MUMBAI: She doesn't crave for an identity; instead, she helps to create one. She is the metaphor of contrasts through which she influences many. Even though she orbits around many universes, she has one which is sacrosanct, through which she operates her real self.
Known more through her works like ALTBalaji's Kehne Ko Humsafar Hai season 2 being the latest, meet Jaya Misra, one of the most exciting writers in today's day and age. She is also a television producer and scriptwriter, who is best known for her high-spirited explorations on sexuality. and witness  to this is her debut novel Kama, the story of Kama Sutra.  But get a grip, her book is not about the tantalising sexual positions or the art of lovemaking. It is about the man, who gave the world Kama Sutra. Yes, it is about the life and times of Vatsyayana.

It’s a fictional journey of what Vatsyayana must have gone through his mind to churn out a book that is still applicable today. "The story is a fictional presentation with the thought of transporting readers to the post–Vedic period, and  it’s layered with various emotions including love and lust, "says Misra.
She is a far cry from the mundane; she can't be named as a sex writer either, although while reading Kama people have experienced their spurts of orgasms. Jaya is a skilful chronicler of many subjects and a gifted writer in a variety of tones — angry, critical, melancholic and someone who has explored a variety of topics. "Let me own up, I am not a daily soap writer, and the expectations of the producers can’t goad me. My writing should have a voice, and the presence of every character should add meaning to the story," voices Jaya.

Her latest offering Kehne ko Humsafar Hai season 2 has earned excellent reviews, and definitely, she owns her pie of success. "When Ekta Kapoor narrated the schematic storyline, the first thing that crossed my mind is developing two strong female voices; somewhere, both of them projected righteousness. To me, nothing is right or wrong. I feel we give the borders to the relationships," states Misra, who has worked on various projects with Balaji Telefilms. “It’s a delight to work with Ekta. She gives me a complete freedom to voice my thoughts and that’s very important for a writer,” says Misra.

 

For her monogamy is a myth that merely succumbs to social norms. "For me, writing is an expression of myself and the conviction that I stand by. I can never write stories that are a mirage and away from reality," adds Misra. For Jaya, writing should have characters that give away luminance, flintiness and traits, which are rarely seen in soap operas. "I feel women in web series have substantial scope to play the character, than merely wonder if they're going to meet some dude and get as comfortable as a cushion in an affluent family," quips Jaya.

For those who want to know her life before she launched her book Kama and after Kehne Ko Humsafar Hai, then here are the details: The author has worn many hats, and apart from being a writer, creative director and producer in television, she is also an adept documentary filmmaker. Her works for digital space are quite notable, apart from writing both the seasons of Kehne ko Humsafar Hai, she has also written two upcoming web series Cold Lassi aur Chicken Masala and Toxic for ALTBalaji.  For Voot, she has penned Time Out, and It's not that Simple season 2. With over two decades of experience, Misra has also nurtured different projects on sports, fashion and fiction. But, how did she manage? "Writing his book along with other projects was tough and time-consuming but, I knew I would get it published. After all, I am driven by passion," she resonates.

One of the characteristics of Jaya is the creation of a narrating persona whose peculiarities influence the perception of the experiences that her audience will enjoy while watching or reading.

For the future, her kitty looks promising. She is working on a movie, and she is also collaborating with producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary of Swastik productions. “SIddharth and I have collaborated on various projects and he amazes me with his creativity,” adds Misra.

At her best, Misra is witty and fast-paced; many of her understandings, are hard-won, based on the territories explored, and sometimes conquered, with courage and aplomb.