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A huge adventure freak who loves anything that offers a challenge. Goes crazy about motorcars and bikes, loves trekking, boxing and football; that's Yudishtir, aka VJ Yudi, who believes in living life kingsize!In a heart-to-heart chat with NXg, he walks down the memory lane going nostalgic as he relives his past, analyses his present and shares his future dreams. Excerpts...
A sneak peek into your past...
I am from Bangalore but have lived in quite a few places. I did my schooling from Raj Kumar College, Rajkot. Later stayed in Ahmedabad for a year and moved back to Bangalore to finish college but life had other plans for me. In my very first year of college I realised that I needed to change track. I re-discovered my love for theatre, which I had left back in school. I started working with a few theatre groups like Bangalore Little Theatre and Theatre Arts on a few plays and musicals. Later, went on to do a short-term course in filmmaking and appreciation. I realised that my life was cinema and entertainment. I started off as a marketing executive selling time-share and thereafter I started hosting corporate shows and fashion shows. Things just started happening and I joined channel V.
How did you get into being a VJ?
I chanced upon channel V, who at that time was looking for a new set of VJs. I auditioned for them but got rejected. But the people at the channel felt I had it in me and so they auditioned me again after four months. This time I was lucky and got selected. It was super five years with lots of travelling, partying and meeting interesting people.
What after this?
I moved out of Channel V almost five years back to pursue something else. I took a break and travelled all over the place in India and abroad like America, Europe and South East Asia. It was fun and an eye opener. I knew I wanted to act but was not getting the right break! Things look more optimistic now " I just finished shooting a film and am currently dubbing for it; called "Ye kaisi life" directed by Mirgank Ghosh. It's a drama and has an interesting plot line. I am also working in "Break ke baad" produced by Kunal Kohli. So I guess am slowly but steadily trying to get my foot into cinema as an actor.
If one wants to make a career as a VJ, how should he/she get going?
Now most youth channels are changing their programming formats and moving into more mainstream youth entertainment not just music television. This means they are looking for people with more than just mere music knowledge. You need to be an all round presenter. So one needs to have a good personality, good looks and a sense of humour, be up-to-date on current affairs, and most important have a good command over the language he/she chooses to anchor. It helps to be involved in some kind of interesting space while in school/college or in your city while growing up like theatre, music, elocution or some sport as it adds to your facets making you more interesting and confident. To groom further you can take diction classes, voice training and public speaking courses (not mandatory). Once you are confident and all set to go, get some photos taken. Get a little video diary or audition shot and send your stuff to the channel you want to join. Best thing is to meet the people face to face. So be at the right place at the right time. Most importantly, be yourself!
If not a VJ/actor what would you have rather been?
A spiritual guru...
Any girlfriend in the closet?
No girlfriend as of now. But hope to find someone to love and be loved. I know it's a great feeling to be in love...am waiting for the right person.
When not on the sets what is Yudi busy doing?
I like working out, playing a sport, travelling and discovering new places. I love involving my self in some sort of adventure sport, watching movies and reading. I am a huge adventure freak, love challenges... motorcar and bike, trekking, boxing and football keep the child in me alive.
What is this about Reality Shows...suddenly there seems to be an over dose? Truth Love Cash (TLC), Splitsvilla, MTV Roadies, Dare toDate...isn't there a repetition of ideas too?
There will be reality TV till the voyeur in each one of us is put to sleep. We love to look into other people's lives probably to assure our selves of being better than the other person being watched or just for a lark to see what's up in someone else's life so that we can laugh at the other person's expense. We as humans enjoy judging other people. The more we enjoy such entertainment or till we run out of any more ideas there will be reality shows. TLC has been designed and conceptualised by Endamol for channel V as a fresh reality show concept, it might bear some resemblance to Temptation Island and other such reality shows only because the concept involves putting people in a place for a period of time for the filming process. The mechanisms of Truth Love Cash are completely different from any other show on TV. Also this is the first show with real life couples, something that has never been done on Indian television.
A sneak peek into your past...
I am from Bangalore but have lived in quite a few places. I did my schooling from Raj Kumar College, Rajkot. Later stayed in Ahmedabad for a year and moved back to Bangalore to finish college but life had other plans for me. In my very first year of college I realised that I needed to change track. I re-discovered my love for theatre, which I had left back in school. I started working with a few theatre groups like Bangalore Little Theatre and Theatre Arts on a few plays and musicals. Later, went on to do a short-term course in filmmaking and appreciation. I realised that my life was cinema and entertainment. I started off as a marketing executive selling time-share and thereafter I started hosting corporate shows and fashion shows. Things just started happening and I joined channel V.
How did you get into being a VJ?
I chanced upon channel V, who at that time was looking for a new set of VJs. I auditioned for them but got rejected. But the people at the channel felt I had it in me and so they auditioned me again after four months. This time I was lucky and got selected. It was super five years with lots of travelling, partying and meeting interesting people.
What after this?
I moved out of Channel V almost five years back to pursue something else. I took a break and travelled all over the place in India and abroad like America, Europe and South East Asia. It was fun and an eye opener. I knew I wanted to act but was not getting the right break! Things look more optimistic now " I just finished shooting a film and am currently dubbing for it; called "Ye kaisi life" directed by Mirgank Ghosh. It's a drama and has an interesting plot line. I am also working in "Break ke baad" produced by Kunal Kohli. So I guess am slowly but steadily trying to get my foot into cinema as an actor.
If one wants to make a career as a VJ, how should he/she get going?
Now most youth channels are changing their programming formats and moving into more mainstream youth entertainment not just music television. This means they are looking for people with more than just mere music knowledge. You need to be an all round presenter. So one needs to have a good personality, good looks and a sense of humour, be up-to-date on current affairs, and most important have a good command over the language he/she chooses to anchor. It helps to be involved in some kind of interesting space while in school/college or in your city while growing up like theatre, music, elocution or some sport as it adds to your facets making you more interesting and confident. To groom further you can take diction classes, voice training and public speaking courses (not mandatory). Once you are confident and all set to go, get some photos taken. Get a little video diary or audition shot and send your stuff to the channel you want to join. Best thing is to meet the people face to face. So be at the right place at the right time. Most importantly, be yourself!
If not a VJ/actor what would you have rather been?
A spiritual guru...
Any girlfriend in the closet?
No girlfriend as of now. But hope to find someone to love and be loved. I know it's a great feeling to be in love...am waiting for the right person.
When not on the sets what is Yudi busy doing?
I like working out, playing a sport, travelling and discovering new places. I love involving my self in some sort of adventure sport, watching movies and reading. I am a huge adventure freak, love challenges... motorcar and bike, trekking, boxing and football keep the child in me alive.
What is this about Reality Shows...suddenly there seems to be an over dose? Truth Love Cash (TLC), Splitsvilla, MTV Roadies, Dare toDate...isn't there a repetition of ideas too?
There will be reality TV till the voyeur in each one of us is put to sleep. We love to look into other people's lives probably to assure our selves of being better than the other person being watched or just for a lark to see what's up in someone else's life so that we can laugh at the other person's expense. We as humans enjoy judging other people. The more we enjoy such entertainment or till we run out of any more ideas there will be reality shows. TLC has been designed and conceptualised by Endamol for channel V as a fresh reality show concept, it might bear some resemblance to Temptation Island and other such reality shows only because the concept involves putting people in a place for a period of time for the filming process. The mechanisms of Truth Love Cash are completely different from any other show on TV. Also this is the first show with real life couples, something that has never been done on Indian television.
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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