Aparnaa Gaanesh

Amma had always been clear with her advice: “Don’t be a puppet to other people’s opinions, situations, or fears. Be Bindaas!” She always encouraged me to follow my dreams with a free-spirited attitude. And so, I did just that.

It wasn’t long before I realized I was more curious about what happened behind the camera. The magic of filmmaking—how it all came together—pulled me in. This curiosity led me to pursue a postgraduate degree in Film & Television Production at Xavier’s Institute of Communication, Mumbai.

By the age of 20, I was producing and directing content for big names like Disney, CNBC, and P&G. I felt like I was only getting started. But there was more to learn.

At one point, I found myself thinking about what came next, a little unsure but still eager to push forward. Imagine a starry-eyed girl from Mumbai, with no connections and no place to stay, landing in Chennai. I created an opportunity to work as an assistant director at Madras Talkies, the renowned production house led by one of the industry's masters, Mani Ratnam

That was me—Bindaas! I couldn’t help but smile at how life had unfolded.

Not long after, I joined Star TV Network as a Promo Producer, where I created promotional content for the network. Before I knew it, I was on the launch team of Star One as a Programming Producer. Life was moving at full speed.

I decided it was time to pursue another dream—starting a family.
“Tathasthu,” said the Universe, and at 27, I had my baby girl, Archisha.

Becoming a mother changed everything. I had expected life to be busy, but what I didn’t anticipate was just how much motherhood would shift who I was. Will my work life go on like before? I wondered. I had my second baby, Meera, when I was 30, and that’s when it hit me. I no longer wanted to leave my children for long stretches of time. But in the media industry, that was a given—unpredictable, long hours were part of the package.

Is it time for a break? I asked myself. It seemed so.

Choosing to stay home and raise my kids over continuing my career wasn’t a decision that many around me understood. I was criticized, and the question often lingered: Was this the right move? But to me, the answer was simple. The formative years of my children’s lives wouldn’t come again, but I could always return to work and continue my career.

Thankfully, Brijesh, my husband, stood by me, supporting every choice I made. During this time, I discovered a whole new side of myself. I got trained in classical dance, became a certified yoga teacher, and even participated in art exhibitions showcasing my abstract paintings. The flexibility allowed me to embrace new passions while raising my children.

Years later, as my kids grew older, I faced a new challenge: How do I re-enter the media industry?

I felt lost, battling self-doubt and a complete lack of confidence. Hey Bhagwaan, Where was the confident, Bindaas Aparnaa? Who was this stranger inside me? I would often wonder. I eventually made my way back in 2015, directing branded content, ad films, and even a web series. But something still wasn’t right.

It was incredibly creative and exciting, but as expected, it came with irregular working hours. By 4 PM, I wanted to be there for my children when they returned from school. But who would hire someone with such an unusual request?

One day, I had a light bulb moment. YouTube! I thought. Why not try creating something from home?

But doubts crept in. Home videos? After all my years of professional work? Isn’t this a step down? And the nagging question: Log Kya Kahenge? ("What will people say?")

Then, I remembered Amma’s words: “Don’t be a puppet, be Bindaas!” I realized I had to face my fears. Let’s start with what I know, I decided. Makeup! I was a makeup enthusiast and had a bunch of lipsticks lying around, so I started experimenting with home videos.

At first, they were terrible. I made a ton of mistakes, but I kept at it. Finally, in 2018, on my dad’s birthday, I launched my YouTube channel, JoyGeeks1. My content focused on beauty and wellness, with reviews of beauty products and yoga-related videos.

In just two years, I won YouTube’s Next Up Award in 2020, secured several brand deals, and discovered multiple income streams through my videos. My subscriber count soared past 50,000. It felt good, but I knew I wanted more.

I had a bigger vision for the future, but when my father asked, 'How?' It hit me—I didn’t have a plan.

That’s when I found Siddharth Rajsekar. I stumbled upon one of his webinars, and from the moment he spoke, I was hooked. He talked about this concept of being a digital coach—something I had never even considered. Could I really do this?

With Sid’s niche clarity sessions, I realized what I wanted to do. I didn’t want other women to face the struggles I had. I believed that YouTube and Instagram videos were the perfect solution for women to balance work and family life. This is it, I thought. My niche became “Making money through videos for businesswomen, coaches, healers, and upcoming creators.”

I took Sid’s training, upgraded my mindset, and learned how to coach others. By the end of 2021, I launched myself as a Women’s Confidence Coach, using video as my tool to help women build their confidence, gain visibility, and grow their businesses.

I'm thrilled to have added powerful NLP skills to my toolkit. As a personal power coach, this empowers me to help women break through their limits and move forward with greater strength and confidence.

Now, I’m the proud founder of Bindaas Divas, a community of over 1,000 enterprising women committed to growth and financial independence. These women are learning to use videos strategically to elevate their careers while balancing family life.

It’s incredibly fulfilling to see their growth and watch their children observe their mothers as they build personal brands, make bold decisions, and earn more than they ever imagined.

Thanks to Sid, and the path he created, I now help women be Bindaas, confident, and ready to own their stories.