I’m a writer, editor and filmmaker currently based out of New Delhi, with a penchant for storytelling that challenges form and reimagines possibilities.

My debut novel, No Place To Call My Own, has been celebrated for its complex, confounding heroine and incisive exploration of identity and belonging by authors like Prayaag Akbar, Anjum Hasan, Jeet Thayil and Omair Ahmad..
No Place To Call My Own is the story of Sophia, the restless, acerbic narrator. Feeling trapped in a society that’s quick to undermine her—constantly making assumptions about her religion, sexuality, ambition, worth—Sophia plunges headlong into a journey of questionable decisions through her twenties. We follow her through cities and towns as she tries to make sense of the old while confronting the new. But each move trails chaos in its wake.
No Place to Call My Own is an intimate, arresting portrait of millennial disquiet in a mercurial, volatile world.
Press
Platform Magazine interview in May 2022 Print Issue
Interview with Hammock Mag
Interview with Helter Skelter
Scroll
Early Reviews
Prayaag Akbar
Author of Leila and Mother India.
Anjum Hasan
Author of History’s Angel
Omair Ahmad
Author of Jimmy, The Terrorist
My film, Leela, has premiered at international festivals like IIFR, San Sebastian, MAMI, Riga Fest, Dokufest, amongst others.
2015
Around the world
Living in the US for a year taught me skills, showed me different lifestyles, and helped me learn English being immersed in it. It also instilled a strong work ethic and dedication that I still carry today in my professional life.
2017
University
I was uncertain about my studies in Marketing and Business Management. Although I don't use much of what I learned in my daily work, it provided me with a strong knowledge base and many wonderful human connections.
2018
Working as a Designer
After an internship abroad, I started self-teaching myself design through book, courses, and by exchanging ideas with experts in the field. It didn’t take long before I went out there and found the first client.
2019
Challenge and
opportunity
COVID
I can’t hide it, 2020 was hard. I was studying, working, and and taking part in ICARO, a 6-month Entrepreneurship Program. All while the pandemic was unfolding. Despite the difficulties it was a crucial year for my professional and personal development.
2021
Through the grind
2021 was a year of focused hard work and improvements. Many lessons learned through client work and personal projects. It was also the year in which I focused most of my energy on freelance business. It later paid off.
2022
Achieving
The fullest year of my life. I worked all year from various countries across Europe (Portugal, I miss you). In 2022, I worked with incredible clients, achieving remarkable results for both them and me. I won multiple awards for my work, and this website ended up in the Webflow top 10 of the year.
Press
The Screening Room
I curate a screening room at Sound Redefined in New Delhi, dedicated to showcasing bold, original films by South Asian filmmakers, celebrating unique voices and stories from the region.
I've edited a Climate Fiction Anthology, featuring 12 South Asian writers for the platform Earthbound. Endorsed by authors like Vandana Singh and Tanuj Solanki, it releases in 2025.

Creative Writing Workshops
I host creative writing workshops that go beyond just learning how to write but also explore the art of nurturing your inner artist through a series of interactive exercises, writing prompts & activities and peer critique.
Participants leave with up to 2 pieces of workshopped fiction or nonfiction, apart from curated reading recommendations and advice on how to adapt one’s life around a steady, non-debilitating writing practice.
The workshop has had four successful editions so far. I like to keep the sessions intimate with no more than 8-10 writers to be able to provide high-touch, personalized attention & care to individual artistic output.
Manuscript & Editorial Services
I provide in-depth editorial services and manuscript critique including;
Editorial Services
- Developmental & Structural Editing
- Line Editing
- Proof Reading
Manuscript Critique
- Submission Analysis and Review
- Writing The Query Letter
- Feedback on longer manuscripts
If this interests you, drop me a line and I'll get in touch

Essays
I deeply enjoy talking to people and finding intersections between topics I care about, namely wellness, mental health, sexuality, sexual wellness, the female gaze, deconstructing beauty trends and bias in tech.
Selected Work
- Substack
- The Tech Industry’s Racism, Sexism Is Making Artificial Intelligence Less Inteligent
- How Indian Photographers Are Subverting The Male Gaze
- Cultural Trauma Affects PCOS Patients’ Sex Drive More Than The Condition Itself
- The Good Indian American
- The Myth Of Normal
- The Covid Impact on Twenty Somethings in India’s Most Expensive City
- Tales of the Pandemic: How People in Their Twenties Are Dealing With Isolation
- Are you going through a pandemic break-up?
- Is forest bathing the new Ikigai?
- Making your fitness journey more body neutral
Non-Fiction Podcasts
I produce and co-host an original podcast, Bitches Brew, currently in its second season along with Aditi Sivaraman. Here, we experiment with narrative styles and formats, creating listener-led episodes and hosting panels about everything under the sun. The podcast started as a pandemic baby and unlike other pandemic things, it has thankfully persisted. You can listen to all the episodes on Spotify, amongst other audio platforms.
The Root.ax Podcast seeks to bring together South Asian creators, artists, filmmakers & writers in a virtual room to discuss how they make, move and bridge their creative process.
Creative Strategy
I bring my love for storytelling to brands, helping them create content that feels honest and hits the right notes. Whether it’s scripting a campaign, shaping a narrative, or building a concept from scratch, I focus on crafting work that connects with people in a real way. With a background in filmmaking and editing, I’ve worked with teams to tell stories that stand out while staying true to the brand’s voice.I’ve worked with various brands in f tech, mental health, sustainable finance, climate action, and advertising. I’ve worked with companies like Amaha Health, The Storiculture Company, Hammock Mag, Ultrahuman, Now&Me, and Quilt AI.
Voiceovers
I lend my voice to brands like Bajaj, Nescafe and McDonald’s, to bring stories, characters, and ideas to life with depth, clarity, and a touch of personality.
Subscribe to my writing on Substack
Alina's Elixir - Writings from the ether