Movies like ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and ‘3 Idiots’ set the trend of identifying an individual’s passion and interest in life, instead of forcing them into the rat race. Metrolife spotted three youngsters who not only escaped the 9 to 5 routine to follow their passion but also made a mark in their respective fields.
Rafida Asmia, Interior designer
Rafida Asmia secured the sixth rank in Medical Electronics Engineering and went on to work for an IT giant. But her passion for interior designing was overpowering. Limited by financial constraints, Rafida couldn’t opt for the course she wanted to; she bagged a government scholarship for an engineering seat. After that, she landed in a dream IT job through campus selection. She started attending interior-designing workshops, classes and built her portfolio for the next four and a half years.
Rafida decided to take the leap of faith when she was positive about her hand in interior designing. Though her pay scale dropped drastically, solid support from family and friends gave her the confidence to explore the field of interior designing. Today, as an interior designer with Carafina Interior Designing firm, Rafida has no regrets of her choice. “One should be willing to take a risk if one has to make a shift. I am glad I did. Today, I handle some satisfying projects, and the joy of seeing my work materialise is unmatched,” she adds.
Pito Kiba, Pastry chef
28-year-old Pito Kiba knew that he would never do a regular 9 to 5 job. “I was always into baking, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it,” he says.
He worked in an event management company, but he yearned to return to his passion. “My family and friends are a great support. Now, I dream of having my own cafe back at home in Dimapur,” Pito says, who has been into full-time baking and catering for the last five years.
His passion for the art can be seen in every one of his projects. However, everything wasn’t a cakewalk for Pito. He struggled to make a profit in the first year of his venture. “Sourcing the raw materials was the biggest challenge for me. The closest place was Kolkata where we would get everything. Thankfully, things have improved now.”
Pito specialises in baking cheesecakes, red velvet cakes and La’Opera among others. His updated skills and an eye for perfection makes him shine in the ever-growing market of baking and cooking. “It is all about keeping pace with change, and using time as your greatest resource,” he advises. Pito is open to doing pop up stalls in Bengaluru.
Lucky Malhotra, Photographer and filmmaker
Lucky Malhotra was living the great Indian IT dream; graduated in engineering, did his masters in IT and went on to work for a well-known MNC. Lucky couldn’t keep himself from doing what he loved the most, photography. Even though he worked full-time for an IT company, he also did photo shoot assignments. “I decided to take a sabbatical, back in 2011, and since then there has been no turning back,” he says.
He has worked with popular brands like Elle and Swarovski, but the journey has not been an easy one. When Lucky decided to switch from his stable job to pursue his passion, he was married and had a daughter. “Though I had a foundation in the field, the shift was a major leap of faith,” he confesses.”
My wife supported and that gave me the strength,” he adds. Today, with an impressive work history that speaks volumes, Lucky specialises in photography in fashion, editorial lifestyle, interior shoots, product shoots.