Advertise on podcast: Cyrus Says

From the Cyrus Says archives: we’re revisiting this 2023 conversation with actor, writer and filmmaker Kunal Kemmu. Kunal and Cyrus go back years, from an old Surf Ultra ad and an unforgettable MTV Bakra prank to working together on 99. Naturally, that means this episode comes packed with embarrassing stories before they get anywhere near the serious questions. Kunal looks back at becoming a child actor, working with Aamir Khan at a young age, choosing acting over a conventional academic path, and making the difficult transition from child performer to adult actor. He also talks about breaking out of typecasting, moving between comedy and darker roles, the making of Go Goa Gone, and how conversations around that cult film helped spark his interest in writing and filmmaking. Recorded in 2023, Kunal was also in the middle of editing his directorial debut at the time, and he opens up about stepping behind the camera, managing actors and crews, and discovering a very different side of himself as a director. Plus: motorcycles, Ladakh rides, Saif Ali Khan’s blonde Go Goa Gone look, marriage, fatherhood and plenty of classic Cyrus chaos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, Harleen Sethi joins Cyrus Broacha to talk about her new kidnapping thriller called, 'Shaque: Trust No One', which is now available on Netflix. She also talks about her unconventional journey into acting, and everything that happened before Broken But Beautiful made her a familiar face. Harleen talks about being among the top students at Mumbai University, paying for MBA classes and then leaving that path after receiving a dance scholarship. What started with ballet and dance eventually led to advertisements, including major campaigns, before an audition for Salman Khan’s Sultan at YRF made her realise she needed to properly train as an actor.She also opens up about her breakthrough with 'Broken But Beautiful', working with Vikrant Massey, her long struggle with acne and PCOD, and why she was more nervous about how she would look on screen than how audiences would judge her acting.Harleen also talks about the pressure to get married, dating as a known actor, driving herself around Mumbai, shooting 'Shaque: Trust No One' in the hills, and what she wants to do next.Listen to the full episode for Harleen Sethi, Shaque: Trust No One, Broken But Beautiful, Sultan, Salman Khan, Vikrant Massey, acting auditions, PCOD, dating, Bollywood and plenty of Cyrus Says madness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, Rajeev Masand joins Cyrus Broacha for a conversation about his journey from being one of India’s best-known film critics to working on the other side of Bollywood with Dharma and helping actors navigate scripts, films and their careers.Rajeev talks about why he walked away from film criticism, how Karan Johar convinced him to make the switch, what really goes into choosing scripts for actors, and some of the bizarre requests and realities that come with managing major stars.  The conversation also goes into how Bollywood has changed, from the more unfiltered stars of the past to today’s carefully managed social-media era. Rajeev shares stories involving Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Rekha and more, while talking about influencers, celebrity culture and whether Bollywood can still create stars with the same mystery and impact.  Listen to the full episode for Rajeev Masand, Bollywood stories, Dharma, Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, film criticism and plenty of Cyrus Says madness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Punit Pania joins Cyrus Broacha for another chaotic edition of C**k & Bull, where Mumbai life, festivals, relationships, politics and the week’s strangest stories collide. The conversation kicks off with Ganpati season, Mumbai’s ever-expanding traffic hierarchy and the idea of Lalbaugcha Raja getting a Delhi “franchise.” Cyrus and Punit then get into crackers, Mumbai’s trains and metros, marriage, reality TV, comedians and the dangers of spending three uninterrupted days with your spouse. Things get even stranger when they discover a man offering himself as a Garba partner for rent, with packages starting at ₹1,000 and increasingly elaborate benefits. There’s also the episode’s running “national birthday” gag, plus conversations around stray dogs and animal welfare, CBFC rules, artists and political expression, UPI, petrol payments and the absurdities of everyday Indian life. And, naturally, Train Ka Pain makes its inevitable return. Follow Punit Pania: @‌punitpania Follow Cyrus Broacha: @‌cyrus_broacha Subscribe to Cyrus Says for more comedy, conversations and C**k & Bull chaos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, actor Aksharaa Haasan, daughter of Kamal Haasan, joins Cyrus Broacha to talk about her film Simulacra, her journey in the entertainment industry, and how technology is changing the way we live and connect.Aksharaa explains the idea behind 'Simulacra', a world where technology, artificial intelligence, reality and fantasy begin to blur. She also talks about growing up in a famous film family, finding her own creative path, starting out as a dancer and choreographer, and eventually moving into acting.The conversation also gets personal as Aksharaa opens up about ADHD, dyslexia, brain fog and hyperfocus, while she and Cyrus discuss education, AI, human connection and our growing dependence on technology.She also shares her interest in directing and her dream of building a stronger community for artists.Listen to the full episode for Aksharaa Haasan, Simulacra, AI, ADHD, acting, filmmaking and Cyrus Says madness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, actor Mihir Ahuja joins Cyrus Broacha after the success of Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar.Mihir talks about playing Baldy, a real-life Indian Air Force officer, and how he was locked for the role just 48 hours before shooting. He also shares what it was like sitting inside actual MiGs connected to the Kargil War, learning the technical side of a fighter pilot’s world, and taking on the responsibility of playing a real person.  The conversation also goes back to his journey from Jamshedpur to Mumbai, living in a 12-sharing room, doing auditions from day one, his first ad with Virat Kohli, his roles in Made in Heaven and The Archies, and how Zoya Akhtar saw him as Jughead.   Listen to this full episode for Mihir Ahuja, Operation Safed Sagar, The Archies, Kargil War stories, Virat Kohli, acting struggles and plenty of Cyrus madness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joel D’Souza came to promote Dear Diary and accidentally gave us enough material for a financial investigation. He tells Cyrus how he became a TCS employee without bothering with the minor formality of actually working at TCS, performed on a boat while his audience slowly disappeared, and watched Bumrah take over his show during an India–Pakistan match. Honestly, the projector had a stronger set. They also discuss Baba Ramdev, Freddie Mercury, terrible gigs, credit cards, India–Pakistan sportsmanship and Joel’s suspicious enthusiasm for solo holidays. Watch the full episode on the Cyrus Says YouTube channel. No comedians, credit cards or boats were financially secure during this recording. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Pratik Gandhi join Cyrus Broacha to talk about their new film Ghamasaan, an action-packed crime drama set around the rugged world of Chitrakoot and Bundelkhand. Tigmanshu talks about giving Ghamasaan the feel of a classic Western, why he didn’t want a stereotypical muscular cop as his hero, and how Arshad Warsi ended up playing one of the film’s most menacing characters. Pratik opens up about playing a gun-wielding STF officer for the first time and a character who slowly realizes that he may be fighting the very system he belongs to.The conversation also goes beyond the film as Pratik talks about leaving his corporate career, where he was earning ₹28 lakh a year, and the unusual jobs he did along the way, from cleaning water tanks to hosting birthday parties. Tigmanshu also looks back at his journey from Allahabad, drama school and Bandit Queen to becoming a filmmaker. Listen to this full episode for Ghamasaan, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Pratik Gandhi, Arshad Warsi, Indian cinema, action films, acting stories and plenty of Cyrus-style madness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, author Akshay Chavan joins Cyrus Broacha to talk about his new book, The Wealth Networks, and a side of Indian history shaped by trade, geography and commerce.Akshay talks about how ancient India was connected to the world through spices, cotton, gold, silver, horses and major trade routes. He also gets into the Golconda diamond mines, Bihar’s role in the global saltpeter and gunpowder trade, and how places like Paithan, Bharuch, Sopara, Hormuz and Mangalore became important trading centres.The conversation also covers Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, India’s horse trade, the wealth of the Jagat Seths, and how coffee, cotton and silver connected India to Yemen and Europe.Listen to the full episode for a fascinating look at The Wealth Networks, ancient Indian trade, Indian history, Golconda diamonds, Harappa and how geography shaped India’s wealth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shamik Chakrabarti returns to Cyrus Says after performing across Europe and Australia, with stories about international comedy audiences, Melbourne’s little penguins and life on tour. Cyrus and Shamik then move through a suitably unpredictable collection of stories: AI replacing workers and potentially CEOs, Bengal and Durga Puja, Navratri memories, Indian politics, population numbers, restaurant inspections, Liverpool fandom, unusual international competitions and Cyrus’ story about working with Preity Zinta. Shamik also plugs his upcoming India tour before Cyrus ends the episode by turning the interview into an interrogation about his dating life. It’s travel, current affairs, football, technology and complete studio chaos, in other words, another episode of C**k and Bull. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, Kushal Shrivastava, Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Nikhil Ravi, the makers of Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar, join Cyrus Broacha to talk about recreating the Indian Air Force’s role in the Kargil War. Kushal, who served in the Indian Air Force, along with Abhijeet and Nikhil, share how the series grew from an idea into a nearly five-year project. The team researched the Golden Arrows squadron, spoke to fighter pilots, veterans and families, and recreated intense MiG-21 missions, including bombing operations at extreme altitudes. They also talk about shooting at real Air Force locations, correcting common film clichés, casting the right actors, and balancing authenticity with cinematic storytelling while respecting the real people behind the story. Listen to the full episode for the inside story of Operation Safed Sagar, Kargil, the Indian Air Force, MiG-21s and the making of the Netflix series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Ishwak Singh became Imran Ansari in Paatal Lok and Dr Vikram Sarabhai in Rocket Boys, he was an architect designing schools, hotels and even his own house. He was also doing unpaid theatre in Delhi and appearing in film montages that his own friends struggled to spot. In this episode of Cyrus Says, Ishwak talks about leaving architecture for acting, his blink-and-miss appearances in Raanjhanaa and Tamasha, learning from Manoj Bajpayee on Aligarh and finally finding his breakthrough with Paatal Lok. He also reveals how Made in Heaven changed his dating life, teaches Cyrus some sign language from Berlin, discusses playing Taapsee Pannu’s husband in Gandhari and shares details about his upcoming projects, including the film during which he fractured his foot. Expect architecture, Delhi fights, dating apps, martial arts, Cyrus’s questionable sign language and a particularly chaotic round of Cyrus Lies. Watch the full episode now! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Aakash Mehta joins Cyrus Broacha for another chaotic edition of C**k & Bull with Cyrus, covering everything from shampoo smuggling and European tour logistics to comedy controversies, Test cricket and Indian politics. Aakash talks about travelling to London, Oslo and Amsterdam, carrying suspiciously specific gifts for friends abroad, and why Indians inevitably become international couriers for snacks, shampoo and other home comforts. The conversation then turns to Samay Raina and India’s Got Latent, with Cyrus and Aakash debating outrage, offensive comedy and why making jokes about cultural differences can sometimes bring people closer rather than push them apart. They also get into Mumbai restaurant hygiene and food inspections, Tukaram Mundhe’s enforcement drive, Indo-Chinese food, the decline of patient Test batting, Pakistan’s missing fast bowlers, Imran Khan, Bihar paying influencers to promote government schemes, Bengaluru traffic cops, VIP culture, PDA laws and the strange things politicians manage to get away with.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, legendary lyricist Mehboob joins Cyrus Broacha to look back at the stories behind some of the most memorable music of the ’90s and 2000s.Mehboob talks about how meeting Ram Gopal Varma changed his career, waiting two years before finally getting the call for Rangeela, and beginning a long creative partnership with A.R. Rahman. He shares what it was like writing through the night in Chennai, how Rahman reacts to words and phonetics, and why writing lyrics is very different from writing poetry.  He also opens up about working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, his early journey with Ismail Darbar, the struggles behind becoming a film lyricist, and why a Bollywood song needs to be understood by millions without losing its depth. Mehboob also talks about his friendship with Adnan Sami and their new song Ishq Tamasha, while sharing stories from decades of working with some of Indian cinema’s biggest filmmakers and composers.  Listen to this full episode of Cyrus Says for Mehboob on A.R. Rahman, Rangeela, Ram Gopal Varma, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Adnan Sami, Bollywood music, songwriting and the stories behind iconic Hindi film songs.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Cyrus Says!On this episode of Cyrus Says, automotive journalist Cyrus Dhabhar joins Cyrus Broacha for a full-throttle conversation about cars, speed, EVs, hybrids and the madness of driving in India.Cyrus Dhabhar talks about growing up in a motoring family, how his father helped develop the Mahindra Thar, his own collection of 12 cars, and his journey through Autocar, ZigWheels, NDTV and Top Gear India. He also breaks down whether EVs are actually better than petrol cars, why hybrids could be a great option in India, and names some of the best cars he has ever driven, including the Ferrari 296, Lamborghini and Land Rover Defender OCTA. They also get into the real reason the Tata Nano failed, why Cyrus Dhabhar hates the Ambassador, the story behind Lamborghini taking on Ferrari, Indian driving habits and why dashcams should probably be mandatory.    Listen to this full episode of Cyrus Says for cars, automotive journalism, EVs, hybrids, Mahindra Thar, Ferrari, Lamborghini and plenty of motoring stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.