Viraj Sheth on male mentality, dating apps, masculinity, male friendships | @sadhikasehgal

In this episode of Men’s Locker Room, we’re joined by Viraj Sheth, Co-Founder & CEO of Monk Entertainment, for a candid conversation about building businesses, navigating the creator economy, and understanding the psychology behind modern relationships . Viraj opens up about his early life growing up in Mumbai and the financial struggles his family faced after the 2008 financial crisis. From losing their home to rebuilding stability, he shares how those experiences shaped his mindset around money, risk-taking, and persistence. The conversation dives deep into the rise of the creator economy, how influencer marketing evolved in India, and what it actually takes to build a company in an industry that didn’t even exist a decade ago. Viraj talks about working with creators, spotting opportunities early, and why the internet has created a completely new kind of business landscape. He also shares how reconnecting with Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) during his college years played an important role in his journey into the digital creator ecosystem. From helping Ranveer with early brand deals to eventually building Monk Entertainment together, Viraj reflects on how that collaboration shaped the early influencer marketing space in India. Beyond business, the discussion explores modern dating, relationships, masculinity, and emotional maturity. Viraj shares his thoughts on dating culture today, the psychology behind the “chase”, men paying on dates, and why young men should focus on becoming secure and grounded individuals rather than getting influenced by toxic internet narratives. The episode also touches on fitness, mental resilience, dealing with anxiety as a founder, and the importance of strong personal relationships. From gym discipline to learning independence outside the family home, Viraj reflects on the habits and life lessons that shaped who he is today. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, the creator economy, relationships, and building a meaningful life in the digital age, this episode offers thoughtful insights and honest perspectives. Subscribe and stay tuned to MensXP. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mensxp/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mensxpofficial Tweet to us: https://twitter.com/MensXP Timestamps : 00:00 – Introduction 01:28 – Viraj Sheth’s early life and growing up in Mumbai 02:00 – Financial struggles after the 2008 crisis 05:57 – Losing their home and family resilience 07:40 – Processing trauma and childhood pressures 09:30 – How financial hardship shaped his mindset about money 11:20 – Engineering, career confusion and finding direction 13:03 – Discovering the media & creator industry 13:52 – Reconnecting with Ranveer Allahbadia and entering the creator space 15:35 – Cold emails that changed his career 16:12 – First brand deal with Tinder 19:45 – Early struggles of building a startup 22:01 – Founder mindset and dealing with uncertainty 22:50 – Risk-taking and expanding Monk Entertainment 25:48 – Importance of having a strong team 26:22 – Evolution of the creator economy 29:03 – Will the creator industry survive long term? 31:35 – Creators who have stayed relevant over the years 34:01 – How content creation has changed since 2016 35:31 – Balancing career and personal relationships 38:25 – Fitness, gym and mental clarity 41:05 – Why men should live independently before marriage 43:11 – Relationships, dating and love languages 44:43 – Do men enjoy the chase? 47:20 – Modern dating culture and dating apps 49:33 – Dating fatigue and finding real relationships 53:28 – Anxiety and responsibilities as a founder 54:31 – Taking care of parents and family health 59:06 – Growing up too early and life reflections 01:01:21 – First international trip and success milestones 01:01:28 – Who should pay on dates? 01:04:14 – Toxic dating narratives on the internet 01:08:12 – Insecurities among young men 01:09:16 – Viraj’s biggest fears and personal growth Viraj Sheth, Viraj Sheth interview, Men’s Locker Room podcast, Monk Entertainment, Monk Entertainment founder, creator economy India, influencer marketing India, Ranveer Allahbadia, BeerBiceps, digital creator ecosystem, entrepreneurship podcast India, startup journey India, founder mindset, building a business India, social media creators India, influencer marketing agency, modern dating culture, relationships and masculinity, men paying on dates debate, psychology of dating, emotional maturity for men, mental resilience founder, anxiety as a founder, fitness discipline, Mumbai entrepreneur story