Unstoppable Woman with Shailja Saraswati

Most people think imitation is harmless. But over time, it does something deeper. It weakens voice. It blurs identity. And it slowly distances people from what is truly their own. In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, I sit down with artist Savio Dsilva for a conversation that begins with art but quickly opens into something larger. We explore originality, dyslexia, education beyond the classroom, the pressure to fit prescribed systems, and the courage it takes to build a life on your own terms. Savio speaks with rare honesty about why he refuses shortcuts, why he values story over surface, and why creation cannot come from borrowed references alone. This is not just a conversation about tattooing or art. It is about: • creation versus imitation • life beyond the rat race • finding yourself through what you make • why real education is not always the classroom • and what it means to stay true in a world pushing conformity One line that stayed with me: “Life is not about marks. Life is about living.” If you have ever felt pulled between external success and inner truth, this conversation will stay with you. Watch till the end, and tell me in the comments: At what point does imitation stop being inspiration and start becoming disconnection? #UnstoppableWoman #SavioDsilva #Art #Creativity #Originality #InnerAuthority #LifeDesign #Leadership Chapters: 00:00 Beyond Marks 00:51 Childhood and Dyslexia 01:27 Art as a Language 04:23 Accidental JJ Entry 06:08 Early Hustle and Support 08:06 Advice for Dyslexia 10:42 Parenting Without Pressure 12:33 Tattoo Journey Begins 16:37 Choosing Meaningful Clients 18:01 Ocean Breath and Flow 23:22 Tattoos That Uplift 24:32 Designing From Memory 25:21 AI Temptation And Anatomy 26:22 Coverups And Corrections 26:58 Scaling Without Burnout 28:44 Escaping The Rat Race 34:04 Resilience Against Noise 35:57 Music And Daily Rituals 38:00 Big Projects And Curiosity 41:12 Parenting With Freedom 44:14 Closing Thanks And Legacy

What happens when success validates you… but still doesn’t get you work? In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, Arunima Sharma speaks about rejection, resilience, creative purpose, and why awards and opportunity are not the same thing. Arunima won the National Film Award for Best Direction (Non-Feature Film) for Shyam Raat Seher (Blue Dusk Dawn), her FTII diploma film. She has also contributed to popular projects like Four More Shots Please!, Jee Karda, along with directing 100+ commercials. A sharp conversation on what it really takes to keep going and why mediocrity is no longer being accepted. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction & Opening Ritual 2:03 Childhood & Early Film Influences 5:28 Decision to Attend FTII & Film School 7:24 National Award Win & Its Impact 11:29 Struggles After Film School 14:58 The Importance of Resilience 16:07 Breaking Into Advertising 19:20 Advertising vs. Long-Form Content 21:35 Learning Diplomacy & Growth 25:34 Embracing Messy Realities in Storytelling 29:35 Women's Stories & OTT Revolution 34:18 Industry Changes & Challenges 37:43 Staying Relevant Across Generations 39:43 The Role of a Director 40:35 Inner Authority & Cinematic Language 41:38 Taste, Leadership & Creative Success 43:19 Authority on Set 43:58 Advice to Young Women Directors 45:06 The Woman You've Become 46:06 Female Gaze & Collaboration 46:53 Final Thoughts & Closing

Why do some leaders get noticed while others, equally capable, stay unseen? The real gap isn’t talent. It’s visibility and the identity behind it. In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, Lulu Raghavan unpacks a tension most leaders quietly carry: • Talent may open the door but visibility shapes the trajectory. • Doing great work isn’t enough if no one knows the value behind it. • Leadership presence isn’t natural. It’s built intentionally, strategically. Some professionals stay overlooked not because they lack capability, but because they underestimate the importance of being seen. Others learn to signal their impact, influence the room, and own their narrative. The real risk isn’t being invisible. It’s getting comfortable there. Because in leadership, silence doesn’t protect you it slowly removes you from the conversation. Visibility, when done right, isn’t self-promotion. It’s responsibility. Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Unfinished Feelings & Personal Journey 05:06 What It Means to Lead 10:01 Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone 15:01 A Life-Changing Year 20:01 Where It All Began 25:00 Inner Struggles & Reflection 30:01 Facing Yourself Honestly 35:00 Growth Through Training 40:00 The Cost of Ambition 45:02 Work-Life Balance Reality 50:00 Lessons on Discipline & Focus 55:00 Redefining Success 01:00:00 Final Thoughts & Takeaways

Ram Madhvani is one of India’s most respected storytellers; the creative force behind films like Neerja and the acclaimed series Aarya. A legendary advertising filmmaker, he has spent decades shaping how India sees stories, brands, and human courage. But long before the awards and recognition, there was a constant reinvention. In this episode, Ram Madhvani opens up about identity, labels, reputation, and the quiet discipline of remaining a “work in progress.” Through deeply personal stories and philosophical reflections, we explore what it really means to build a creative life without being trapped by success. In this conversation, we decode: • Why Ram still calls himself a “work in progress” despite decades of success • The strange burden of reputation and perception after achieving mastery • Why he deliberately avoided wearing labels, even on his clothes • The philosophy of earning your identity instead of borrowing it • Returning to advertising with the hunger of a beginner • The creative tension between certainty and not knowing • Why true artists keep reinventing themselves long after success This episode isn’t about filmmaking. It’s about creative identity. Not fame. Freedom. Because when success starts defining you, the real challenge becomes staying unfinished. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction & Labels 3:34 - The Story of Soni Mahiwal 8:57 - Wearing Multiple Hats 16:35 - First Love of Storytelling 20:43 - Technology & Art 23:48 - Circling the Beast 28:47 - AI & Consciousness 37:34 - VR & The Bhagavad Gita Project 46:07 - The Hero's Journey 49:49 - System 360 52:51 - Quick Bites

This Women’s Day, we’re not celebrating slogans. We’re studying what strength looks like under fire. Rajita Kulkarni survived the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. But survival was not the headline of her life. What followed was harder: Rebuilding identity. Recalibrating ambition. Choosing institution over ego. Building leadership rooted in inner steadiness. From global banking to leading Sri Sri University, this is a story of a woman who did not let crisis define her - she let it refine her. In this episode, we explore: • What extreme pressure reveals about leadership • Why ambition without anchoring collapses • The discipline behind feminine power • How institutions are built by those who outgrow fear • Why inner authority matters more than outer applause This is not Women’s Day inspiration. This is Women’s Day calibration. Because unstoppable is not loud. It is stable. And when women lead from stability institutions rise. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:08:06 - Early Life and Family Influences 00:29:44 - Journey from Banking to Spirituality 00:44:50 - 26/11 Mumbai Attacks Experience 01:08:03 - Building Shri University 01:35:26 - AI, Education, and the Future 01:46:36 - Quick Bites

Megha Bajaj is one of India’s most loved contemporary authors, founder of WOW (a life-skills movement for children), TEDx speaker, and a voice many turn to for faith, growth, and emotional strength. But long before visibility — there was silence. At seven, she chose to sit alone on a terrace facing the sea instead of going to school. That decision shaped her inner architecture. In this episode, we go beyond inspiration and decode: • The day she stopped going to school — and what 7 hours of silence built inside her • Growing up in a 24-member family and still feeling invisible • Discovering spirituality at 16 — rebellion or regulation? • Watching her mother battle stage-four brain cancer without losing internal grounding • Why manifestation without structure becomes self-deception • The myth of “magnetizing” without disciplined action • Turning emotional pain into structured contribution through WOW This isn’t a conversation about religion. It’s about psychological anchoring. Not positivity. Stability. Because when life destabilizes you, inner authority becomes your only leverage. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Early Years & Finding Spirituality 00:10:47 - Meeting the Guru 00:23:32 - The Miracle of Faith 00:33:11 - The Breakthrough Book 00:51:36 - Platform WOW & Life Philosophy 01:05:11 - Quick Bites

What happens when designation replaces craft? In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, I sit down with Roshan Abbas — storyteller, cultural architect, performer, and founder — for a conversation that goes far beyond career highlights. We speak about: • Why curiosity is the only real career insurance • The trap of hierarchy and title-chasing • The difference between random success and cultured success • Why Gen Z doesn’t want position — they want purpose • What mortality teaches you about reinvention • And why obsession with your dream is not optional Roshan reflects on growing up in a home of teachers, building a life rooted in words, navigating reinvention, and returning to craft when noise gets louder than meaning. This is not a biography. It’s a philosophy. If you care about creativity, culture, leadership, or building something that lasts — this conversation will stay with you. 🎧 Unstoppable Woman — where inner architecture drives outer impact. Now streaming. Introduction- 00:00 Early Career & Radio Journey - 12:48 Building Encompass & Kommune - 20:56 Heart Surgery Experience - 25:36 Life Philosophy & Values - 39:08 Creativity & Purpose - 48:06

What does it take to keep going when the glamour fades and the work gets lonely? In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, host Shailja Saraswati sits down with actor and performer Priya Chauhan for a rare, grounded conversation about craft, resilience, and staying present in an industry built on pressure and comparison. From growing up in the stillness of Shimla to navigating the speed of big-city life, Priya reflects on how dance became her first anchor; a space where shyness dissolved and expression took over. She speaks honestly about auditions, rejection, preparation, and why looking the part is never enough to sustain a career. Through poetry, silence, song, and reflection, this episode explores: • Why glamour can distract from craft • How resilience is built through repetition, not validation • What it really means to be unstoppable not as aggression, but as the refusal to quit This is not a motivational story. It’s a grounded conversation about choosing the work again and again. 📌 Watch till the end for Priya’s definition of the unstoppable spirit Chapters: 1. Introduction - 00:00 2. Journey to Mumbai - 1:20 3. Early Passion for Dance & Performance - 2:54 4. Breaking into the Industry - 42:30 5. Loss, Grief & Personal Growth - 1:02:38 6. Mindfulness & Meditation - 1:24:57 7. Staying Connected to Roots - 1:34:59 8. Quick Bites - 1:41:23

Join us for an extraordinary conversation with acclaimed actor Neeraj Kabi as he shares his remarkable journey from childhood in Jamshedpur to becoming one of India's most respected performers. Neeraj opens up about heartbreak, struggle, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of craft. He discusses his unique acting methodology, the philosophy behind his transformative workshops (Pravaah), and why he believes acting techniques can help every human, not just actors build resilience, leadership, and alignment "From the time you're born till the time you leave this planet, be unstoppable because you stop only when you stop breathing." This is more than an actor's story; it's a masterclass in resilience, craft, and the unstoppable human spirit. Chapters: 0:00 - Childhood & Cricket Heartbreak 10:16 - Discovering Theater & Moving to Mumbai 22:26 - Ship of Theseus & The Actor's Journey 26:20 - Teaching Workshops: Inventing in the Moment 42:23 - The Power of Film & Theater 65:57 - Pravaha & Leadership Training 98:37 - The Unstoppable Spirit & Life Philosophy

What actually creates confidence—and why does it collapse for so many high-performers? In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, I sit down with Aditi Surana for a deeply honest conversation on confidence, dyslexia, discipline, and the inner systems that sustain long-term growth. Diagnosed with dyslexia at 26, Aditi grew up believing she was “good at a few things but not enough.” What followed was not a motivation arc—but a lifelong process of building resilience, learning through rejection, and creating systems that made confidence repeatable, not accidental. We speak about: • Growing up undiagnosed with dyslexia and the identity split it creates • Why confidence doesn’t come from belief—but from repeatable action • Discipline vs motivation (and why motivation eventually fails) • Manifestation, nervous system safety, and what actually moves you from Point A to Point B • Coaching as responsibility, not influence • Why confidence is not a personality trait—but a practiced system This conversation is not about success optics. It’s about the operating system behind consistency, courage, and becoming. 🎧 Unstoppable Woman — Aditi Surana Hosted by Shailja Saraswati Founder, Unstoppable Network If you’re building something slowly, consciously, and for the long run—this episode will stay with you. 👉 Chapters included below 1. The Dyslexia Journey 0:00 2. Finding Her Voice 6:59 3. The Coaching Path 26:00 4. Women in Leadership 1:07:00 5. Growth Mode On 50:59 6. Quick Bites 1:11:19 👉 Subscribe for grounded leadership & transformation conversations

Breaking into Bollywood without connections is rare. Staying without shortcuts is rarer. In this episode of Unstoppable Woman, I sit down with actor Vijayant Kohli for a grounded, honest conversation about what it really takes to build a career in the long run — without noise, hype, or shortcuts. Vijayant’s journey spans theatre, 150+ television episodes, 50+ commercials, films, and OTT — built steadily through craft, patience, and showing up long before visibility followed. Together, we unpack the myths around “connections” in Bollywood, the discipline required to stay when outcomes are delayed, and why talent alone is never enough without staying power. As a coach, I was particularly curious about the inner work behind the work - how actors detach from roles without losing themselves, how identity survives pressure, and what keeps someone grounded in an industry addicted to speed. We also speak about family, roots, emotional boundaries, and why certain practices work while others don’t. This conversation isn’t just for actors. It’s for anyone building something meaningful over time — creators, founders, professionals — navigating uncertainty while choosing depth over noise. Because being unstoppable doesn’t mean being loud. It means staying rooted - and staying the course. Unstoppable Woman with Vijayant Kohli Hosted by Shailja Saraswati, Founder, Unstoppable Network 📺 Watch now | 🎙️ Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

This episode isn’t about the pitch.. It’s about everything that came before it. Pooja Jauhari, co-founder of EMoMee, joins me for a grounded, reflective conversation on what it really takes to build something meaningful long before the spotlight arrives. From building a children’s edutainment startup with intention, to navigating partnership, parenting, energy, and self-awareness, Pooja shares the inner operating system behind sustainable entrepreneurship. We speak about: Listening to your body and energy not just ambition Why self-awareness is a leadership skill, not a luxury Building a life where success includes choice, health, and boundaries Parenting with equality and agency And what “freedom” actually means when you’re building a company Yes, EMoMee recently secured ₹2 crore for 4% equity on Shark Tank India Season 5. But this conversation stays where Unstoppable Woman always does with the childhood values, the work, the values, and the inner clarity that made the Shark Tank moment and all her big wins possible. This isn’t a startup success story. It’s a story about alignment, energy, and choosing what truly matters. 🎧 Unstoppable Woman - Pooja Jauhari Chapters - Introduction & Childhood Foundations (02:00) Building Resilience & Self-Awareness (~12:00) Parenting Philosophy & Life Skills (~25:30 EMoMee: Teaching Kids What Schools Don't (~39:00) Quick Bites (~1:10:00)

Some journeys don’t look unstoppable while they’re happening. They just look… consistent. 14 years online. Multiple reinventions. Creator. Entrepreneur. Mother. Still here. Still building. In this episode of Unstoppable Spirit, Aanam speaks about: • Growing up in public without losing herself • Burnout — and why pushing through doesn’t always mean faster • Skills before scale • Motherhood without shrinking identity • Why equal parenting isn’t “help” — it’s responsibility This isn’t a hustle story. It’s an operating system. 🎧 Unstoppable Spirit — Aanam Now streaming. Watch if you’re building for the long run — quietly, consciously, consistently.

SHE DID NOT POST: SHE SHOWED UPWhat happens when ambition breaks you… and you don’t quit? In this powerful episode of Unstoppable Spirit, host Shailja Saraswati sits down with Freishia Bomanbehram — actor, award-winning emcee, event specialist, and WWF Earth Hour Water Ambassador — for a deeply honest conversation on burnout, purpose, and inner transformation. Known for leading 500+ high-impact events, Freishia opens up about the invisible cost of constant achievement, the pressure to always perform, and the moment when ambition turned into emotional exhaustion.This episode explores: • Burnout and mental health in high-performing professionals • The hidden cost of hustle culture and success pressure • How spirituality, self-awareness, and service create lasting change • Turning burnout into purpose-driven impact • The journey from external validation to inner alignment • Why true leadership begins with self-awarenessFrom navigating identity beyond titles to building purpose-led impact through environmental action, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success without alignment is unsustainable.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or questioning your direction — this episode offers clarity, grounding, and perspective.🎧 Watch till the end — this conversation might shift how you define success.

This episode isn’t about success. It’s about surrender. Cancer diagnosis forced Arunima Dey to stop — not just physically, but emotionally. To pause the speed. To question the identity she had built around movement, ambition, and mastery. What followed wasn’t a comeback story. It was a reckoning. With her body. With grief. With the quiet fear of letting go of what once defined her. In this episode, we talk about choosing presence over pushing, listening instead of rushing, and how real strength is often born in stillness — not applause. This isn’t a story of overcoming. It’s a story of allowing. Of becoming.

The new season expands the lens to explore the unstoppable spirit that exists beyond gender, titles, and public achievement. Adopting a gender-agnostic approach, Season 4 focuses less on what people have accomplished and more on who they become in the process—centering on inner mastery and enablement, through uncovering what it takes to stay resilience for transformation Perhaps this season also marks the beginning of what comes next from the host of the show - Shailja Saraswati Stay tuned

Join us on this episode of Unstoppable Women as we sit down with Dr. Jaishree Sharad, a renowned celebrity dermatologist. Dr. Sharad shares her incredible journey from growing up in a lower-middle-class family in Jamshedpur to becoming a prominent figure in the world of dermatology. She opens up about her challenges, including dealing with her father's alcoholism and her determination to pursue a medical career despite numerous obstacles. Dr. Sharad also discusses her personal and professional achievements, the importance of academic excellence, and the responsibilities that come with being a successful dermatologist. Her story is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of never giving up. Tune in for a heartfelt and inspirational conversation that uncovers the softer side of this unstoppable woman. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:36 Dr. Jayashree's Early Life and Background 03:08 Journey to Becoming a Doctor 04:23 Struggles and Coping Mechanisms 13:01 Life in Pune and Medical School 18:40 Marriage and Early Career 25:42 Reconciliation and Personal Growth 28:59 Professional Achievements and Mentorship 32:27 Introducing Radio Frequency Skin Tightening 33:24 Confrontation with Laser Pioneer 34:13 Unexpected Recommendation 35:50 Setting Up Practice in Bandra 37:27 Bollywood Connections 37:39 Lecture in London 38:51 Discussion on Beauty Standards 39:53 Understanding Aging and Treatments 44:50 Botox and Fillers Explained 50:50 Risks and Responsibilities 01:00:56 Digital Influence on Beauty 01:03:20 Michael Jackson's Case 01:05:45 Unstoppable Spirit 01:06:54 Conclusion and Gratitude