Rannvijay Singha and wife Prianka are expecting their second child soon. The couple has been living in London since last year and while the two are eager to welcome the newborn, it is their elder daughter Kainaat, who is most excited about her sibling’s arrival. “Kainaat is super excited and says all sorts of sweet things that surprise us. Once she said, ‘I will make a tent in my room for the baby and take care of the baby. You guys can go out for dinners and work.’ We told her you are just four! To which she said, ‘I am four and a half.’ It is so heart-warming to hear her. We tell her that we are getting the baby for her, so she feels that she has to take care of her sibling,” says the actor, who is also known for TV shows like Roadies and Splitsvilla.

Talking about becoming a father again, Rannvijay says, “Some people say that becoming father again means the excitement level would be less, but that’s not true. I am equally excited to be a father now, as I was when we had our first child. And with my daughter being four now, as parents we realised that she needs a sibling.”

Given the pandemic situation, Rannvijay and Prianka are extra careful. “It’s a tricky time and we need to really take care of ourselves. I am concerned about my family and their health. It’s a mixed feeling for us — we are waiting to welcome our new baby, but are also worried about our children given the uncertain times we live in,” he signs off.

Gang leader Neha Dhupia shares how they are conducting online auditions to zero in on the wild card entry for Roadies
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; May 26, 2020)

Even as the shoot of television shows have come to a grinding halt, the makers of Roadies season 17 are finding novel ways to maintain the momentum. While they had zeroed in on contestants before the Coronavirus lockdown, they are now conducting online auditions for the wild card entry.

"It is a format that works in the current situation," says gang leader Neha Dhupia, happy to stay connected with her fans despite the crisis. "The good thing about the lockdown is that we are reducing our carbon footprint by not going on sets. At the same time, we are not leaving our fans, who have been following the show diligently, high and dry." That said, the gang leader wishes to get the show back on the road as soon as possible. "I hope it doesn't become the new normal for Roadies," she says.

The charm of Roadies lies as much in the audition rounds — where the aspiring contestants would sit through a gruelling personal interview conducted by Dhupia, Rannvijay Singha, Prince Narula, Nikhil Chinapa and Raftaar — as in the tasks that follow thereafter. However, with the auditions going online, one fears that the personal interviews may become a tad too mellow. "Over video calls, it is difficult to gauge a contestant's mental strength and thought process. However, even in the 10 minutes that each of us chats with every contestant, we know exactly the kind of people we want to take on for the remaining part of the journey," insists Dhupia.

Dhaval Mehta (DNA; July 19, 2019)

Sunny Leone is a busy girl. She has just launched a playschool called the Art School, her new eye-kit under her own cosmetic line also just released and she is occupied with her lingerie brand, too. “Five years from now, I want my business to grow at a level that is recognised around the world,” says the former Bigg Boss contestant. As far as acting goes, her new Telugu film Koka Kola is coming out and the television reality show Splitsvilla 12 sees her as a host. “I don’t think I have any more space left on my plate,” she laughs, as we catch up for an interview. Excerpts from the chat...

How do you juggle between acting, business and motherhood?
It has to be done. There is no choice. If all the moms out there are reading this, they will know exactly what I am talking about. Kids have to be fed, they have to have their baths, they have to go to school. You (parents) need to give them proper attention and be there and watch them grow. You have to take care of the household, go to work and one million things have to get done every day. But, I am not complaining and I love my life. Yes, I don’t sleep much, but this is the best part of my life ever. I am good at time management and so is my husband (Daniel Weber). So, there is always someone or the other taking care of the kids. And we both are hands-on parents.

Do you feel that Daniel doesn’t get enough credit for what he does?
Anybody who knows me and Daniel — even a small percentage of who he is, is aware that I can be Sunny Leone because of him. If there is no Daniel then there is no Sunny, it is that simple. He gives me the ability to follow my dreams and passions. He is a man with many talents and loves what he does with company, productions and is very hands-on.

Recently, your son Asher was compared to Taimur Ali Khan on social media...
Yes, there were comparisons. Asher has a golu little face and so does Taimur. Social media will do what they want to. Taimur is a very, very cute child and Asher is adorable, too.

You are known for your dance numbers. Does it come easy or do you have to work hard?
I still have to work hard. I have two left feet. I always tell them (choreographers) that you have to teach me like I am four years old and we will make it through the song laughs). I like to consider myself as a good listener, I pay attention and work hard.

What excites you more — acting or dancing?
It is definitely acting in films. Though, I love songs and have had a great time shooting them.

What kind of roles would you like to perform on-screen at this stage of your career?
If the role fits me then the genre doesn’t really matter. I have to be intrigued by the story and the content that I am reading and I have to believe that. How does it look on the screen or does it have a meaning or not. It has to work for me whether it is serious or a horror-comedy or drama. You reach a time in your life when choosing one type of genre doesn’t help you as an artist at all.

What can one expect from your stint in Splitsvilla 12?
Rannvijay Singha (co-host) and I work up the situation. Contestants do what they want to and set the pace of the show. They do all the talking (laughs). But the difference this year is, we have incorporated new-age,  online dating and apps in the show, which is always evolving.

You have been working here for the past eight years. Do you sometimes find the fame and popularity surreal?
It has been an absolutely amazing journey. I am really thankful to so many fans and people that I have worked with. It’s not what I had pictured in my mind before I came here. But, yeah, it is a dream come true.


Kareena Kapoor Khan with Taimur, Sunny Leone with son Asher

BOMBAY TIMES (August 4, 2018)

Globally-acclaimed sneaker brand FILA announced its first-ever collaboration in the motorsport category with Rannvijay Singha today. From its humble textile beginnings in Biella, Italy, in 1911 to its historic introduction of colour on the tennis court in 1973, the brand has always taken pride in creating designs as bold and breathtaking as those wearing it.

Being a sneakerhead and an auto enthusiast, Rannvijay helped create a great product, which was also based on feedback from individuals who are passionate about motorsports. The special edition range focuses on quality, comfort, functionality and style, with an objective to give motorsport enthusiasts the best experience in footwear. With the message of #SneakersThatRide, the product is targeted at urban Indian consumers at an unparalleled price.

With FILA’s heritage in motorsport and Rannvijay’s roots, the brand aims to strengthen their motorsport category.

Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; March 18, 2018)

"I’m the boss here,” Rannvijay Singha smiles, moments after chiding a crew member for causing disturbance while revving up a bike metres away from us in the midst of this interview. We tell him the fact is evident, for, only an hour ago, he took us offguard by yelling at a crew member on being bothered by the disturbance in his earpiece while shooting for the Shillong leg of MTV Roadies Xtreme.

The calm and composed host — or “ring-master” as he is now called — of the long-running stunt-based reality show isn’t particularly known to lose his temper. “He needs a Xanax,” someone whispers in our ear, but before we could nod in agreement, a voice louder than his retorts, “Okay, enough! Get on with the shoot.”

The agitated director, running against the clock, yells at the bevy of celebrated names — apart from Singha, also including Neha Dhupia and Nikhil Chinapa — filming for the task. Popular though they all are, they merely quiet down and get on with the work.

Screaming, we learn, isn’t a parameter to judge tempers on this show, which banks heavily on the camaraderie that the crew members share. Attending the filming of a task in the cold climes (alternating between 11-12 degrees) of Shillong, Singha, we learn, enjoys the unwavering adulation of his co-hosts, gang leaders, as they’re called (Chinapa, Dhupia, rapper Raftaar and Prince Narula). There is a distinctiveness with which he addresses the gang leaders and participants; composed with the former, a sense of power evident with the latter. He confesses, it’s a front that he must put up to bring out the best in the contestants. “To put somebody under pressure, you have to press their buttons. To see your true character, I have to say something to you that will get you out of your comfort zone. I may be harsh because there’s a message I want to send out. But you [participant] don’t give up. You might not be as capable as the other person, but your intention behind doing it [the show] should be equally strong,” he says.

If Singha continues to test their grit, the gang leaders emerge as the mentors that the participants can turn to, for comfort. At odds with the brash dialogue that defined the show’s format under the watch of then hosts Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman, the four are constantly involved in a friendly banter with the participants, whilst continuing to test their intention. Chinapa aptly emerges as the captain of his team in the Rang Dheela task, rendered “lame” by those witnessing it until he captures their attention with a crackling performance at the climax.

A 25-year-long career behind him, one which saw him juggling positions between host and performer, Chinapa establishes his place as a bankable gang leader owing to the mental and physical grit he puts into his act. It is due to the effort put in by those who are now the faces of the show that people appearing on it garner instant fame, Singha says

“Today, if a participant becomes famous because of his appearance on the show, it’s not because s/he has worked hard, it’s because of what we’ve built. We have worked hard, and they gain the fame,” he says, highlighting that the desire to instantly garner attention is now the ulterior motive of those turning up at audition. “When I started off, I didn’t know if Roadies was going to be a show, a five-minute shoot, a journey or an event. I just wanted the winning prize, which was a bike. But when it became big, and people saw the kind of fame that I, Ayushmann [Khurrana] and Bani J [previous participants] achieved, they wanted it too. So, the aspirants today come here for success, popularity and media attention, as opposed to simply being part of a journey.”

Quiz him on how this trend depletes the quality of a reality show, given that donning a front to acquire fame is hardly uncommon, and he says, “That too is interesting. It will be noteworthy to watch somebody pretend for 40 days. If s/he does it, it implies the win matters to him/her. If someone pretends to be aggressive, even though he isn’t, he is putting in the effort to portray that for 30 days. So, it works for us. If on the 29th day, he reveals his true nature, that’s also great.”

Anyone who grew up in the ’90s would agree that the series was among the most celebrated of the era, given that it appeared to urge the youth to find their identity. Yet, an array of other offerings, including The Big F and MTV Grind, featuring skimpily-clad dancers grooving to old ditties, were criticised for being cringe-worthy. But Singha argues that the “youth-based” channel did not struggle to establish an identity. “A lot of decisions are business-oriented, not emotional,” he says, adding, “But, you have to understand that today the reality of our young generation is at odds with what it was then. Kids in the ’90s didn’t struggle with the pressures of Instagram, and acquiring likes [on social media]. So they can’t relate to the youth today. But the channel has to stay current. It is current, [the kids of the ’90s] are not. Do I watch some of these shows? No. But they do well. So, there’s a certain group of youngsters that I can’t relate to.”

Poor quality of content, whether released online or on television, has been criticized, even upheld as the reason behind the follies in society. However, Singha argues that it is one’s upbringing, not the content on TV that alters mindsets. “If you say such shows ruin society, let me ask you, when was society great? Mob films were made even in the ’80s. Did people pick up guns and shoot each other? Entertainment can reflect the goings-on in society, not affect it. Society changes due to upbringing. People criticize content, but don’t question their own faulty actions. This is the kind of upbringing that changes society. Content makes you happy. It should be given credit. Also, content is given too much importance. We’re not in NASA, we’re not building bridges. It’s just content. Why take it so seriously?”

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 30, 2017)

Trolling celebs is a global phenomenon now and MTV has taken them on in its latest edition of Troll Police. It will show how in today’s day and age it is child’s play to log on to a social media platform from any part of the world and post objectionable comments about a celebrity’s physical appearance or wardrobe.

“The team has roped in private investigators and a cyber team to trace these trolls. Bollywood celebrities will confront the faces behind these acts in a bid to educate the youth, create awareness and highlight the issue of cyber-bullying,” informs a source, adding that Rannvijay Singha will host this season of Troll Police while Taapsee Pannu will be the first guest.

Rannvijay admits that as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility and in today’s day and age, internet has given us the power to voice out our opinion. “But there are a lot of people who do not use this power wisely which is why trolling needs attention. If one thinks one can hide his or her identity, use the platform to send inflammatory and off-topic messages and get away with it, it is a serious offence and a sign of cowardice,” he points out.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 1, 2016)

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 3, 2016)


What keeps bringing you back to Roadies and Splitsvilla?
I was 20 when I did the first show of Roadies. I started my journey with it, I have grown up with it. The show's an integral part of me — all the adventure, travel, meeting people who want to prove themselves, realising their potential... I like that journey and I myself get to do crazy things. I started Splitsvilla with Raghu and Rajeev producing it and then we handed over to other people. Last year, I came back co-hosting the show with Sunny (Leone) and it did well.

Doesn't a feeling of deja vu set in?
Definitely, because you see the same kind of thing happening between two-three people that has happened before. If I was a CEO of a bank sanctioning things, getting a deal done everyday, then it would be monotonous. Here even though I am doing the same thing, I am dealing with different people in different settings and in different countries like Brazil, Australia, Africa, Bhutan etc. That's the reason Roadies is on for 13 years and Splitsvilla for nine years. Every season we give it to a different creative team, which brings in their own personality. We keep changing ideologies and theories and keep it exciting.

Between Roadies and Splitsvilla, which would you choose?
Roadies. But this year Splitsvilla is unique with the theme where women rule. Ours is not a developed country and things are not the same for men and women. Our show being targetted at youth will impact them. I am seeing a lot of contestants who are respectful and chivalrous, the kind women would want as their ideal men. Indirectly, millions of kids watching them will realise this is the way to be with women. Though it's an entertainment show, subconsciously it will be engraved on their minds. In Roadies when I chose my team, out of five people, three were girls - I wanted to show that you don't need boys to win. And this is the need of the hour in our country. Through the show we want to tell the world that women should be treated as princesses.

Who rules your world?
My wife (Priyanka) rules my world!

Since you have been dealing with the youth in your shows, have you seen any changes in the generation over the years?
Yes, now the youth is more passionate about what they want. They are not happy with 'hogaya toh sahi, nahi hua toh sahi' attitude. They want to win respect among core groups, family and friends. They have seen how good their lives can be if they achieve something — they can get to host shows, foray into films, etc. So they are over ambitious and over possessive, but it is not bad when compared to the youth that is being lazy.

While you are a big name in reality shows, why you have stayed away from fiction after Pukar?
I would love to that kind of fiction which has a definite ending. Pukar was only for 24 episodes with a start and end. Also, I have done a few films with Vipul Shah who had directed the series. Even the serial was shot like a film and people like Raj Babbar and Adah Sharma were associated with it. I am not interested in the other kind of fiction shows where the story stretches — even if you watch it after 10 days, you'll find it hasn't moved. I would rather do a web series, which is edgy and fast-paced.

Are you doing a web series?
I am working on it. I have one called Squad Rann which is about adventure and sports. It's aimed at making the youth active. Even my brother Harmeet Singha is doing a series Aisha.

What happened to the film Mango in which you have worked with your brother?
Only Abbas Tyrewala will be able to tell you about it, but yes it was an amazing experience working with my brother. He is five years younger to me and would always be with me. Working with him was like a natural experience though he doesn't play my brother in the film.

Though you were part of several movies, none of them clicked in a big way. Is that the reason you have veered more towards TV?
My first movie, London Dreams released in 2009 and I was lucky enough to share screen space with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. I have been getting offers, but a few scripts have intrigued me enough to be a part of the movie. Of course, television is my first love and I will keep going back to it. I am what I am because of Roadies. I have done shows like Squad Rann and Rann VJ Run and I think television certainly reaches a wider audience as compared to movies.

After spotting dust particles, strands of hair and what looked liked traces of blood in the sealed bottles, the producer is demanding compensation
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 2, 2015)