‘I don’t regret choosing medicine as my profession’

Dr Richa Negi speaks about volunteering as a frontline warrior amid COVID-19 pandemic, love for dance and creating content, as Simran Khan takes notes

Mumbai-based doctor and digital content creator, Richa Negi rose to fame after a video of her grooving to Nora Fatehi’s in a PPE suit went viral on the internet. The video crossed 2.04 crore views and was shared by actors Varun Dhawan, Nora Fatehi, singer Badshah and even Union Minister Smriti Irani. The 25-year-old, who works with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), also left Australian cricketer David Warner impressed with her choreography to a Punjabi song. Excerpts from the interview:

What inspired you to take up volun‐ teering during COVID‐19 pandemic?

I had already worked in the hospital that I volunteered at and I knew they needed more doctors to help in this situation. I felt that there wouldn’t be a better time to live by my Hippocratic Oath.

Has dance always been something you loved?

Always. I have been dancing ever since I was a kid. It’s such a happy feeling. But I don’t regret choosing medicine as my profession. It defines me now.

Tell us more about the viral Garmi video.

Never did I think it would break the internet. Unlike every other dance I put so much thought into, this was an impromptu non-choreographed video. I shot it in our changing room, while we were stuffing into our PPEs. Actually, just kept my phone on the window sill and took a single take video.

As a doctor, what was the hardest part of your job during the pandemic?

You would think it’s probably the long hours and staying away from our family, but the worst part is actually seeing the patients suffer so much. Not just as doctors but as human beings... we can’t be happy when someone is suffering right in front of us. You form a bond with them, and seeing them suffer every day was the most difficult thing, I’d say.

Has a patient ever recognised you as Richa Negi, the Instagram influencer?

Yes, a few times. It gets a little embarrassing. Then I tell them to speak to me after work.

How do you manage to make time for content creation?

It’s been too hectic, double the efforts because pursuing post-graduation isn’t a piece of cake. I get very less time now. But, whenever I get free I make sure I go to the studio and shoot because dance is a therapy in its own and helps me de-stress.

Apart from dancing, how else did you manage to stay positive during the lockdown?

Oh, I put out my creative style totally, experimented with so many new recipes, did a whole lot of canvas paintings, read a couple of books.

Youʼve received shout‐outs from Smriti Irani, Varun Dhawan and other celebrities. How does it feel to receive so much love from people?

Oh, it’s the best feeling ever. To know that so many people appreciate you is sometimes really helpful, especially when you face a bad day at work! And I’m so grateful to everyone who messages or says kind things to me. They make my day better.

What are your plans for 2021?

For 2021 my only plan is to grow more as an individual; actually that’s the only motto I follow each year.

I have been dancing ever since I was a kid. It’s such a happy feeling. But I don’t regret choosing medicine as my profession. It defines me now.