‘The Sabarmati Report’ director Dheeraj Sarna, wife Supriya on their fun Instagram reels, marriage, and social media: ‘All our videos are 99% one shot’

Q. How did your content creation journey begin?

Dheeraj Sarna: Not many things in life happen with planning. We both are actors and met on a show. Over time, acting took a backseat—Supriya embraced motherhood and I got busy with writing and production. During the Covid lockdown, we thought, why not do something together since we were all at home? We started making family content purely for fun, about five years ago.

After lockdown, life got busy again, but people began asking us why we weren’t posting those videos anymore. The love and encouragement brought us back.

Supriya: I used to act before, but after having children I couldn’t continue. Now, this feels like a 2.0 version of me. I enjoy it. Our content is relatable because it comes from our real conversations. Sometimes if something is on my mind, I suggest we make a video about it. It feels good that people appreciate it.

Q. Tell us about your content ideation process.

Dheeraj Sarna: Most of it isn’t deeply planned. We follow our routine—she goes to the gym, I do my work—and later we think of an idea. It could be about breakfast, evening chatter, or the weather. Being a writer, I just shape it quickly. We don’t script or write anything down; it’s all improvised.

Almost all our videos are one-shot takes, without cuts or music. Sometimes our househelp, our son, or even our cook aunty holds the camera. It’s very raw, very domestic content.

Q. From acting to directing to content, what do you enjoy most?

Dheeraj Sarna: I was initially only a writer for The Sabarmati Report. I had always written human-interest, humour, and romance. But Ekta (Kapoor) trusted me, more than I did myself, and asked me to write the film. Eventually, I ended up directing it too, and the love and acclaim it received was beyond measure.

Dheeraj Sarna and Supriya Sarna have known each other for 17 years (Photo courtesy: Supriya Sarna)

Content creation, for me, isn’t bread and butter—it’s easy, natural, and a stress buster. In fact, sometimes when we’re supposed to fight about something, the video distracts us and we end up laughing. Every medium—film, TV, OTT, or content—has its own charm.

The beauty of content is that you don’t need to be in Mumbai or wait for approval from a producer. You can create anywhere, with anyone, using just your instinct and talent. That freedom is special.

Q. What’s your take on social media?

Dheeraj Sarna: Social media bahut kamaal ki cheez hai (is a wonderful thing). My father taught me to find humour in every situation. That’s something I carry forward. Even in stress, I find humour, and people relate because they go through the same at home. It’s mazedaar (fun), and universal.

 

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Q. Do you discuss comments or trolls?

Supriya: Over coffee, yes. We talk about comments and even take suggestions from followers. But beyond that, I don’t pay attention. Social media always has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Dheeraj Sarna: We decided to post one video every day. It’s part of my routine. We’re not after perfection—we just want to be part of people’s everyday lives. People often ask, “Why are you always fighting?” But it’s just playful banter. Sometimes before we even reply, our followers jump in to explain.

It’s also been encouraging that people like Rakesh Roshan and Gajraj Rao have liked our videos. That itself feels like a victory. At the end of the day, I think lighthearted content made with the right intentions always strikes a chord.