Raghu says: I don't always abuse bhosdike!

This is probably going to be the most interesting posts of all time. I got a chance to interview Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman at the Roadies 9 Chandigarh Auditions. It was one of the most interesting half hours I ever spent. Of course, you don't get a chance to interview Raghu and Rajiv everyday and not poke Raghu deliberately, to get abused, just so that you have interesting material to write about in your blog. But of course, life puts you in a more comfortable position when you have a press card hanging around your neck and are quite sure that Raghu has to think twice before he speaks anything! (\m/)

Anyway, here's the whole interview that I had with Raghu, or if I may say, a censored version of it.

DISCLAIMER: The following content may have some adult language, though I tried hard not to write any. If you get offended by the use of such language, then Frankly Speaking, I don't give a damn. Only read if you wish to, else there's always the close button.

Q. Roadies has been running successfully for 10 years now, how do you see that the youth has changed over the years? And how have you people changed?
Raghu: The youth of today are more driven. They are more motivated today, more clear about what they want and not. I was more chilled back then. There was a lot less pressure on us.
Rajiv: We wouldn't have met a group of Bloggers like you back the.

Q. What are you exactly looking for in a Roadie this year?
Raghu: We meet many interesting characters every year. Just meeting them is fun enough. This year, I would say we're looking for passion, not only for being a Roadie, but for anything in life.

Q. What have you learned from Roadies in 10 years?
Raghu: We put in our heart and soul into Roadies each year. I've just learned and seen one thing, hard-work pays, and that's it! If you're given a nail & a hammer and you keep chiseling for a long time, you're bound to get a diamond. We just think about one year at a time, never worry about the TRP's. They're a secondary issue.

Q. How did the idea of Roadies come along?
Raghu: MTV hires psychos. They hire mad. MTV is made of personalities. They look for people who can do something crazy. Fortunately I was one of those. There was a Cyrus before Cyrus Broacha too. He was the brain behind Bakra, he was crazier. Everyone you see on MTV is mad in some way or the other.

Q. Just yesterday I saw you in a promo for WTF. What's that all about?
Raghu: That is just something to show everyone what kids feel about what is going on around them. I think the youth of today is mature enough. Yet, they're not given their due. If they can drive at 18, chose the fucking Govt. by voting at 18, can marry, divorce and remarry, then why can't they fucking drink before 25? Either totally ban consumption of alcohol, or don't make ridiculous rules.

Q. How do manage to keep yourself fit? We've seen you look fitter every year...
Raghu: Fit? I'm not fit. I've never felt worse in my life. I'm an insomniac, in fact not insomniac exactly, I'm sleep deprived. I work for 20 hours a day. I hardly rest. Fitness I feel is not about climbing mountains or going to gyms, it's about eating healthy, feeling healthy.

Q. People consider you a youth icon. What change would you like to bring when you have the power to do so?
Raghu: Bring changes? Are you suggesting I join politics? (laughs) I don't think I can change anything and neither do I think I am a youth icon or something.

Q. Then who do you think is a youth icon today?
Raghu: Anna Hazare, Aamir Khan and Sachin Tendulkar.

Q. What is your take on the new breed of politicians, like Rahul Gandhi?
Raghu: There are both kinds of politicians. Old politicians need to retire, agreed. But I don't stand by Rahul Gandhi too. Had he opposed his party and stood for Anna Hazare, he would have been correct, but I don't stand by his view-point as of now.

Q. But don't you think the Anna Hazare went too far by holding the Govt. on ransom in order get his whims to be obeyed?
Raghu: Too far? I'll tell what is going too far politics of hate, mob violence, communal riots. A peaceful protest is not going too far.
Rajiv: When do you draw the line between holding the Govt. on ransom and putting up with a wounded Govt. I think its high time someone held the Govt. at ransom and asked the questions that they should have answered way back.

Q. What do you think about people like Rahul Mehra, who are also standing up for issues but are not getting noticed as much?
Raghu: I wouldn't say much. A lot of people do things, get laws passed but law makers are targeted often after getting laws passed. That is an even bigger problem.

Q. You have an image that most people fear you. Who Raghu and Rajiv fear?
Raghu: I don't fear anyone. There are people who we respect, but I don't think we fear anyone, c'mon, koi kha thodi jaega yaar. (No one's gonna eat you as such.)

Q. There is one image of yours, that on TV, that of an angry abusing....
Raghu: (Snaps in between, doesn't let me complete) See... Again... I don't always abuse, bhosdike! (laughs) Please continue. :P
Q. There is one image of yours, that on TV, of an angry, abusing sort of guy, on the other hand you play very different characters in films, where's the real you?
Raghu: In films, I play characters, I act, Both Omar Sheikh in Jhootha Hi Sahi and the Johri brothers in Tees Maar Khan, we act and that's that. Here, sitting in front of you is the real me.

Q. And what is Raghu's character in real life?
Raghu: I'm characterless. (with a laugh)

Q. Final words sir... Describe Roadies in one word?
Raghu: Passion.

Q. And in one line...
Raghu: More than just a TV show.

The Dangerous Ones

That's all from my side today. I guess that was enough.

Stay tuned. Stay Raw.
Cheers!!

Jab I met Nagesh Kukunoor

There are some things in life that I believe in strongly. One of them is that dreams coming true is only a myth. I was living in reality but a loser like me couldn't even believe in something in peace. My belief was shattered recently when I met God. Not literally, but figuratively I mean. I had read about life showering pleasant surprises on people but the possible thought of me, a dud engineering student, barely a film-maker, meeting my idol was bleak. But Roadies, as we know it, always does what no other show can do, and when I went to attend the Chandigarh Auditions of Roadies 9, Raghu, Rajiv and Rannvijay brought with them a surprise, and a big one too. Travelling with the Roadies 9 Audition team was Nagesh Kukunoor, promoting his Rannvijay starrer film Mod, and the sight of a frail looking, long-hair-greying-at-the-temples kind of a man wouldn't actually make your brain-gears churning that this could be a hot-shot film director, but when has Nagesh Kukunoor not surprised you, eh?

So I got a chance to not only meet Nagesh, but also interview him. Wooohoo!! Still can't believe it! And what struck me was not only the simplicity of this man but also the gentle way in which he talked to me. His eyes lit up when I said that just like him, I am also an engineering student who aspires t be a film-maker some day and I consider him as my idol. Who would believe it, but under his autograph, on the back of my Power Electronics class register that I was carrying to take notes of the Roadies event, he also gave me his email id and asked me to mail him the links to all the films that I made. What a day that was!

Here are some excerpts from the little interview that we had:

Q. You launched Shreyas Talpade in Iqbal, he was seen before in a scene in Aankhen and now you're giving Rannvijay his first solo film with Mod, who is already super famous; what do you expect from Rannvijay as an actor?
Nagesh: I had never watched the show Roadies before or knew if had done any films before. I had no idea about Rannvijay being a star or his fan following when I cast him. A friend referred his name to me, I asked him if he would come and audition for the part and he got selected.

Q. Shreyas in Iqbal, John in Aashayein, Akshay Kumar in 8x10 Tasveer, when you were moving to bigger actors or 'stars' with every film, why suddenly Rannvijay, relatively a new-comer if I may say so, why was that?
NK: Look, there are some films which require big actors or stars as you put it and some which require fresh faces or newer actors. This was a film which required a new actor and here we are.

Q. Now that Mod is ready for release, what do you expect from the film?
NK: I wanna show the world that a guy like Rannvijay, who has this biker-boy, adventurer image can actually do a serious romantic role. Not trying to create another image, but breaking stereotypes in a way.

Q. You're an engineer yourself, who got into making films, what is your advice to aspiring film-makers like us?
NK: Just pick up a camera, go out there and let your creativity loose. Believe.

Stay tuned. Stay Raw.
Adios!

Been There, Done That

On a recent visit to the MTV Hero Roadies 9, Chandigarh auditions, as a blogger selected by Blogadda.com, Io got a chance to interview the ex-Roadies Mohit, Anamika and Suchit, of Roadies 8 fame. Mohit and Suchit were the best performers as far as I had heard and this what the three had to say to those who want to be Roadies:



Q. What is it that makes Roadies from Chandigarh different from the rest?

Mohit: They are more daring. The three of us were from Chandigarh.
Anamika: Rannvijay, Ayushman and Bani, all were from Chandigarh and most Chandigarh Roadies have out-performed everyone else.

Q. A word of advice to those who want to be Roadies.

Mohit: Don’t try to be over smart. The more you use your head, you get to know that you’re competing with Raghu and Rajiv, so it’s no point.
Anamika: Just do your tasks well. Win immunities. That’s the key.
Suchit: Everyday on the journey is a winning day. Just go out there. Enjoy!

Q. What’s the best part of Roadies?

Mohit: The journey. The bike rides, which are probably the most under-rated. But its the only part without competition, without politics.
Anamika: Yeah. the journey of course. Those 45 days. Riding on Karizmas. I think the Karizma is the best bike in the world.

Q. How has life changed after Roadies?

Mohit: Life has changed. The journey was tough and long. My personal toughness level has grown immensely.
Anamika: We have tested all boundaries of ours. Physically and mentally. We’ve grown as people I guess. Specially the nude task that these boys performed. That was the limit.
Suchit: I feel like now I’m satisfied with life. Or atleast a large chunk of it.

Q. What do you have to say about the nude task?

Mohit: Back home, there was a lot of media attention, newspapers etc made it sound embarrassing, but it was a test of character nonetheless.
Anamika: Their respect grew in our head manifold.
Suchit: Saari sharam nikal gayi boss. (Shed all shyness at once)

Q. Any message for Roadies 9 contestants?

Mohit: Cowboy style man, in US of A. Beware! You’re gonna have your ass whipped!
Anamika: Good luck!!

Also visit my Roadies 9 page. Read How to be a Roadie? for more info

Stay Raw.
Cheers!!