NIKHIL CHINAPA 

You judged Roadies some years ago, then took a break and came back last season as a gang leader. What’s it been like with Roadies so far?

Several years ago, I was a Roadies judge where we picked contestants to  go on the journey and Rannvijay (Singh Singha, who became a gang leader and is now a gang master) was the host. Last year, I came back as one of the gang leaders alongside Rannvijay, Neha (Dhupia) and Prince (Narula) and it completely spun my head around because the format has changed so much in a very competitive and different way! Now we are fighting as a gang and not just as individuals. 

This year it’s going to change even more because Rannvijay is not a gang leader, but the game master. And because he knows Roadies so well, he is able to predict what’s going to happen quite accurately and he can change the game. And what’s going to be extreme for all of us as gang leaders is that we are going to be on the journey with the contestants and that’s going to be a bit of a challenge for us. 

You and Rannvijay have both also hosted Splitsvilla. If you had to choose between the two, which would you pick?
 

They are both very unique. They are both extremely competitive shows. Very difficult to choose between the two of them.

DJ to VJ to RJ, actor to music festival curator, you have done them all. What medium defines you the best?

I like radio the best. There’s something beautiful about speaking into the microphone and sharing information and music that you care about and love. I started off my career in radio in 1995. And actually, I have gone back to doing radio now. We are doing a radio show called Together on BookMyShow’s new platform, Jukebox. We have already done about 236 episodes of ‘Together’ over the past four years and now we will start with the new season. Really looking forward to the new chapter.

You have been a pioneer of sorts of the EDM scene in India. How do you think it has evolved in the recent years?

We’ve got a new festival in Goa now (called Satellite Beachside). There are a couple of festivals that have been in India for a while. And the entire live events industry is growing by leaps and bounds. MTV just did the A.R. Rahman concert and that’s still doing fantastically well. They are selling out in every single city. Supersonic is growing, all the smaller boutique festivals across India are making inroads into the industry, where they are growing as well. So as long as you have got your programming right, you have the chance to make it big in the festival circuit in India. 

You have been associated with VH1 Supersonic since its launch in 2013 and it’s considered one of the best music festivals in the country today. Where do you see it going?

We have changed the programming a lot and have brought rock into the festival. We have brought in  legendary rock bands like Alt J and Incubus. They are doing their first gig in India. We have also got hip-hop, trance and mainstream music. So it’s an extremely diverse offering of music at one festival. With all the other music festivals I have done in the last 10-11 years, this is easily the best lineup I’ve put together.  

You’ve been an MTV man throughout, but have you been as surprised as the rest of us hearing that Channel V is shutting shop? What do you think went wrong?

I think our (MTV) canteen has better sandwiches that makes people want to work in MTV a little longer and stick around a little longer. I blame it on the sandwiches... entirely!

Finally, we have to ask a music man like you — a song that’s playing on loop in your head right now?

Right now, it’s Always Something Better by Trentemoller. It’s an older track. It came about seven to eight years ago.

RAFTAAR

Roadies is one of the oldest running reality shows. How does it feel to be associated with it for the first time this season?

When I just started off making music, that’s when Roadies had started. I remember I was in school. It was such a rage back then. Everyone wanted to be a Roadie. I never wanted to be a Roadie back then because that was not what I was aiming for. My focus was on music. But I have been interested in sports, dance and other physical activities. So this was the right combination for me.

What made you take up the role of a gang leader?

I am still young. I wouldn’t just want to sit behind glass doors in studios and make music. It’s a very safe environment. I am not the kind of person who likes something safe. I like to take risks. I am an adrenaline junkie.

Besides Roadies, what’s happening on the work front?

These last two months have been really good for me. I am dropping a few albums. I have signed three music deals. I did the title track of Tiger Zinda Hai and two tracks for Fukrey Returns. All three tracks are doing really good. Plus, my singles are doing good. 

Dhaakad from Dangal to Bandook meri Laila from A Gentleman, you’ve been giving hits for a while now...

That makes me feel more and more stressed... that I have to stay at the top. In the music business, you might have one hit and one flop. But it’s all about staying where you are and climbing the ladder. 

You are very popular with Gen Y. What do you think makes them connect with you? 

I think I speak very openly. I don’t pretend. If I don’t like anything, I voice my opinion. I make sure that every song I make has something  motivating. 

Do you see the desi hip-hop scene growing?

It’s definitely growing. People don’t need labels any more to grow. So many artistes have made a name for themselves through YouTube. It’s the next big thing. People can choose what to see, what to say.

Your favourite rapper and your favourite song right now?

The Game. I am loving Eminem’s new album Revival. Reverse by Ed Sheeran is also nice.  

Nandini Ganguly
Pictures: Arnab Mondal