honestly, I just want to be a good person and do what I believe is right. Even if my actions affect just one person negatively, that doesn’t sit well with me.

Do you miss making keyboard videos?

I do. And a big goal for 2025 is to start playing again—not even to make videos, just to play. I feel like I’ve left that hobby behind because life got too busy, and there was too much to do. I really want to bring it back into my life because it used to calm me down a lot.

I think, at first, I’ll play just for myself. But once in a while, I might spice things up and post a keyboard cover.

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What made you switch from keyboard covers to comedy content?

That happened when I realized, in 11th and 12th grade, that whenever I made jokes, people were genuinely entertained—they would laugh. So I thought, why not try creating content like that?

I had obviously seen creators like Prajakta Koli, Lilly Singh, Bhuvan Bam, and Ashish Chanchlani—these guys were making comedy content, and I loved watching them. I would laugh at their videos, and I thought, why not give it a shot?

So I started making videos about school life, family life, and similar topics on TikTok. At that time, I was mostly doing audio trends—I wasn’t speaking in my videos yet. But that’s where the switch happened. Since people in school enjoyed my jokes, I figured, why not try it online?

I didn’t know if it would take off, but that’s how I transitioned into making comedy-relatable videos.

The biggest challenge comedy creators face is creating content on days when they don’t feel "funny." How do you overcome this?

Two things. First, this is my job now. No matter how I’m feeling, I need to get up, get ready, and get to work—whether that means scripting, shooting, or brainstorming. I’ve been trying to treat it more like a 9-to-5 job, even though no one is forcing me to wake up in the morning.

Second, when I’m really not feeling it, I use music. Music has a powerful impact on your mindset. If I play an upbeat, peppy song, it helps shift my mood and puts me in the right zone. Even if I’m having an off day, listening to the right music can help me tap into my "work mode," where being funny or relatable comes naturally.

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Agasthya Shah graces the cover of our January-February 2025 edition! Read the full interview in the latest issue—out now!