

Cyrus Says
IVM Podcasts
Broadcasting through the week with a rotating panel of guests, Cyrus Says is the definitive show on life in urban India, politics, sports, civic sense, traffic, kids, food, and everything that matters. Mostly.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 25, 2025 • 45min
Desi Jewel Chor | Jaideep Ahlawat
Discover the inspiring journey of Jaideep Ahlawat, the versatile Indian actor known for Paatal Lok and Gangs of Wasseypur, as we unveil lesser-known facets of his life! From his early dream of joining the Indian Army (he attempted SSB interviews multiple times!) to pivoting toward acting through theatre in Punjab and formal training at FTII, Ahlawat’s discipline shines through. Did you know he postponed his wedding for his debut film Khatta Meetha? Or that his FTII batchmates like Rajkummar Rao and Vijay Varma remain close friends in their Mazboot Actors Association WhatsApp group? Despite intense roles, he craves romantic characters inspired by legends like Shah Rukh Khan and recently stunned fans with viral Haryanvi dance moves in Jewel Thief’s “Jaadu”! 🕺💃 Explore his thoughts on nepotism (“I am the first Jaideep Ahlawat”), Aamir Khan’s praise post-Paatal Lok, and his preference for privacy over social media. Dive into his filmography, awards, and unique bond with Kamal Haasan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 23, 2025 • 1h 1min
Engineer to Comic | Gautham Govindan on CAT, comedy & corporate chaos.
In this hilarious and inspiring episode of Cyrus Says, we’re joined by the multi-talented Gautham Govindan, a stand-up comedian with a sharp corporate past. A former strategist at companies like Acko, Philips India, and Johnson & Johnson, Gautham blends real boardroom experience with observational humor, making him a standout voice in the world of corporate comedy. With a 99.99 percentile in CAT 2012, an engineering degree, and successful stints at firms like Mondelēz, Curefit, Slice, and ZO Rooms, his transition into comedy feels like a calculated punchline. Known for his clean, intelligent humor, Gautham performs in English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil, connecting effortlessly with diverse audiences. His work has featured on Amazon Prime’s Comicstaan, Comedy Central India, and gone viral on LinkedIn, where he blends job advice with jokes (#cvwritinghacks). From mic-stand antics and quirky theories about ice cream conspiracies, to tailoring acts for HR teams and launching solar lighting models in rural India, Gautham brings both brains and belly laughs to the stage. Tune in as he shares his journey from marketing decks to mic drops!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 20, 2025 • 1h 3min
Rising MMA star Siddharth Singh on his journey, fight style & fun moments | Cyrus Says
In this episode of Cyrus Says, we sit down with rising MMA star Siddharth Singh, who hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and began his martial arts journey at just 18, transitioning from a strong base in wrestling and boxing. Now training at Soma Fight Club, Bangkok, Siddharth has honed a powerful hybrid style of aggressive striking and technical grappling, under elite international coaches. With an impressive professional record of 8 wins and 2 losses, Siddharth fights in the Welterweight division (77 kg) and has made his mark as a former SFL Welterweight Champion, defending his title twice before stepping into the cage with Brave Combat Federation in 2022, notably facing Algerian contender Malik Bara. Known for his rear-naked chokes and devastating overhand right, he brings a calculated, crowd-pleasing style to every fight. He was named SFL Fighter of the Year in 2021, and his talent has earned him partnerships with Under Armour India and NitroX Sports Nutrition. This fun and insightful conversation also features hilarious takes on emotional strength, patience versus Delhi traffic, charm overload, and sibling rivalries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 18, 2025 • 1h 10min
Anish Gawande: LGBTQ+ Activist, NCP Leader, Rhodes Scholar & Champion of Inclusive Indian Politics
Anish Gawande, born in Mumbai and educated at Columbia and Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, is India’s first openly gay national spokesperson for a mainstream party (NCP SP). Founder of Pink List India and the Dara Shikoh Fellowship, he led major COVID-19 relief via Youth Feed India. He translated queer literary works by Ramchandra Siras and The World That Belongs To Us. A fierce critic of Israel’s pinkwashing and Maharashtra's Mahayuti govt, Gawande advocates for abolishing criminal defamation, inclusive welfare, LGBTQ+ rights, caste equity, and climate justice. He blends U.S./U.K. campaign tactics with a “politics of care” to reshape Indian politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 16, 2025 • 1h 17min
Exclusive AMA: Punit Pania & Akash Mehta Decode AI vs. Artistry, IPL 2025 Stars, NSA Alerts & More on Cyrus Says!
Join Punit Pania and Akash Mehta in this explosive AMA as they tackle burning questions—from whether AI will overshadow Miyazaki’s genius to IPL 2025’s breakout talents eyeing Team India spots! Dive into debates on festive meat commercialization, NSA’s cryptic warnings, U.S. military mishaps in Lithuania, Avengers’ overcrowded cast, and Chinese nurses’ heroics in Myanmar. Plus, unpack Eid 2025’s "financial approval" twist! 🚀 Don’t miss their sharp takes on tech, culture, and humanity’s rawest instincts. Drop your questions below—#CyrusSaysAMA is LIVE! Kripya subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CyrusSays Spotify Video EP's - https://open.spotify.com/show/2vrxGELviPynQA3AhMc40n?si=GdGevGetS6WuUlz2BAT8vQ Listen to the full audio episodes at: Amazon Music Exclusive https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/4d52847d-6dbd-46b1-8219-34792a987d09/cyrus-says---amazon-music-exclusive Email your AMA questions to us at whatcyrussays@gmail.comDiscord Server - https://discord.gg/ Don’t forget to follow Cyrus Says’ official Instagram handle at @whatcyrussays[https://www.instagram.com/whatcyrussays/] Connect with Cyrus on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_broacha/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Broacha_Cyrus Aur like, share, comment karna na bhule! #comedypodcast #livepodcast #cyrusbroacha #CyrusBroacha #CyrusBroachaPodcast #cyrussays #cyrusbroachapodcast #amawithcyrus #cocknbull #AMAwithCyrus #CocknBullSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 14, 2025 • 1h
Saqib Saleem on Cyrus Says: Cricket, 83 , Race 3 & Sister Huma Qureshi Secrets Revealed.
Dive into Bollywood actor Saqib Saleem’s riveting journey on Cyrus Says! From his Delhi roots as a state-level cricketer (Delhi U-14) to conquering Bollywood, Saqib opens up about his early life, quitting cricket post-injury, and training in Kathak for 8 years. Discover how he transitioned from modeling (Kingfisher Fresh Face 2008) to acting with breakout hits like Mere Dad Ki Maruti (2013) and the Salman Khan-led blockbuster Race 3 (₹303 crore gross). Uncover lesser-known gems: his fear of horses after a Dil Juunglee accident, co-owning cloud kitchen Qube with sister Huma Qureshi (Gangs of Wasseypur), and battling typecasting with gritty web series Rangbaaz (2018). Critics and fans rave about his versatility—from Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge’s youthful charm to Race 3’s box-office dominance. Don’t miss this candid chat with career highs, Punjabi family tales, and behind-the-scenes trivia! Perfect for fans of Bollywood, cricket, and inspiring success stories. #CyrusSays #SaqibSaleem #BollywoodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
Zahan Kapoor on Family Legacy, Faraaz & Black Warrant | Cyrus Says Exclusive
In this captivating episode of Cyrus Says, dive into an exclusive interview with Zahan Kapoor—the rising star of the iconic Kapoor dynasty—as he opens up about balancing his storied legacy (son of Kunal Kapoor, grandson of Shashi Kapoor, and great-grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor) with forging his own path in Bollywood and beyond. Discover behind-the-scenes stories from his acclaimed roles in Faraaz (2022) and Netflix’s Black Warrant (2025), his grounding journey at Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre, and upcoming projects like Bandwaale (Amazon Prime) and Dining with the Kapoors. Zahan reveals how his "unfilmy" upbringing, polo passion, and mentorship from father Kunal shaped his craft, why he prioritizes theatre, and the lessons learned from legends like Shashi Kapoor and Ramesh Sippy. With insights on his IMDb "Breakout Star" award, childhood anecdotes about Ranbir Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan, and his vision for diverse roles, this episode is a must-watch for fans of Indian cinema’s new generation. Tune in for a heartfelt, inspiring conversation on legacy, artistry, and ambition!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 9, 2025 • 1h 7min
Raj Ganpath: #1 Bestseller ‘Simple, Not Easy’ & Sustainable Fitness Secrets
Raj Ganpath, a certified fitness and nutrition coach with 17+ years of experience, champions sustainable wellness as co-founder of The Quad (@thequad.in) and The Slow Burn Method. His bestselling book Simple, Not Easy (Westland, 2025), an Amazon India #1 bestseller, distills fitness fundamentals into 100 concise chapters, covering nutrition, strength training, sleep, and stress management. Rejecting restrictive trends, Ganpath emphasizes evidence-based principles, advocating simplicity through core habits over quick fixes. At The Quad, co-founded with Arvind Ashok, he’s trained 8,000+ students via in-person, virtual, and personalized coaching, blending global practices with Indian lifestyle contexts to build consistency and community. The Slow Burn Method, his signature approach, promotes gradual weight loss through manageable calorie adjustments (200-300 reduction) and accessible home workouts, prioritizing sustainability. A certified expert in biomechanics, Olympic lifting, and nutrition, Ganpath leverages platforms like Instagram to debunk fitness myths, offering jargon-free guidance aligned with his philosophy. His work underscores inclusivity, practicality, and long-term health—proving fitness is “simple, not easy.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 7, 2025 • 53min
Dibyendu Bhattacharya: Iconic Roles in Dev.D, Rocket Boys & The Railway Men | Award-Winning Actor
Dibyendu Bhattacharya, a versatile Indian actor with deep Bengali roots, has carved a niche in theatre, film, and digital media through iconic roles and artistic integrity. Born in Kolkata, his journey began with a shift from cricket to storytelling, followed by formal training at the National School of Drama (NSD), where he honed his craft alongside peers like Irrfan Khan. His theatrical genesis includes 55+ plays and socially charged performances with Jana Natya Manch, establishing his unique stage presence. In cinema, Dibyendu gained recognition with Satya (1998), delivered breakthrough roles like Chunni in Dev.D (2009), and ad-libbed the iconic line “Keh ke loonga!” in Gangs of Wasseypur. His digital acclaim includes Criminal Justice (2019) and The Railway Men, earning awards for portraying Kamruddin, a heroic railway worker during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Noteworthy roles span morally complex characters like Sub-Inspector Imtiaz (Ab Tak Chhappan) and Yeda Yakub (Black Friday), alongside supporting figures like sports journalist Debashish Banerjee (Goal). Beyond acting, Dibyendu practices Vipassana meditation, draws inspiration from Buddhist philosophy, and mentors talents like Parineeti Chopra. A connoisseur of Bengali literature and Satyajit Ray’s films, he quietly supports NGOs for child education and rural theatre. His disciplined lifestyle, shaped by overcoming childhood asthma, and versatility across media—including voicing Gollum in Hindi—cement his legacy as a multifaceted artist bridging cultural heritage and contemporary narratives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 4, 2025 • 1h 1min
Raja Kumari: Bridging Cultures with BollyHood Beats & Global Impact
Born Svetha Yallapragada Rao in California to Telugu parents, Raja Kumari (Sanskrit for “Daughter of the King”) blends her Indian heritage with hip-hop to create her signature “BollyHood” sound. Trained in Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Bharatanatyam from age 5, she debuted at 7 before Ravi Shankar and later pivoted to hip-hop, inspired by Fugees. A Grammy-nominated songwriter, she penned hits for Fall Out Boy (“Centuries”) and Iggy Azalea (“Change Your Life”) before launching her solo career with EPs like The Come Up (2018) and HBIC (2022). Her music fuses classical Indian riffs, Hindi-English lyrics, and themes of empowerment, collaborating with icons like A.R. Rahman, Divine, and Gwen Stefani. Founding Godmother Records (2022) for creative freedom, she champions female artists while balancing global fame. A cultural ambassador, her tracks feature in films (Jawan, Pagglait) and she judges MTV’s Hustle. Honored with BMI Pop Awards, ELLE Awards, and MTV EMA nods, she funds healthcare and education via the Vegesna Foundation and UNICEF. Raja Kumari’s journey—from classical prodigy to hip-hop powerhouse—cements her as a bridge between Bollywood and Hollywood, inspiring a generation to embrace dual identities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


