I am finally enjoying Bengaluru, and I’m grateful I get to do that now: Shraddha

Multilingual, observant, deeply rooted yet constantly evolving, Shraddha Jain has built a comedy universe that feels intimate, familiar and inclusive across ages, languages and ideologies. As one of the Bangalore Times Headliners 2026, she isn’t being celebrated merely for her popularity, but for how her work mirrors the city she calls home — layered, thoughtful, warm and driven by its people. In this run-up to Bangalore Times Headliners Gala, Shraddha reflects on her complex relationship with Bengaluru, her creative fears and insecurities, her responsibility as a content creator in a hyper-sensitive age, and why, even after the applause, self-doubt still shows up every morning.

‘For the longest time, my relationship with the city was about struggle’

I see my relationship with Bengaluru in two clear phases. For almost a decade, the city meant just one thing: work. Like so many people from other states, I came here chasing opportunities. And when you arrive like that, you don’t come to enjoy a city — you come to survive. I had one job, sometimes multiple jobs, but no disposable income. You hear people say Bengaluru is fun, vibrant and cultural, but you can’t afford any of it. For the longest time, my relationship with the city was about struggle. I was constantly trying to achieve something, to feel accomplished. Even when I went to Cubbon Park or Lalbagh, it was for work — radio reports, TV recces, shoots. In hindsight, that makes me a little sad. I feel like I’ve taken so much from this city without fully enjoying it or giving back.

But now, I’m in a different phase. I want to explore Bengaluru. I visit museums, temples, plays and music concerts. I make it a point to watch at least one Kannada artiste’s performance every month. I’m learning about the city’s history and culture. I’m finally enjoying Bengaluru, and I’m grateful I get to do that now.

‘The biggest lesson Bengaluru taught me is that, in the end, it’s always about people’

I’m a logical person. I believe two plus two should equal four. But Bengaluru showed me that life doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes two plus two is three. Sometimes five. And that variable is always people. It’s not policies, rules, brands or designations. In radio, television and even corporate spaces, I saw how community and having each other’s backs mattered more than systems. Bengaluru never felt mechanical to me. Even as a metro, it felt human. Seniors looked out for you. Colleagues cared. That understanding of human sensibility has stayed with me.

Now I gravitate towards experiences that aren’t cosmopolitan. What excites me are events rooted in Karnataka — Kannada literature, traditional games, local music, history and weaves. Things that exist only here. I don’t get excited by fancy cafés anymore. Give me something that connects me to this land. Standing at a local darshini and eating idlis feels far more meaningful to me now.

‘Connecting with people across generations happened organically’

Someone once told me, ‘Your page is the only thing my grandmother and I watch together’. That image stayed with me. Another person said their ajji doesn’t understand Instagram but recognises my characters. That’s when I realised — this is where I want to be. I don’t want my content to divide people. There’s already enough of that. I want my work to bring people together, regardless of ideology, age or language. Even when I imagine a stand-up show, I think of people driving home afterwards. I don’t want them arguing. I want them laughing and saying, ‘That reminded me of so-and-so’. I want shared joy.

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