Navya Naveli Nanda: No better place to voice your opinion than family

Navya, who will be joined by Jaya Bachchan and Shweta for debut podcast What The Hell Navya, says it is enriching to exchange views that will resonate with women across generations
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; September 24, 2022)

What do you get when you have Jaya Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Navya Naveli Nanda together? A series of witty, candid and personal conversations, which can well be a treasure trove of wisdom and life lessons. Starting today, over the next 10 Saturdays, the three women are joining forces for What The Hell Navya, a podcast that will see them discuss a multitude of topics — from work to relationships, from financial independence to women’s health.

For Navya, who has carved a niche as an entrepreneur with EntrepreNaari and Aara Health, the podcast is a way to gain different perspectives. She reveals that the idea germinated from the chats she had with her family during the lockdowns. “We spoke about work, entrepreneurship and women, and realised that we wanted to put it out there, so that people could listen to them. These are important conversations, not just for my generation, but also for those in my mom and grandmother’s age bracket,” she shares.

Her actor-grandmother and mother were her companions of choice for the IVM-backed podcast. “My nani is always evolving with the times, and was excited to do something she hasn’t done before,” she says, adding that the audio medium is the most authentic way to tell a story.

“Some people can feel awkward in front of the camera. For us, it was seamless. So much so that we often forgot there is a mic. It felt as if we were talking in our living room,” she laughs.

Describing themselves as “a mercurial bunch”, Shweta says it was a no-brainer to team up with Bachchan and Navya. She adds, “There were some outbursts and emotions. But that’s the point of throwing three humans with opinions together.”

Navya admits it was a joy to be part of the trio from different generations as they shared their distinct viewpoints and discussed everyday topics that women across the country can relate to. “It’s important to voice your opinion and there’s no better place than your family to do that. There is so much we can learn from our elders. They have a vast experience and listening to what they have to say can be valuable for us. Also, one thing we observed is that even though we would debate [and have] our individual opinions, in the end, we came to the same conclusion.”

While Navya’s favourite episode is where her grandmother and mother discuss financial independence, Shweta says, “My mom and Navya were so candid on the episode about love and relationships.”

The chat would be incomplete without asking Navya what grandfather Amitabh Bachchan and uncle Abhishek thought about her new venture. “They are naturally excited. They know that we’re addressing topics that are important and will resonate with everyone.”