Asked at what point she realised her lockdown passion project had become something special, Scottish Food Influencer of the Year, Renu Bhardwaj, credits one video in particular for setting her on the way to 152k followers and a dream book deal.
The 'six-minute air fryer oat cookie' was not the first of her thrifty recipes to be posted online, but within minutes its views jumped to 10,000, then 100,000 without slowing down until it had reached well over 18 million and become a bona fide viral sensation.
“Like everyone, I had a lot of spare time when working from home during covid,” she said.
“I used to open my fridge and think, ‘ok, what can I make with all of these leftovers today’, which made me realise that budget recipes which reduce food waste would resonate with a lot of people.
“I taught myself everything from styling to photography and lighting and decided to invest in myself by purchasing all of the kit I needed.
“I can’t tell you how much overpriced crockery that involved to get the right look for different recipes.
“I remember posting the airfryer cookie and watching the views start to go up, I couldn’t believe it.
“Days later someone I met by chance at the train station told me they had tried the recipe themselves and that they had had heard presenters talking about it on Radio 1.
"The thought of that is still crazy to me.”
Four years on from the launch of her social media venture, Bhardwaj’s account is now filled with hundreds of step-by-step guides for all manner of dishes from spicy tandoori elote to ‘gut healthy’ avocado and chickpea salad alongside lifestyle posts and travel features.
Impressed by these efforts were publishers Penguin Random House, who wasted no time in offering the budding star the chance to become a published author.
And, when opportunity came knocking, the mother of two knew exactly which subject she was eager to explore.
“I get really bad imposter syndrome, so never quite believe it when something like this comes along.
“The publishers had asked for a one page proposal for the kind of book I wanted to write, and I realised I had manifested this months before.
“Around September time last year, I had nipped into WH Smith on Argyle Street hoping to some books about Diwali for my kids.
“There were only two on the shelf. One was Peppa Pig, and the other was Mr Men.
“I thought look, that’s cute, but I’m not going to have Peppa Pig teaching my kids about Diwali because there’s so much more to it than that.
“At the time I knew I could write my own book, so that’s exactly the story I told them in the proposal.”
Released last month ahead of Diwali, which this year falls on Friday, November 1, Celebrate Diwali by Renu Bhardwaj offers the ultimate guide to the Hindu festival of lights.
“It’s not just a cookbook with recipes, there are also craft ideas and inspiration for edible gifts,” the British Indian author continued.
“Then there are pages which go into the history of Diwali and why it is celebrated as well as things that feel important to me such as the prayers, what to wear, or how to set the table up.
“When you’re in an Indian household or extended Indian household, you often rely on your mum to take care of it all.
“So, for people like me who are second generation, didn’t grow up at home or aren’t living near their families anymore I’ve also written a little checklist of things to do when you’re celebrating.
“There are a lot of non-Indian people who have bought the book, which is a great thing because there’s something for everyone in it.”
With the first copies of her book now in the hands of customers across the UK, Bhardwaj looks forward to seeing how they will adapt her family recipes and make time honoured traditions their own.
“Diwali is the celebration of joy and colour, and it means so much to me," she said.
“Hopefully, it will mean a lot to my children too and I would love to see the book into the school curriculum to help others learn more about the culture.
“I’d also really like to get some sort of segment on TV to share one of my family recipes or a sustainable craft idea.
“But, you know what, I’ve had a fantastic year so far and I’m so proud to have published my book.
“I feel really grateful for it all, and I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the universe brings next.”
Celebrate Diwali by Renu Bhardwaj is available to purchase via Waterstones, Amazon, WH Smith and more.
For more budget-friendly recipes find Bhardwaj on Instagram at @hey_renu.
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