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Palki Sharma: On Shedding Likability, Female Ambition, Motherhood and Gen Z Politics — Transcript

by The Life Savers Show with Neha Bedi · 18,860 words · 3,216 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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0:00How does it feel to be recognized and to
0:02have this massive fan following?
0:04>> When we go on camera, we ask people to
0:07watch us, right? So, when people are
0:09actually watching and saying nice
0:10things, it does feel nice. I will not
0:12[music] complain. That also means more
0:14scrutiny. You can't have a bad day.
0:17[music] You can't go on air not
0:19prepared, not being your 100% because
0:21you'll be called out. Are they open to
0:23listening to you? Are they open to
0:25taking orders from you? How do they
0:26respond when they see a woman in charge?
0:31The upside of working in a
0:32male-dominated industry is
0:35men are allowed to be assertive, I
0:37think, and demanding, but women have to
0:39soften the edges all the time. It's not
0:41fair. The male anchors are earning a lot
0:43more.
0:43>> Yeah.
0:44>> Uh most of the times they were put on
0:46air for breaking news situations because
0:48the men's point of view is taken more
0:50seriously.
0:51Has that changed now?
0:54>> How do you lose your cool?
0:56Like, what is your angry face?
0:58Make an angry face for me, Palki.
0:59>> I can't.
1:00>> Please.
1:00>> No. Why? No, no.
1:02>> I want to know what your angry face
1:03looks like.
1:04>> I don't have an angry face.
1:04>> You have an angry face.
1:05>> Yeah, of course I'm sure I do.
1:08>> [laughter]
1:09>> Your mom was a Hindi teacher and she
1:10named you Palki because
1:13>> we had one of our bosses who said, "Why
1:15don't you take the stairs? It's just one
1:17floor." And you said, "That's the choice
1:18I make."
1:19>> And I'm like, "I want to be like this
1:20girl. SHE'S SO COOL."
1:23>> [music]
1:25>> PALKI, SO LOVELY TO see you after so
1:28many years and I'm so glad that we
1:29reconnected.
1:30>> Yes, it's it's wonderful to see you.
1:31It's been I How many years has it been?
1:34>> I don't know. I left Network 18, I
1:36think, in 2013.
1:38So, yeah.
1:38>> CNN-IBN 14 years. 14 years. And Palki is
1:4113 years.
1:42>> Palki is stuck in 2013.
1:44>> So, are you. Fabulous.
1:47I and it is while it is a compliment
1:49that you have you just it's like a
1:53copy-paste version of you that is
1:55sitting in front of me.
1:56>> Yeah.
1:57>> Yeah, you've not
1:58You're exactly the same. Like I can
2:00still envision you in a sari going in
2:01for a bulletin. I can still envision you
2:03in blazers going in for a bulletin.
2:04>> Yeah.
2:05>> And it is your hair looks the same. You
2:06look the same.
2:07>> You look the same to Neha.
2:08>> [laughter]
2:10>> But it is honestly it is just so nice to
2:12reconnect with you and to see you after
2:14all these years.
2:14>> Yes, it is.
2:15>> Yeah, one of the She's one of the
2:17calmest voices in television in news in
2:20fact, right?
2:21I expected you to come with a like a lot
2:22of fanfare and screaming and shouting.
2:25>> You know me so well. I know that's not
2:26who I am. I don't scream. I do I also
2:29don't
2:30you know, it's it's funny because when I
2:32go out a lot of people say, "Oh, but you
2:34are speaking so softly because you're
2:36not China." I have no accent. You know,
2:39>> [laughter]
2:39>> for like you don't talk to people the
2:41same way you deliver something on air.
2:43So, that's that's one.
2:44>> I think it's one of the reasons that has
2:45motivated me to get you here because my
2:47interview style is very it's very fun.
2:50It's very easy. It's non-aggressive. I
2:53don't like I don't like to be aggressive
2:55on camera because I don't think you can
2:56get anything out of your guest if you're
2:58>> Yeah.
2:59>> If you're just like
3:01trying to get the news point and all
3:02that I I I am not one of those people.
3:04So,
3:05>> But I I have to tell you that you've
3:07been one of the first people who
3:08inspired me when I came to Delhi.
3:10>> Really?
3:10>> I'll tell you. I'll tell you a
3:12particular incident and this is me two
3:14months into the job and same for you
3:16obviously.
3:17>> We joined at the same time.
3:17>> joined at the same time. We were we were
3:19both very young and I would think 10
3:21times before saying any anything to
3:23anyone and we entered a lift. You
3:25remember we we had a lift and the office
3:27was on the first floor. So, that one
3:29floor is not too much and you enter and
3:33we had one of our bosses who said, "Why
3:35don't you take the steps? It's just one
3:37floor." And you said, "That's a choice I
3:39make." And I'm like, "I want to be like
3:40this girl. She's so cool."
3:42>> [laughter and gasps]
3:43>> Yeah, I I for some reason I don't have
3:45any memory of that.
3:46>> Yeah.
3:46>> But well, as long as
3:48>> It was probably just another day in your
3:50life.
3:50>> Yeah, probably. But I I am actually not
3:52used to people telling me what to do or,
3:55you know, how to do it.
3:57>> Yeah, I I like to figure things out
3:58myself.
3:59>> That's good.
4:00>> So, even if it is people in my I like my
4:02bosses or whatever it is, but I like to
4:04do things uh my way. Thoda see woh
4:08Halki si honi bhi chahiye. It's good.
4:10>> Yeah.
4:10>> It's good. But, my I'll tell you my
4:11memories of you uh were uh going to Atta
4:14Market.
4:14>> Yeah.
4:14>> And um and uh I used to have a blue
4:18Scorpio at that time because you
4:19recounted that.
4:20>> Yes.
4:20>> And I used to make you sit in the back
4:22and invariably you used to just come in
4:23front like that. Peeche Ananya used to
4:25be sitting Ananya used to be sitting in
4:27sitting with me in the passenger seat
4:29and I was driving. And
4:31uh the three of us would have these
4:32really funny and really silly
4:33conversations and you would just be like
4:35like this you would you know your hands
4:37were on both the [laughter]
4:38both the seats at the same time.
4:40And I don't remember this milkshake
4:42story though.
4:43I don't know I've I've I've completely
4:45forgot. The one in the lift?
4:47>> Yeah, no no no the the other one. Also,
4:49we had this new uh thing that had come
4:51up
4:52on the ground floor which was
4:53>> small little
4:54>> Yes, and they used to make all kinds of
4:55funny combinations.
4:56>> Yeah, yeah.
4:57>> used to just hang out because we would
4:59come to work very early and
5:01>> Yeah.
5:02>> Yeah.
5:02>> So, we used to used to go out for that
5:04and you treated me quite a lot. So,
5:06thank you.
5:07>> [laughter]
5:09>> Thank you so much, Palak.
5:10Your
5:11I don't remember getting No, I remember
5:13us getting dressed in the makeup room as
5:14well.
5:16Our clothes and with our makeup and hair
5:18and all of that. And you be you were
5:20very sedate, you were very calm, there
5:22was no
5:23nothing breaking news would phase you.
5:26>> Yeah, and my co-anchor was Tracy who was
5:28so chill.
5:28>> Yeah.
5:29>> So so chill.
5:30>> So, I think we were we were a pretty
5:31cool bunch.
5:32>> Haina?
5:33>> Yeah, I think we still are.
5:34>> [laughter]
5:34>> We're still a pretty cool bunch.
5:35>> We still are.
5:36>> Yes.
5:37>> We still got it.
5:39Palak, tell me about this new venture of
5:40yours, IGR. Why have you chosen to do
5:44something of your own firstly and why
5:46the digital space and not television?
5:49>> So, why have I chosen? This is something
5:51that I wanted for a very long time.
5:53And part of it I could borrow from you
5:56and say that I don't like to be told
5:57what to do.
5:58>> [laughter]
5:59>> So, I've been my own boss for a for a
6:01pretty long time, at least in my head,
6:03and I thought about time I made it
6:04happen.
6:05>> Okay.
6:05>> But but on a more serious note, this is
6:08something that I have wanted.
6:11I I think that there was a gap in um
6:15in the news media, there still is. I
6:16mean, one IGR cannot fill it. There's
6:18there's so much to tell about India, you
6:20know, to to fix the perspective, to fix
6:23the way the world looks at us. We did a
6:24story on the Asian Games yesterday, they
6:26start today, and athletes are not
6:28getting uh uh beds, and the beds are too
6:31small, and they're not getting rooms,
6:33and there are logistical challenges.
6:34>> there's a gymnast who's been given a a
6:36room alongside her male coach.
6:37>> Yeah, something like that. So, it's very
6:39com- it's very
6:40>> That room is just one. They have to
6:42share that room.
6:43>> Oh, okay.
6:44>> The gymnast has been given a room with
6:46her male coach.
6:47>> This I don't know, but but I've heard of
6:48a lot of stories of mismanagement. And
6:51the international media is saying that
6:52there's a housing crisis in Japan.
6:54>> Okay.
6:54>> You know, and had this happen in India,
6:57the question would have been is India
6:58ready to host global sport?
7:00>> Yeah.
7:01>> You know, we've just we've just hosted a
7:02BRICS summit, and all the talk is about
7:04whether leaders fell ill after attending
7:07and so on. So, the scrutiny is that much
7:09more.
7:09>> The veg food.
7:10>> Uh yeah, so it's you know, you you're
7:12not looking at what you achieved as a
7:14country or as a host. You're just you're
7:16just using the same old biases and
7:18lenses. And I'm not saying that
7:20everything's right. I mean, there are
7:21challenges that need to be fixed, and
7:23you need to call those out. But it has
7:25to be the same standard for everyone.
7:27And I think this is this is a
7:29um
7:31This is a pattern that I've seen over
7:33the years. And I think that Indian media
7:35needs to have that presence. We need to
7:37stand up and say, "Okay, this is not
7:39working, but this is
7:40this is where you've got it wrong. We
7:42need to be able to speak for ourselves.
7:44That is where IGR
7:46comes from. That is what I did in fact
7:48in Beyond. That's what we did in
7:49Firstpost, but
7:51this is just an extension of everything
7:53that I've learned over the past couple
7:55of decades, especially the past decade.
7:57So, this is this is what we're trying to
7:58do.
7:59>> Which lens would you have people look at
8:02India?
8:04>> As a developing country that has
8:08its set of challenges, but also its set
8:10of successes. It's
8:12It's an old civilization that has a lot
8:14going for it. We are a young population
8:17and ambitious population. We are sending
8:20CEOs and we are the global talent
8:23headquarters. I mean, we are we are
8:24powering so many organizations across
8:26the world.
8:28Again, like I said, a lot needs to be
8:30set right, but India is also emerging as
8:32a voice
8:33and a power to be reckoned with. And it
8:36deserves to be seen like that. I mean,
8:38when when the world looks at Kashmir
8:40um
8:42challenges in Kashmir.
8:44There's there's so much that has been
8:45achieved since 2019, you know, the kind
8:47of investment, the kind of opportunities
8:49that have been created. So, there is
8:51there is an inherent bias. I think it
8:53stems from a lack of understanding and b
8:56the fact that it doesn't suit a lot of
8:58people to understand India.
9:00Um so,
9:02I think that's I would want the world to
9:04actually come and see India and see the
9:07real India and not just the stereotypes
9:08that that define who we are.
9:10>> Okay. [snorts] Well, all the best,
9:11Barkha, from I I I do believe that via
9:14your channel and with the work that
9:16you're doing, you can put out that sort
9:18of information and also try and change
9:21the bias that people have towards
9:24I mean, Indians included.
9:25>> Yeah, Indians included because there are
9:26there's there's so much that
9:29that you imbibe when you consume
9:31content, when you see movies, when you
9:33read stuff, you start doubting who you
9:35are as a people.
9:36>> Yeah.
9:37>> Um and that needs to change. Uh and we
9:39are seeing a we are seeing a society
9:42that is more confident of its place in
9:44the world. Uh that is calling out a lot
9:46of things. But a lot needs to be
9:49>> So when people um when you go out and uh
9:52I get to hear this a lot when I uh go
9:54out socially that yeah we are the nation
9:56we are going to be we are going to you
9:57know I think we should
9:58we should move out. Look at the world
10:00and go somewhere. And people who can
10:01afford it want to do that. What do you
10:03say to them?
10:05>> Well, it's their choice. It's a free
10:07world. If they want to move out, they
10:09should for sure. Um I remember talking
10:12to somebody
10:14in December last year. And he said the
10:16same thing. Taxes are very high and so
10:18on and so forth. And I would like to
10:20move to Dubai. Well, go to Dubai today.
10:22>> [laughter]
10:24>> So uh
10:25like I said, there are challenges, but
10:27there are challenges everywhere. Where
10:28are you going to There's racism in in
10:30the US. Indian students used to go and
10:32and spend so much money on education
10:35abroad. Um are facing visa restrictions.
10:39Uh you have to build your own country.
10:42You know.
10:43Um that's that's my two bits to people.
10:46But again, it's it's a free world. You
10:47want to go out, you want to study
10:49outside, work outside. Well, we have so
10:51many people and so much talent we are
10:53happy to share with the world, I would
10:54say.
10:56>> Okay, there are so many people you
10:57worked alongside when you started out.
11:01>> Yeah.
11:01>> Okay.
11:02The people those people were in the
11:05position you are at now.
11:08Do you feel that you can
11:11associate with them or do you feel that
11:12you can
11:13do you share any sort of similarities
11:15with them?
11:18>> So I I think every leader is different
11:20and yet there are some shared
11:22challenges.
11:23As as a leader, I would want every
11:25member of my team to to feel that they
11:28are heard.
11:28>> Okay.
11:29>> Uh that they are real stakeholders. You
11:31know, when we started out, every time
11:33something we did was noticed. It meant
11:35the world to us, right? Today Today I
11:38was in the office very early in the
11:39morning and there were a couple of
11:40people working. Nobody's looking at what
11:42they're doing. But they are they think
11:43that they're holding fort, right? And I
11:46think a lot of young colleagues come
11:48with that passion.
11:50And
11:52it's the organization that gives them
11:53cynicism.
11:58I think it stems from
12:00the kind of culture you create. So, I
12:02was very lucky to have worked with
12:04individuals who really gave you the
12:05space to grow.
12:07But
12:09I'm also more mindful of the fact that a
12:11lot of people in my team come from
12:13smaller cities and towns. They don't
12:15know
12:17they don't know how to be in a big city.
12:20They're still trying to find their
12:22footing.
12:23And they need support.
12:26I've said this in an interview before
12:27that
12:29that when I first moved to Delhi,
12:32I used to talk to a lot of people.
12:35But
12:36I I missed one question and that was if
12:39anyone's asking me, "Have you had
12:41something to eat?" Because that's
12:42something only your parents ask.
12:44Only your mom asks you.
12:46And I thought I'm so alone in this
12:48huge place
12:50where no one cares. So, I think those
12:52small little things make a difference.
12:54You can't You can't interact at that
12:57level with every member of your team,
12:58you know, you work with big teams. You
13:00You engage with some people more closely
13:02and not so closely with others. But I
13:04think
13:05if I had to put it in one word, I would
13:07want to be a kinder leader.
13:10Kindness is not
13:12valued enough, I think.
13:14>> So, you I think you've taken cues from
13:18the way our superiors and our bosses
13:21used to be
13:22and
13:23imbibe those and become a better boss, a
13:25better leader?
13:26>> I hope, uh I'm sure that people who work
13:29with me have 10 things to point out
13:31about what's not working out for them.
13:33>> That's with the That's with the every uh
13:34team leader, I guess.
13:35>> I suppose that's right. You cannot do
13:37You cannot do everything right, and you
13:39cannot please everybody.
13:40>> Also, as a woman, you know, the the
13:41scrutiny is that much more. Uh but uh
13:44but uh again, I would repeat that I
13:45think I was lucky. I had great teams
13:47when I started off. Uh people who who
13:51cheered the the wins of others. Uh and
13:54leaders who gave you the space to to
13:56explore. Um and I was I used to be so
13:59happy about the fact that every time I
14:01asked for something, I get this
14:03opportunity. And I I discussed this at
14:04home, and my brother said, "You're
14:05basically only asking for more work.
14:08That's why you're getting all of it. Try
14:09asking for more money." Well, that's
14:10another way of looking at it, but but I
14:12think I was in a good place. I have I I
14:14think it was a It was a great
14:18period of learning.
14:19>> Yeah?
14:20>> Yeah. You feel so? I think so.
14:22>> In spite of all the the shouting and the
14:23screaming, and all of that
14:25>> that used to go on. Well, that's part of
14:26the territory. I mean, when you hear
14:27about the horror stories that happened
14:29in other channels, I think ours was a
14:31Yeah, was a noise.
14:32>> Do you think environments like these
14:34bulky can exist, or do they exist? I
14:36haven't I've been far removed from a
14:37news environment for
14:39I think 2013 I left, so I don't know
14:41what goes on in news channels anymore.
14:43>> It's still very bad.
14:45>> Is it still very bad?
14:46>> Yes, some of it is still very bad. It's
14:47very exploitative. It's very
14:49um
14:50you know, there are people who
14:52who make you feel that you are not good
14:54enough for something. They make people
14:56They pit people against each other. They
14:58make you
14:59bring out the worst instincts
15:01>> Oh my god. Okay.
15:02>> Uh and those are very very toxic
15:04environments. And shouting is just one
15:06part of it, you know, the mind games
15:07that that go on. The kind of politics.
15:09[clears throat] I think that there is
15:10more politics in newsrooms than in
15:11Parliament.
15:13Um it's very unfortunate.
15:15>> Okay.
15:16>> But it happens. Um And and I think that
15:18is one of the reasons why so many
15:20talented people leave the news media A
15:23because the pay is so abysmal.
15:25And B I mean you you come feeling very
15:28passionate that you'll change the world
15:29and then you realize that you're just
15:31you're just fighting
15:33mediocre people around you.
15:35So yeah, some of it is quite bad still,
15:37I think.
15:38>> How do you feel now? You've become a
15:39public figure and you have your Do you
15:41have your fans?
15:42Fan following?
15:43>> [laughter]
15:44>> I mean on Instagram I've seen that you
15:45do, but otherwise like how does it feel?
15:48How does it feel to be recognized and to
15:50have this massive
15:52fan following?
15:54>> Well, I
15:55I'm the same.
15:56>> I know.
15:57>> But
15:58>> I know that.
15:59>> It's [laughter] not It's so And see,
16:00we've we've spent so many years, you
16:02know, every time you you anchor this
16:04podcast, you've anchored for so many
16:06years. When we go on camera, we we ask
16:09people to watch us, right? That's That's
16:12the basic ask.
16:14Okay, they call me about okay.
16:16Yeah, feedback. Yeah.
16:18So when people are actually watching and
16:20saying nice things, it does feel nice. I
16:22will not complain.
16:23>> Yeah.
16:24That also means more scrutiny.
16:27That also means that you
16:29you can't have a bad day.
16:31You can't go on air not prepared, not
16:34being your 100% because you'll be called
16:36out, but that is
16:38part of the deal, I suppose.
16:40The good thing is that I have a family
16:42that keeps me very grounded. I have
16:44children who remain
16:47miraculously unimpressed.
16:49>> Okay.
16:50>> By all success. So yeah, there's a
16:51there's a good balance.
16:52>> Well, my daughter is the same. She is
16:54She couldn't be bothered.
16:55>> Yeah.
16:56>> I I had to do a change of clothes
16:58yesterday and I wanted to decide what to
16:59wear and I did not do it in front of her
17:02for the simple reason because she
17:03trashes everything. She's like, "You
17:04don't look good in this. You don't look
17:06good in that." So having an outspoken
17:09child, I feel for me is is a very
17:10humbling experience.
17:12>> It is.
17:12>> Because they just bring you to the
17:15ground. It is like they just don't even
17:17have any filter.
17:18>> And even when they are So my my
17:20>> My kids are teenagers now.
17:21>> Uh but when my son was much younger, he
17:24used to he used to have these plushies,
17:26these Ninja Turtles.
17:27>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
17:27>> And between his dogs and him and his
17:30sister, they you know, one limb would
17:32always be broken.
17:33>> Okay.
17:34>> And he was so like into that one toy
17:37that no matter what kind of day I've
17:39had, I may have interviewed a president,
17:41I may have done a like a big deal at
17:43work and I I would come home and I would
17:45find that
17:46distorted toy on the bed with a note,
17:48"Please sew him."
17:50So, you know, that's perspective, you
17:51know, they really bring you back to
17:53what priorities can be.
17:56>> In that same breath, Palakie, um
17:58there's a lot of unsavory things also
18:00that are said about you and because
18:02you're a public figure, I'm sure you're
18:04I don't I don't I cannot say that
18:07you are used to it because nobody can
18:09get used to,
18:10for the lack of a better word,
18:12being thrown at them.
18:13How do you take all of that? Like
18:16I am my my initial question was, "Have
18:18you developed a thick skin?" But thick
18:19skin also doesn't really cut it here.
18:22>> No, I haven't.
18:23I have so the
18:24>> Does it really bother you when people
18:26call you all of these different names?
18:28>> See, what people say to me is is
18:32something that I can take. First of all,
18:34I always feel that you should judge
18:36people for their work
18:37>> Yeah.
18:37>> and not for their choices and
18:38>> Yeah.
18:39>> or who they are, but okay, this comes
18:41this is the nature of the beast. This is
18:42what social media is.
18:45Uh there will be criticism. That's fine.
18:47Uh my only ask is that it be limited to
18:49me
18:50and not my family.
18:52>> Oh, it's not always about that?
18:53>> So, sometimes and it can be very
18:55distressing because
18:57even if you make sure that your children
18:59are not on Twitter, um they have
19:01friends,
19:02they they they learn about things and
19:04they should not have to go through this
19:07at that age. That's that's not something
19:09that they signed up for.
19:11So,
19:12I only say that the criticism, whatever
19:14criticism for me, for my work, for my
19:17whatever I stand for, is fine. I have
19:20I've not developed a thick skin, but I
19:22have learned that not every piece of
19:24opinion is worth your time and
19:25attention. So, I think the trick is to
19:27not care about what is being said. The
19:29trick is to to figure out what you
19:31should care about. Whose comment or
19:33opinion deserves your attention. How do
19:36you filter that? Like I don't respond.
19:38So, I feel that the people who really
19:40matter to me, if they want to say
19:41something, they'll pick up the phone and
19:43talk to me.
19:43>> Okay.
19:44>> They'll drop a message. So, social media
19:46for me is one-way communication.
19:49I will share what I want to share. I may
19:51not necessarily
19:53read everything that is being said.
19:55>> Okay.
19:56>> I also have a good team. If there's
19:57something that that they think should be
19:59flagged, they will let me know that, you
20:01know, this is going on, this is being
20:02said. Uh but by and large, I I I don't
20:06read the comments. Because it's it's
20:08just
20:08>> a way to keep yourself sane?
20:09>> It is. It is because a lot of it is so
20:11useless.
20:13The praise is all great, but that also
20:15tends to
20:16trap you in
20:18in this false sense of
20:21you know, everything's going right.
20:22Maybe we should keep doing this kind of
20:24stories because these are the stories
20:25that work. So, that can also be
20:27misleading. And the
20:30the trash that comes your way is insane.
20:32>> And I think
20:34if you're a woman, it comes your way
20:36with like lightning speed.
20:38>> And it's very it's very personal. It's
20:40very unnecessary. If you've made a
20:41point, clearly it's not your point.
20:43Someone else is guiding it. Someone's
20:44writing your scripts. Someone's telling
20:46you what to say.
20:47>> Mhm.
20:48>> Um I've been doing this for a quarter of
20:50a century.
20:51>> Yeah.
20:51>> You know, uh
20:52I may have a couple of brain cells that
20:54work. So, please accept that. But it's
20:57okay. So,
20:59>> But that's not like this when I when I
21:01read stuff about you, earlier I wasn't
21:04very
21:05I wasn't reading stuff like comments
21:07about you or whatever but there are two
21:08sides of
21:09you know how it is stuff that is
21:11available on the internet.
21:13And I was just aghast. I said
21:16how is it possible for people to just
21:19say so many nasty things about her?
21:22>> Yeah.
21:23>> Do you read about yourself? Do you put
21:24in your name in in in in the Google
21:27search and do you read about what people
21:28are saying about you?
21:29>> No, no. It's called ego surfing.
21:31>> I I don't [laughter]
21:33No, I don't do that. I don't do that.
21:34>> Yeah? Because it's just uh
21:37>> But uh
21:39when I started this podcast a lot of
21:40people wrote that it's very easy for me
21:42to and they wrote on YouTube that it is
21:45very easy for me to um
21:47uh to get guests because of the family
21:50that I come from and uh people will come
21:52on my podcast for sure because of my
21:54family name and uh they said that this
21:57is such a uh nepotistic way of doing
22:00things.
22:01To which I thought that my dad is not
22:04really going to come
22:06sit in the interview chair and take an
22:07interview. All the work I have to do. Uh
22:10he's of course the contacts going to
22:12come because of him but everything from
22:15from getting the guest to framing the
22:17questionnaire to deciding my content, I
22:20have to do that.
22:21>> So even so I'm You are your dad's
22:23daughter.
22:24>> Yeah.
22:24>> Deal with it.
22:25>> Exactly. I It's not my fault that I was
22:27born into a certain family. How is it my
22:30fault?
22:32>> So that's what I'm saying that it
22:33doesn't matter. You should not let this
22:35play on It just takes up so much mind
22:37space
22:38and we are creative people. We need to
22:40focus on that.
22:40>> that time when we were when we were at
22:43IBN, we didn't have so much I don't
22:45think Instagram was there at that time.
22:46We
22:47used to have Facebook and Orkut
22:51whatever. What kind of comments or
22:53social media comments or you know people
22:55never used to write about. But now all
22:57of a sudden because
22:59you know I've been putting my content on
23:01Instagram People
23:03Okay, an opinion is like an
23:05everybody has one. So, they will just
23:07they will just feel free to Okay, I'm
23:09going to leave you out of this one for
23:11now.
23:11>> Yeah.
23:12>> And they'll send me the
23:12>> you respond?
23:13>> No.
23:14>> No, you don't.
23:14>> I don't respond.
23:15>> Good.
23:15>> I don't respond. But, they do write a
23:18lot of filth to me as well. I mean, you
23:19have to just
23:21But, yeah. I mean, you take it with a
23:22pinch of salt. But, I I I sometimes do
23:24read it and I I cringe. I'm like, "How?"
23:27>> I don't read it. I don't I don't watch
23:29videos that are made about my work. I I
23:32don't do any of that. A, I don't have
23:34the time and B, it just it just messes
23:36with my head.
23:38I don't have to I don't owe it to
23:40anyone.
23:40>> Yeah.
23:41>> It's an observation that I made about
23:42you that you don't get instantly fond of
23:45people. It takes you time to to warm up
23:47to people. And so, if I have said
23:49something, I remember our initial days,
23:51if I said something that you find
23:52remotely funny or you think that I'm
23:54being whatever, your smile will go first
23:56a little bit either and then one once
23:57I've said something, that that's how it
23:59becomes
24:00That's how it becomes. Then, you go into
24:02like a full-blown laugh. But, it takes
24:04you but it will take a while to warm up
24:07to somebody who
24:08you know, she thinks is
24:09>> I'm shy.
24:10>> Is she shy?
24:11She's an introvert. [laughter]
24:14>> [gasps]
24:14>> Okay. So, Palak, media is now divided
24:16into two different [clears throat]
24:17sections. One is mainstream media, which
24:20is often controlled by corporate houses.
24:22And
24:23they are also considered to be close to
24:24the government. And then, there is
24:25independent media, which we saw during
24:27the Jantar Mantar protest.
24:29How do you feel about both
24:32independently?
24:33>> I think I'm mainstream and independent.
24:36>> Okay.
24:36>> I'm mainstream because I'm getting the
24:37numbers that any news channel will get.
24:40>> Okay.
24:41>> Um and I'm independent
24:44because I have been like
24:46independent for a while, I think. And we
24:48do what we think is right. We don't take
24:50dictation from anyone.
24:51>> Okay.
24:52>> Uh yes, the media is Uh, looking more
24:56divided now, because uh
24:59because
25:00it has been so democratized. Earlier
25:02you, no matter how good a writer you
25:04were, you needed somebody's printing
25:06press to publish what you'd written. No
25:09matter how good an anchor or a TV
25:10journalist you were, you needed a
25:12channel
25:13on which to appear.
25:15Now, you don't need that vehicle. You
25:16can build your own. Uh, with some
25:18investment, you can build something as
25:20good as, uh,
25:21you know, arguably as good as what the
25:23so-called mainstream has. But today, I
25:25think digital is mainstream.
25:27You step out of your house and ask
25:29people, where do they watch their news?
25:31Unfortunately, nine out of 10 will say
25:33Instagram.
25:34>> Yeah, because nobody's watching TV.
25:35>> Nobody's watching TV. So, how is it
25:37still mainstream?
25:38It is not.
25:39>> Okay.
25:39>> I think digital is the mainstream now.
25:41And, uh, the old networks are still
25:44trying to figure out what to do, so they
25:46want to be called digital first, but
25:48they're still trapped in the workflow
25:51and the
25:52newsroom setup of television. So,
25:54they're still making 18 hours of
25:55content, and they're trying to retrofit
25:58it for digital.
26:00And they're still having eight anchors
26:02screaming at the same time.
26:03>> Yes.
26:03>> Eight people screaming at the same time.
26:04>> necessarily working, unless, I mean,
26:07you just
26:08>> this a reel I saw of you, the US
26:10Ambassador, Sergio Gor, who said, "Uh,
26:12that I love watching I love watching."
26:15And I think we should put that reel out
26:16where he said that the later it gets,
26:18the crazier it becomes, stuff on on
26:21television.
26:22>> I'm afraid that some people may have
26:23taken it as a compliment. It is not.
26:25Let's be
26:25>> No, it's not a compliment. Who's taken
26:27it as a compliment?
26:28>> Those who do.
26:29>> No.
26:29>> Those
26:30>> [laughter]
26:30>> big debates may have thought ki abhi
26:32prashansa USA aayi hai, but it is not
26:34that.
26:34>> But he said it in in in in not so in so
26:37many words that it is he finds it
26:39hilariously stupid.
26:41>> It is.
26:41>> Like how Who do you know how to
26:43concentrate? I used to find it really
26:44stupid at that time as well, by the way.
26:46[clears throat] Ki pata kaise chal raha
26:47hai ki kaun bol raha hai? Kisi ka to mic
26:49off ho raha hai, kisi ka to kuch ho raha
26:50hai, and then you just the anchor is
26:51screaming and shouting and doesn't even
26:53make for good content.
26:54>> Yeah, but they're just placeholders. I
26:55think they sign up for that.
26:57>> It makes Sorry?
26:57>> They're just placeholders. They just
26:59want to fit fit into that box. I don't
27:01think they get to speak. Also,
27:03>> I think that happens. Yeah.
27:05How do you handle this thing, Barkha, in
27:08your own house? Because sometimes
27:09Gautam, my husband, and me also have
27:11these skirmishes about whether what is
27:13right, what is wrong, and what Mr. Modi
27:15has said, whether it is right, whether
27:16it is wrong. You and your husband also
27:18have these same sort of um you know,
27:20these opposing points of view. How do
27:23you guys navigate through that?
27:25>> Oh, we don't have skirmishes. We are a
27:27We are a very opinionated family, and we
27:29are a family full of journalists, and my
27:31children are not journalists, but they
27:32they have strong views, and
27:34I think it's a healthy debate. Yeah. We
27:36discuss, and
27:38I don't know why
27:38>> I think that's how it should be.
27:39>> Yeah, and I don't know why most people
27:41don't understand this. How how tough is
27:43it to
27:44uh
27:45to have two different points of view on
27:47something and still discuss and say,
27:48"Okay, I hear you. This is what I agree
27:50with. This is what I don't agree with."
27:52And that's that's how it is.
27:53>> And I think you then leave it at that,
27:54and then you move on. Yeah.
27:56>> approach to anything. And um
27:59Well, I I don't know why people are so
28:01amazed about it.
28:02>> I don't know, because everybody is
28:03entitled to, like I said, their point of
28:05view. And you cannot make me see your
28:07point of view, just like I cannot make
28:10you see
28:11>> That's That's the basic premise of
28:12journalism, right? That that
28:14that these are the facts, and this is
28:17uh and I think that what social media
28:18has done is
28:21in some cases compelled, and in some
28:22cases freed people
28:24to wear their opinion on their sleeve.
28:28I don't think that journalists in the
28:29past did not have an opinion or a bias.
28:33Every human being has an opinion. Um I
28:37think when you share it with your
28:38audience, you're having a more honest
28:40conversation. This is where I stand on
28:42this issue. You may not agree with it.
28:44You may agree with it. These are the
28:45facts of the case. This is what I feel.
28:48You can make up your mind.
28:51That's where I'm coming from.
28:56Okay, so we've spoken about these really
28:58hate comments and stuff that you get on
29:00social media. I want to know what is the
29:02funniest thing that you have read about
29:04yourself online?
29:06People discussing my salary. Your
29:08salary?
29:09Okay,
29:10people discussing
29:12there is this lie that I've tried to
29:15you know I've been to events where
29:17people have introduced me and I don't
29:19know where they picked it up I think on
29:20Wikipedia or somewhere. They say my
29:22father was a cricketer.
29:24And my mother was a beautician and both
29:26of which is you know both those things
29:28are wrong but it's it's gotten a life of
29:31its own and Your mom was a Hindi
29:32teacher. She was yes.
29:35You remember well done you.
29:37Your mom was a Hindi teacher and she
29:39named you Pulkit because
29:47Neha well done. Not Palki people used to
29:49call you Palki.
29:51And I used to keep collecting them.
29:54You know these these things that they do
29:56at hotels like they keep they make these
29:58chocolate
29:59decorations for you and and so they once
30:02had a chocolate Palki. Oh my god. It was
30:05[laughter] so sweet of them and I don't
30:06want to sort of correct them. Where was
30:08this? This was in Bengal I think.
30:11Okay.
30:14Thank you.
30:18>> [laughter]
30:19[gasps]
30:20>> Okay.
30:22I want to get back to you working in a
30:25very male dominated industry. You're
30:27still working in a male dominated
30:28industry. What is your what is your
30:30experience been
30:33calling the shots to men and are they
30:36open to listening to you? Are they open
30:38to taking orders from you?
30:40How do they respond when they see a
30:43woman in charge?
30:47>> See the
30:48the upside of working in a
30:50male-dominated industry is
30:53uh that it teaches you very early on
30:55that you don't have to wait for your
30:56turn.
30:57>> Okay.
30:57>> You have to say something you just
30:59you just get up and say it.
31:01>> Okay.
31:02>> That's one thing I've learned. Uh the
31:03second thing is that that
31:05men are allowed to be assertive, I
31:07think, and demanding, but women have to
31:09soften the edges all the time. It's not
31:11fair.
31:12Um
31:13as I have grown in my career, I realized
31:15that no matter what
31:17the burden of likability has to be shed
31:20first of all. People will not agree with
31:22you, and they will not like you. Not all
31:24of them.
31:25And that should be okay. And that is
31:28the one most important thing that I've
31:29had to teach myself.
31:31>> I think I'm going to put this in my
31:33uh course when I put this up, that
31:35people will What did you say? Say that
31:36again. I don't remember now.
31:38>> You said
31:39not Exactly what I was going to say. But
31:41yeah, not everyone's going to agree with
31:43you, and they're they're not going to
31:44like you, but that should be okay, and
31:45that's the hardest and the most
31:47important thing that I've taught myself.
31:48>> Yeah.
31:49>> Uh so, uh whether they like taking
31:51instructions from a woman or not is
31:53their problem. It is not mine.
31:55>> Mhm.
31:55>> Uh to be fair, I have been in workplaces
31:58where uh
32:00I worked with some wonderful men
32:02who are champions of of women, who are
32:05who call themselves feminists and
32:06proudly so. But I've also worked with
32:09men who uh
32:11who can be very crass.
32:13Uh and then those who want to pretend to
32:15be uh
32:17champions of women empowerment, but are
32:19basically just hypocrites. So, there
32:20there are all sorts.
32:21>> Okay.
32:21>> Um
32:23the trick is to let that be their
32:25problem.
32:27I am your boss,
32:29and you have to deal with it.
32:31And if you don't like working with me,
32:33then you have to find another job.
32:36Uh
32:37I am open to taking feedback based on my
32:39work but not based on my gender.
32:43So, I have in fact tried very hard to
32:45not let
32:46my my gender be the central reason
32:50behind any success or failure that I've
32:52seen.
32:53I know it is it is
32:55framed that way quite a lot but I'd much
32:59rather
33:00the focus be on my work.
33:02And
33:04I've just realized that yes, there are
33:05people who have who have issues
33:07listening to you.
33:08>> Yeah, because we we
33:11at the time at at the time when we were
33:13part of this media organization, the
33:16male anchors were earning a lot more.
33:17>> Yeah.
33:18>> Most of the times they were put on air
33:20for breaking news situations because
33:23the males the I think the yeah, the
33:25men's point of view is taken more
33:26seriously.
33:28Has that changed now?
33:30No.
33:31It's not changed now?
33:32>> No, I don't know.
33:33>> You were saying that it's not changed
33:34now?
33:34>> No, it hasn't. For a lot of people it
33:36hasn't. Also because um
33:39while the system is like that, while the
33:40audience is also unfortunately like
33:43that.
33:44Um
33:46and you cannot change that overnight.
33:48So,
33:49with that caveat, I want to say to all
33:51the women
33:52who watch this podcast that
33:56the [clears throat] only thing that I
33:57can that we can work on is ourselves.
34:00And I think that a lot of women wait for
34:03everything to be in place before saying
34:05I can do this.
34:07But careers don't work like that. You
34:08have to raise your hand and say yes
34:10before you know the answer.
34:12And then figure it out along the way.
34:15You you'd be surprised how many men do
34:16that.
34:18So, we don't have to have it all
34:20together before saying maybe I should
34:22get this opportunity. Why don't you give
34:24me this role and we'll make something of
34:28>> I was in part of this game show. Sorry,
34:30I'm taking you off track.
34:32>> [laughter]
34:32>> I went for Sony TV shoot where Rohit
34:35Sharma is anchoring the game show and
34:36then this we were
34:38Neha, Angad, myself and my husband, we
34:39were part of one team. It's called
34:41Family Full House. And Sunil Shetty and
34:43his friends were there across us.
34:52Yes.
34:52>> So, I think that's the tip for all the
34:54women out there. That that nobody is
34:56going to give anything to you on a
34:57platter.
34:58>> Yes.
34:58>> And uh yes, in the in the show business,
35:01not just in news, elsewhere as well.
35:03>> [snorts]
35:03>> Uh this gender pay gap is a reality
35:05everywhere.
35:06>> Yeah.
35:06>> And even the UN says it's going to take
35:08a couple of centuries or more to fix
35:09that.
35:10>> Yeah.
35:10>> Uh
35:11but
35:13you you have to ask. I think we we don't
35:15even ask.
35:16>> Mhm.
35:17>> When you don't get a a raise that you
35:19think you deserve, you don't go and ask
35:21your boss why.
35:23>> Mhm.
35:23>> What could I have done better? Give me
35:25feedback.
35:26We just thought it was impolite.
35:28>> Mhm.
35:28>> We did not want to upset people. I think
35:30that's what needs to change.
35:32>> But hasn't it changed, Malika? I think
35:33the younger generation has become more
35:34outspoken. They've become more In fact,
35:37I was having a conversation with one of
35:38my ex-colleagues and I said that after
35:40this Jantar Mantar protest only
35:52I mean, they've become like that. Like
35:53it's
35:56>> They're much better. They're much better
35:58than than we used to be. They
36:00>> More outspoken, more demanding. They
36:02know what they want. We were we were not
36:04like that.
36:05>> They don't always know what they want,
36:06but they know
36:08what not to take, I think.
36:10>> Yeah.
36:10>> I think that
36:11>> Maybe yeah, that's a good way to put it.
36:12>> There's a lot of uh passion. There's a
36:14lot of clarity that I'm not going to put
36:16up with this. There's this conversation
36:18about mental health and work-life
36:19balance. And some of it sometimes
36:21stretches to a point where it's
36:22unsustainable.
36:23>> Mhm.
36:24>> Uh but I would still say that this
36:26approach is interesting because
36:30they will not respect you for your title
36:33or your the size of your cabin. You have
36:35to earn it.
36:36>> Mhm.
36:36>> And they will not nod just because you
36:38are saying something, you know.
36:41So and and the the Gen Z eye roll is
36:44legendary. Like they'll just give that
36:46that straight face and they make you
36:48think to yourself that
36:50what's going on here? Um
36:52>> Delulu is the only solution.
36:53>> No, and and it's just uh so I I'll tell
36:55you when we before we launched um
36:58my show last month, we were doing um
37:01a series called Bharat Bioscope.
37:03>> Mhm.
37:04>> And I thought it was very well produced
37:05and the response was fabulous. So when
37:07the first couple of episodes came out
37:09and I thought it was great and I walked
37:11into the newsroom and I said, "You guys
37:14have done such a fabulous job. You
37:15should give yourselves a round of
37:17applause." And they all looked at me as
37:19if
37:20"What did you have last night? Like why
37:22you" And there was some tepid clapping
37:24and people just ignored me, which I'm
37:27quite used to now.
37:28>> Mhm.
37:28>> So well, I went back to my room and then
37:32a few days later, I hear a huge round of
37:34applause. So I pop out to ask what
37:37happened and they said, "We have a
37:38coffee machine."
37:39>> Oh, okay. Priorities.
37:42>> So you know, they have a mind of their
37:43own and that's fine.
37:45>> So but I I think that that even there, I
37:49think more women need to step up and say
37:52"This is what I can do. Trust me with
37:54this."
37:55Or
37:56>> Or I need to be paid better.
37:58>> Yeah.
37:59>> So that is what you get.
38:01>> That that and when you when you are
38:02sitting in meetings, it takes a lot more
38:05time for you have to draw out
38:07the girls. You have to ask them, "What
38:09do you think of this?"
38:11They'll wait for you to say.
38:12>> It's very it's very interesting because
38:14one of your ex-colleagues
38:16uh who is a woman and a very close
38:17friend of mine, she has said that
38:20Pulkit's leadership style is very
38:21approachable. She doesn't like to be
38:23called boss. She has a hands-on approach
38:26to leading and a lot of women, including
38:28me, have learned from her.
38:30>> Who is this?
38:31>> I will tell you after the show.
38:33>> [laughter]
38:34>> Wow.
38:35>> So, you do not believe in a clock-in and
38:37a clock-out time as long as the work is
38:40done.
38:41>> That is true.
38:42That is true.
38:43>> Do you prefer interacting more with
38:45women on your team than men?
38:46>> No, that's not I So, I don't use gender
38:48as a filter, like I said.
38:50>> Okay.
38:50>> Uh but I'm very conscious that if in a
38:53meeting I'm asking if I'm asking for
38:55inputs or ideas, I know that that there
38:58may be someone who's just quiet. That
39:00doesn't mean they're not talented.
39:01They're just waiting for someone to say,
39:03"What do you think about it?"
39:04>> Yeah.
39:05>> So, I think the trick is to really
39:07understand and this is not about men or
39:09women. It's about understanding your
39:10team. Every individual is different.
39:13Some people are more forthcoming. Some
39:14people just want to make a lot of noise
39:16and not do a lot of work.
39:17>> Mhm.
39:18>> And then there are some quiet workers
39:20who you have to
39:22ask once in a while, "What do you think
39:23about it?"
39:23>> Mhm.
39:24>> So, uh and I learned this uh
39:287 8 years back when I was in Viacom that
39:30that it's good to have one-on-one
39:32conversations once in a while with
39:33people and just ask them, "So, I I Not
39:36in that boring way that where do you see
39:37yourself 5 years from now?" But just to
39:39ask them, "So, what do you want to do
39:40next?"
39:41>> Yeah.
39:42>> Right? Because someone may have started
39:44off as a video editor, but may want to
39:47do something else.
39:48>> Mhm.
39:48>> They may actually be good at it. They
39:50may have just entered the newsroom
39:52because that is a slot that was
39:53available.
39:54So, uh I think a lot of times people
39:56leave jobs, not just for money, but
39:58because they think that they're not
39:59getting What is job satisfaction? It's
40:01not being able to challenge yourself.
40:03It's not being able to grow. Um So, and
40:07and you can't do it for everyone, but I
40:09think you have to encourage your team
40:10leaders to to have those conversations
40:12with people. You really have to know the
40:14individuals. Only then uh for both men
40:17and women, you'll be able to do justice
40:19to the talent.
40:20>> I think Palki you should write a book on
40:23leadership.
40:24>> Yeah.
40:25>> And put in your quotes because I have so
40:27many quotable quotes that you have said
40:28to me today. But
40:30and I think
40:31we are going to make like a slide of
40:33what all Palki has said.
40:34>> Wow.
40:35>> [laughter]
40:35>> Yeah.
40:36>> [gasps]
40:37>> Palki let's talk artificial intelligence
40:40or AI.
40:41>> Yes, why not?
40:42>> And in your
40:43one of your recent interviews you have
40:45mentioned that while AI can can replace
40:48a lot of things it cannot replace
40:50empathy.
40:52In that same breath do you think it's
40:54going to threaten jobs? Do you think it
40:56is threatening jobs? And if so to what
40:59extent?
41:00>> AI is a disruptor.
41:02We are in a flux and AI is already
41:05taking jobs that is a fact of life. But
41:08it is taking jobs for multiple reasons.
41:10One because companies are looking to
41:11increase efficiency. There are some
41:13tasks that AI can perform much better
41:15than humans.
41:16And we have to accept that.
41:18The second reason for
41:21this kind of restructuring is because
41:22companies have just hired wrongly and
41:25it's a better alibi. It's a better
41:27reason to give to investors that we are
41:30we are more futuristic in our approach
41:31and so we are we are transitioning to AI
41:34and that is why there is a restructuring
41:36as against having to admit that we made
41:39the wrong hires.
41:41And so we'll have to let some people go.
41:42So that's also happening.
41:44>> Okay.
41:44>> There's a lot of AI washing that's going
41:46on.
41:47Uh
41:48because it's it's something that sells.
41:49You know the the
41:51the amount of money that is being pumped
41:53into AI companies with no visibility on
41:56profits is insane.
41:59It has to stop now. The top AI bosses
42:01are all talking about slowing down AI
42:02because they don't know where this is
42:03going. They're not making money. It's
42:06just a promise. So all of those things
42:08are happening. Will it take jobs? Yes,
42:11it will take some jobs, but I think that
42:13uh um
42:15one risk is that
42:17because AI is able to perform a lot of
42:20tasks that your entry-level people do.
42:22>> Mhm.
42:23>> Uh if you keep firing them, then in 10
42:27years from now you'll not have a middle
42:29management.
42:30You'll not have people with some
42:32experience and some appetite to learn
42:33even more.
42:35Uh so, I think workplaces will have to
42:38figure out
42:40how do they want to manage talent.
42:41>> Okay.
42:42>> Uh it's a very complicated answer and
42:44I'm digressing a lot because it's a very
42:45broad question. Is AI taking jobs? It
42:48is.
42:48Um specifically for journalism, I think
42:50that I I still stand by that statement
42:53that AI doesn't have empathy.
42:55Uh a bot a bot may enter
43:00a crime scene and know what questions to
43:03ask,
43:04but may not know what is being hidden
43:08because it's not being said.
43:09>> Mhm.
43:09>> Or or even, you know, you to to to read
43:11between the lines is a skill that is
43:13uniquely human, I would like to believe.
43:15>> Yeah.
43:15>> Um during the BRICS summit, we did an
43:17experiment. We were in the media center
43:19and there were journalists from all over
43:21the world.
43:22And we said, uh
43:23if AI were to cover this summit, how
43:25would it do it?
43:27So, we went to four different bots,
43:29ChatGPT and Grok and uh yeah, Claude and
43:32all of these. And we asked them basic
43:33questions and the answers were so well
43:35packaged.
43:36>> Mhm.
43:37>> Beautifully written.
43:38But we said that these answers have been
43:41aggregated on the basis of the reports
43:43that were filed by the people around me.
43:45So, AI is still is still processing what
43:49we've already fed it.
43:50>> Mhm.
43:52>> So, yes, to your question, some jobs
43:54will go, but
43:55the things which are the judgment, the
43:57empathy, the
43:59the curiosity, which is uniquely human,
44:02remains
44:02>> What about uh for kids who are straight
44:04out of college? How does it impact um
44:07you know, if they want to get into tech
44:08or something?
44:09>> If they want to get into tech, I I think
44:11that it's like it's like it's like our
44:13transition from your mainstream to
44:16digital. Nobody has the answers,
44:18but everyone's learning along the way.
44:20So, like I said, this is a state of
44:21flux. Um
44:24a lot of companies are figuring out as
44:26they go. AI is still work in progress.
44:29Uh so, people who are in tech, I think
44:31there is a real challenge because AI is
44:34doing a lot of coding.
44:35>> Um and the IT sector stands disrupted in
44:37that sense.
44:39>> But
44:40But history has shown us that when a new
44:41technology comes and takes away jobs, it
44:44also opens up a lot of avenues, you
44:46know. I read somewhere that 40% of the
44:48jobs
44:49that existed during the Second World War
44:52do not exist today. That doesn't mean
44:54that that many people are jobless.
44:55They're just doing something else.
44:57So, that's the nature of technology. I
44:59think it will evolve and
45:01people shouldn't lose heart
45:03all jobs are lost and we work 3 days a
45:05week and all of that. I hope that AI
45:07makes our life more meaningful. I would
45:10want a bot to be able to do chores and
45:11not write poetry.
45:14I want to
45:14>> I would want a bot to clean my house for
45:16me and just take instructions properly.
45:18>> Yeah, but they can't You know, they can
45:19do so much. They can They can code and
45:21they can solve math problems, but they
45:22can't figure out how to use their
45:25fingers, right? So
45:26>> Yeah. They make very bad cooks then. I
45:29can't hire chatbots, AI bots,
45:31>> [laughter]
45:31>> to cook for me.
45:33Okay, so are we doing like as a country
45:35are we doing anything to establish our
45:37own AI infrastructure in any way?
45:39>> See, we are far behind the rest of the
45:41world. The two obvious leaders are the
45:43US and China.
45:45But we just had a
45:47a semiconductor summit, I think, earlier
45:50this week.
45:53The
45:54The policy making space is looking at AI
45:57as the next big avenue. There are chip
46:00fabrication plants that are coming up.
46:02Um
46:03But
46:04uh but yeah, a lot more needs to be
46:06done. I know that India produces
46:07engineers and and uh
46:10the tech workforce for the rest of the
46:13world. But you need a lot of investment
46:16and you need a different approach, you
46:17know? Um I was discussing this with
46:19someone that that if 5 years back
46:23an Indian entrepreneur were were to
46:25pitch a ChatGPT to an investor, the
46:28investor would say
46:29profit case of an agar.
46:32ChatGPT is still not making Open AI
46:33still not making profit, but it's the
46:35promise. It's the idea that people bet
46:37on.
46:38I think we're not betting on big ideas
46:40yet.
46:41We're still looking at proof of concept
46:43elsewhere and saying maybe this works.
46:46So I think that
46:48we need to have a bigger vision people
46:51who are putting their money. I know that
46:53the investment scene has has improved
46:56tremendously in India. There are more
46:57startups, there are more people to
46:59willing to put in their money.
47:02But but we have a long way to go when it
47:04comes to AI.
47:05>> I also figured.
47:06Okay. But let's get back to
47:09women in media. And as a strong voice in
47:12media,
47:14which of the popular two statements do
47:17you agree with?
47:18First,
47:20women can have it all, just not at the
47:22same time. And second,
47:25no uterus, no opinion.
47:27>> [laughter]
47:30>> These two lines were said by some famous
47:32women.
47:34So tell me which one of these two
47:35statements do you agree with and
47:38resonate with the most?
47:40>> The first one.
47:42Women can have it all, just not at the
47:44same time.
47:45>> Yeah.
47:46And why?
47:48>> Because
47:49as has been said famously, your career
47:53clock and your biological clock often
47:55clash.
47:55>> Yeah.
47:56>> Um
47:57we can have it all just like I think for
47:59for for any successful career
48:02>> Mhm.
48:03>> it's not an individual enterprise.
48:06There's there's an invisible
48:07infrastructure behind it.
48:09Um and there are people who contribute
48:11to it. And anybody who pretends that
48:13they don't have it are just lying.
48:14Anyone who appears that they are
48:16effortlessly managing everything all the
48:18time
48:20have an army of people behind them who
48:22support them, men and women.
48:24>> Mhm.
48:24>> So, uh women can have it all, too.
48:27Uh they just have to
48:29I suppose
48:30find the right infrastructure.
48:32>> I So, when Gul was on my show, I asked
48:34her this. I said, "Do you believe in
48:36this statement?"
48:37>> Yeah.
48:37>> To which she said,
48:39"I want to ask men, can men have it all?
48:42Can you have a fit body? Can you cook?
48:43Can you do this? Can you manage work and
48:45can you do this? Why is it always a
48:46woman?" I agreed with that statement, as
48:48well.
48:49>> No, so it's about it's having it all
48:51it's about your choice.
48:52>> Mhm.
48:53>> What do you want to do?
48:54>> Mhm.
48:55>> But if you want to have all those things
48:57that you mentioned, you can.
48:59Um just like men can.
49:03Should they is a different question.
49:05>> Mhm.
49:06>> But I think you can you can achieve
49:07anything that you set out to.
49:09>> Mhm.
49:09>> Uh and you need a support system, just
49:12like
49:12>> a support system. I completely agree. I
49:14see that with my my brother and my bobby
49:17all the time.
49:18You have to have like an army of people
49:20managing so many things for you, um you
49:22know, to be
49:23>> And you have to you know, your family
49:24has to understand. You have to be at the
49:26same wavelength. You have to understand
49:27that some days I get priority, some days
49:29you get priority, and that's perfectly
49:31okay.
49:32>> Yeah, so
49:33>> Yeah, that makes a I don't think it's
49:35easy for even successful men to achieve
49:38very much if they have too much trouble
49:39at home.
49:40>> Yeah.
49:41>> You all need that
49:43>> I agree.
49:43>> that that place to go to which is your
49:45safe place, uh people who you can share
49:48things with uh when you're down.
49:50>> Mhm.
49:52>> People who you can you can ask to you
49:54know stretch because because you are
49:58you have too much on your plate and and
49:59they have to do a little more on the
50:01other side. So I think that it applies
50:03to everyone.
50:04>> Bulky, if I was to ask you to give me a
50:06quotable quote, something on these lines
50:09or something that you believe in which
50:11is only going to be
50:13Bulky Sharma's quote, what would you
50:14say?
50:18>> That's too much pressure to give a
50:19quotable
50:21>> Ah, give me a quotable quote, Bulky.
50:24>> I want to talk about women and ambition.
50:26And
50:29I think that
50:30for the longest time ambition has been
50:33associated as
50:37as something that that women should not
50:39have. It's it's seen as a dirty word. It
50:41is not.
50:43For me personally, I think ambition has
50:46has evolved with time. For the longest
50:48time ambition was about the next role,
50:51the next anchoring slot, the next
50:53designation.
50:55Today
50:56ambition is about
51:00ownership.
51:02Ownership of your voice,
51:03ownership of your
51:05opinion, ownership of your choice.
51:08And I think that's that's
51:10a transition worth making. I don't know
51:12if it suits your
51:13>> No, it does. Ambition is is great, yes,
51:16because it somehow was synonymous with
51:19men.
51:20>> Yeah.
51:21>> And women were looked down upon when if
51:24they were ambitious or if they were I
51:26think it continues to this day also that
51:28the
51:29you know, kitna hi kaam karna hai tumhe,
51:31kitna hi kuch karna hai.
51:32>> So so when you say it in the context of
51:34a man, it's it's seen as a virtue.
51:36>> Yeah, bahut ambitious hai, aage jayega.
51:38>> Yes. But for a woman,
51:40she's too ambitious.
51:42I think that
51:43Yeah, it
51:44>> She's too ambitious.
51:45>> Yeah.
51:45>> You know, it's not it's not good to be
51:47so ambitious.
51:48>> So, I think that that needs to change.
51:51>> Yeah. Body shaming and sexism.
51:54And I love what you said about Katrina.
51:56And
51:57what am I supposed to ask the doctor for
52:00my money back?
52:01>> [laughter]
52:02>> Where is my Where is my
52:05Yeah, yeah. Where Give me my body back
52:06because I want my I'm not I don't look
52:08the same.
52:10You know, I don't
52:11I was
52:12I was so taken aback by this one
52:14particular
52:16I don't know. He's I think just a
52:17content creator goes by some name of
52:19some doctor or whatever from Pakistan.
52:21But that's immaterial. But the what he
52:23said about her was so
52:26so derogatory. Um and
52:30it was so shameful that somebody can
52:33as in who gives you the right to comment
52:35on somebody's body or comment on how
52:38they look. What gives you the right to
52:39do that?
52:40>> You know, this is especially annoying
52:43because the world over women are under
52:45pressure to have children. The world
52:46over because there's this
52:48aging crisis and populations are
52:50becoming older and you know, everywhere
52:52for religious reasons reasons for all
52:54kinds of reasons
52:56women are expected to have children.
52:59But they are expected to not look like
53:01they've had children.
53:02How does that work?
53:05That is my problem. Yeah. And it's it's
53:08I think people in the show business are
53:10easy targets because
53:12they put themselves out there.
53:14They they share their views.
53:16>> I I remember being body shamed when I
53:18was working and
53:20for being called too big on air. And but
53:25I I know of a lot of news presenters who
53:26have been taken off air when they've
53:28just delivered a baby or they've just um
53:31you know
53:32uh become moms.
53:35And I don't think that's the right way
53:37to go about it.
53:38>> Think of the number of bald male anchors
53:40you've seen. Do you know any bald woman
53:43anchor?
53:45>> No.
53:45>> [laughter]
53:46>> See, that tells you something.
53:48>> [gasps]
53:48>> Yeah.
53:49>> So, yeah, there is a there is a bias
53:52>> deeply ingrained.
53:53>> Yeah, deeply ingrained in the system.
53:55>> Yeah.
53:55>> Um and I relate to you. I I think the
53:59having a child should be a matter of
54:00joy. There's a lot of
54:03a lot of pressure on a woman who wants
54:05to do everything right. No first-time
54:09mom is perfect. There is too much advice
54:11coming your way.
54:12Uh there is too much pressure. You want
54:14to there is guilt.
54:16>> Uh
54:16>> You just want to make sure that you've
54:18you've done everything right for your
54:19baby.
54:19>> Yeah.
54:20>> And then to have to look like you never
54:22had one
54:24is so unnecessary and so so unfair. And
54:27I've lived through it, and that's why I
54:29felt very strongly about
54:31this story. I mean, who gives anyone the
54:32right to say this about
54:35It's it's absolutely shameful.
54:37>> Have you faced it at at your workplace?
54:39Have you faced body shaming at your
54:41workplace?
54:41>> I mean, nobody said it because
54:43for some reason no one's given me very
54:46strong negative advice or feedback ever.
54:49Maybe they thought I'd start crying. I
54:51don't know what what was the
54:52I've never Nobody's sort of
54:55yelled at me or
54:56no. But But there are many subtle ways
55:00of making things very clear.
55:02>> Mhm.
55:03>> And uh
55:04Yeah, you were expected to look a
55:06certain way.
55:06>> Mhm.
55:07>> Um all the time.
55:09And
55:11I I felt that pressure uh
55:14when my daughter was born. I I I
55:16remember feeling very stressed about the
55:18weight.
55:19>> Mhm.
55:19>> And uh
55:21Yeah, one like I used to I used to sleep
55:25for what 4 or 5 hours a day because I
55:26had to figure out my workout routine
55:29with my daughter's sleeping time, and
55:32then my I had I got back to work very
55:34early.
55:35>> Mhm.
55:35>> Uh she was just a few months old. So, it
55:38was a very very difficult I mean if if
55:40someone asked me to do it again, I would
55:42say no.
55:44I wouldn't do it. I was killing myself.
55:47Just because you have to fit a certain
55:49expectation.
55:51This is how you're supposed to look when
55:52you're on air.
55:54So wrong.
55:56>> What are your what what is your point of
55:57view on this Sydney Sweeney ad?
55:59>> I think she was right when she said that
56:01a lot of sportswomen have done it too. I
56:03mean uh
56:04someone said very interestingly that uh
56:07that men's sports are for men and
56:10women's sports are also for men and so
56:12women have to dress a certain way. I
56:14mean if if the sports world is so
56:15appalled by what she's done, change
56:17their uniforms.
56:20Why are women expected to wear those
56:22very skimpy things? I mean if they
56:24choose to wear that that's their choice.
56:26But uh
56:28but across sports I mean
56:31So, I I think the it's not just her.
56:34You just she's again an easy target.
56:37Um
56:38I don't know about her views. I've not
56:40read too much about Sydney Sweeney, but
56:42I know about this particular
56:44controversy. But I think that that
56:46sexualization is a real problem. It did
56:48not start with her.
56:50It's been there. The managing the people
56:52who manage sport are are men.
56:54>> So, do you think that if they show
56:57actual women in sport with like their
56:59sweat and their you know and um
57:02>> fully clothed fully clothed
57:03>> so there would be less viewership.
57:05>> That that is the argument that is made
57:08and uh
57:10in more instance than one it has been
57:12made.
57:13That they have to look a certain way
57:15for the viewership.
57:16>> But don't you think that her appearing
57:18like that has
57:20completely taken away from actual
57:22athletes who put in so much effort. I've
57:25been into sport myself from a very young
57:27age. And never in my wildest dreams did
57:30I ever think that I'm going to like
57:31Sydney Sweeney, forget about that. But,
57:34you know, to wear those things and and
57:36to play sport, we were not taught.
57:39So, when somebody like that comes and
57:41just completely takes away all your hard
57:43work, all your effort, because
57:45what's the point? [snorts] You just have
57:46to take it off. What did she say about
57:48it, though? She didn't say anything
57:50about it. I don't know if she said
57:51anything about it. I could I could maybe
57:52I'm reading it wrong, but just her whole
57:55the the visual, the representation with
57:57the different footballs and the
57:58basketball and this and that and, you
58:00know,
58:03Did you see the diet?
58:04>> No, I've seen a few photos and yeah, I I
58:07I see what you're trying to say, but uh
58:12maybe I've not thought this through, but
58:13I I think that that again, the problem
58:16would not begin with her, and it's okay
58:18to feel
58:19appalled because you don't you don't see
58:21sportswomen like that.
58:23>> Do you think a man has directed that ad?
58:27>> I don't know.
58:29Have you ever thought about it?
58:30Is it a man's perspective?
58:32>> It may well be, but I wouldn't There are
58:35also a lot of women who who are very
58:36good at sexualizing women.
58:38Um also in our own industry.
58:41So,
58:42>> [laughter]
58:42>> that's a
58:43that's a largely male problem, but not a
58:45uniquely male problem.
58:46>> Yeah. Yeah.
58:48But, um Palki, coming back to um Katrina
58:50Kaif, and uh when I was reading a lot of
58:53stuff that was being said about her, do
58:55you think social media platforms and
58:57authorities
58:58should introduce stricter guidelines?
59:01>> Um
59:03and real consequences for people who
59:04engage in this kind of I wouldn't even
59:07call it abuse, they're just
59:09Actually, it is some sort of abuse.
59:12>> Do you think we should social media
59:14platforms should, like Instagram should
59:16or
59:16>> It's a slippery slope. You know, then
59:18you are you are policing
59:20speech.
59:21>> Yeah.
59:21>> And then the question is, who decides
59:25what is fair criticism,
59:27and who decides what is trolling?
59:30>> Um
59:32Unfortunately, we don't have good
59:34answers. I mean, even the speech
59:35moderators, the content moderators who
59:37used to be there have been fired by most
59:40of these platforms because it just cost
59:42them too much money and they don't care
59:43about it. The entire business model of
59:46social media is based on how much you
59:48scroll and how outraged you are and how
59:50much you engage with that content. And
59:54And um
59:56the keyboard warriors really helped
59:57them. So, I don't I don't think social
59:59media is A going to do it and B, I don't
1:00:02have a
1:00:03very good answer as to who should be in
1:00:05charge then. It
1:00:07certainly not be governments because
1:00:08then you would never hear anything
1:00:10negative about them.
1:00:12Can it be [snorts]
1:00:14companies alone and these tech giants?
1:00:17They already have too much power. If
1:00:19they were allowed to decide what is okay
1:00:22and what isn't.
1:00:23Uh
1:00:24then we are in trouble. So, I think
1:00:26it should not be left to social media
1:00:28alone. I think there has to be a a
1:00:30policy solution to this.
1:00:33Like governments are now waking up to
1:00:34the fact that young children should not
1:00:36be exposed to social media. It's not
1:00:37working. Australia did that and
1:00:41but but at least they have
1:00:44they have realized that there is a
1:00:45problem here that needs fixing.
1:00:47Unfortunately, the people who are in
1:00:49those chairs, decision-making chairs,
1:00:50are still like
1:00:5320 years behind the rest of the world
1:00:54and they don't quite understand what
1:00:55they're dealing with.
1:00:57But uh
1:00:58the conversation has begun. So,
1:01:01it's it's a tricky one, but I think that
1:01:03that uh
1:01:05that there has to be some way to
1:01:06moderate, but you it has to be within
1:01:10the law of the country and not really
1:01:13the law of a social media company. I
1:01:15don't think that it should be left to
1:01:16them.
1:01:17>> It's actually interesting that you made
1:01:19this point about
1:01:21those people who are not refusing to
1:01:22understand or whatever because they're
1:01:23back in the day is something like Gen Z
1:01:26was feeling during the Jantar Mantar
1:01:27protest as well.
1:01:28>> Okay.
1:01:28>> Yeah.
1:01:29>> And in this one particular interview you
1:01:31said that I think it was the one with
1:01:33Runjhun where you said and I loved what
1:01:35you said was that it's good for young
1:01:37people to have a bit of a revolutionary
1:01:39streak in them because if you're young
1:01:41and you don't believe that you can
1:01:42change the world, then what is the point
1:01:45of being
1:01:45>> of being young.
1:01:46>> of being young.
1:01:46>> Yes.
1:01:47>> And it is okay for people to involve to
1:01:49be in involved in politics and to have
1:01:51political opinions and you don't
1:01:53consider it as a threat. I loved what
1:01:55you said.
1:01:56>> No, I don't. I don't. And even even the
1:01:58kids who came there just because it was
1:02:00a weekend and they wanted to see what a
1:02:02protest is like.
1:02:03Absolutely fine. It is a free country.
1:02:06Um people have the right to
1:02:10make up their mind. The problem begins
1:02:13when you know
1:02:14we are in a world that is driven by
1:02:16algorithm.
1:02:17There are too many sides to this, you
1:02:19know. Um if you talk to a
1:02:22a security expert
1:02:25or a strategic thinker or you know they
1:02:28will tell you that we obsess about land
1:02:31borders, but the real infiltration is
1:02:33happening on the phone.
1:02:35>> On the phone?
1:02:35>> Yes. Young people are being trapped in
1:02:37echo chambers and being fed the kind of
1:02:40content that makes them feel that
1:02:42everything is wrong in their country.
1:02:43And sometimes they get trapped in these
1:02:45bubbles um where they don't understand
1:02:48what's going on, but they just feel the
1:02:50peer pressure or they think that this is
1:02:51the only truth. But there are many
1:02:53truths. That is a reality, too.
1:02:57But
1:02:58the way to address this it is not to say
1:03:00that nobody should come to Jantar Mantar
1:03:02or people should not people should
1:03:05I think every teenager should read,
1:03:08should understand, should engage with
1:03:09these subjects. If there is a debate on
1:03:12SIR, you should read the newspaper.
1:03:15>> Yeah.
1:03:16>> You should make it
1:03:18important for you to understand why is
1:03:21this debate happening, what is SIR, what
1:03:23are the pros, what are the cons. We need
1:03:24a generation that
1:03:27that meaningfully engages with the
1:03:28issues that will impact their lives,
1:03:31their country, their society. We don't
1:03:33need people who just see something on
1:03:35social media and think, "Okay, this is
1:03:36trending, so maybe I need to be a part
1:03:38of it."
1:03:40So, that that is true, but but again, I
1:03:41say that that we are a free country and
1:03:43people should be
1:03:44>> What is the What is the disconnect you
1:03:46felt that was there with with with all
1:03:48the youngsters?
1:03:50>> So, this whole Okay, so the exam paper
1:03:53leak. Paper leak is a problem. So many
1:03:57students from all over the country,
1:03:58their families, sometimes in our
1:04:00society, one kid clearing a competitive
1:04:03exam can uplift his or her entire family
1:04:06from poverty.
1:04:07>> Yeah.
1:04:07>> Right? And and the whole It's not just a
1:04:09child's exam there. It's an entire
1:04:11family's exam.
1:04:13There are so many people out there. And
1:04:16then when that paper gets canceled, when
1:04:17you have one more year to wait or 2
1:04:19months to wait, it it can be very
1:04:20strenuous.
1:04:22They should not be subjected to it. It's
1:04:24a real problem.
1:04:25The other real problem is that in the
1:04:27last
1:04:2815 years or 20 years, there've been
1:04:31what? 45 paper leaks?
1:04:32>> Mhm.
1:04:33>> So, while accountability needs to be
1:04:35fixed
1:04:36by removing the education minister, can
1:04:39you ensure that there'll be no paper
1:04:40leak?
1:04:40>> Yeah.
1:04:40>> No. So, you have to be more balanced and
1:04:44rational about your argument.
1:04:46>> Mhm.
1:04:47>> Was there political motivation? Maybe
1:04:49there was. But why shouldn't there be?
1:04:52We are a political society.
1:04:53>> Mhm.
1:04:54>> And whenever there's trouble, there are
1:04:56individuals and parties who want to make
1:04:58the most of it and build careers on it.
1:05:01It has happened in the past, it'll
1:05:02happen again. Student movements have
1:05:04been
1:05:05a way for
1:05:07young individuals to enter politics.
1:05:09>> Yeah.
1:05:10>> All of these are facts.
1:05:12>> Mhm.
1:05:12>> And we need to see a picture in
1:05:14totality.
1:05:16Not just one point of view and see it in
1:05:18isolation.
1:05:19That's my only point. People should
1:05:21dabble in politics. People should have
1:05:22an opinion. People should read. People
1:05:24should argue. People should debate. But
1:05:27they should be informed.
1:05:29Don't make something your opinion just
1:05:32because three of your friends are doing
1:05:34it.
1:05:35Please be inquisitive. Please be
1:05:37curious.
1:05:38>> I want to stay on this education thing
1:05:41for a little bit, okay? And we seem to
1:05:43be having the same syllabus that
1:05:46we were taught in schools now.
1:05:48More or less it is the same. There's
1:05:50nothing that has
1:05:51>> seen the textbooks.
1:05:52>> No, there's nothing I because my
1:05:53daughter reads the same thing and I'm
1:05:54like there has there been no change.
1:05:57But there has actually been no change in
1:05:59the syllabus and the it's just repeating
1:06:02year after year.
1:06:04>> Really?
1:06:04>> Yeah. And with Do you not think that
1:06:06with the advent of AI
1:06:09we need to integrate the syllabus or
1:06:11something a little better?
1:06:12>> Now that you mentioned it actually I did
1:06:14see
1:06:15my son was preparing for his for his
1:06:17half yearly exam. And
1:06:18>> [laughter]
1:06:18>> so he had a chapter on AI.
1:06:20>> Oh, yeah?
1:06:20>> Yeah.
1:06:21>> Okay.
1:06:21>> So and this is CBSE so I don't know what
1:06:24what board you're referring to.
1:06:25>> She's in ICSE.
1:06:26>> Um yeah, possibly.
1:06:27>> Yeah.
1:06:27>> But but some things have changed.
1:06:29Thankfully they have Russia and all
1:06:32these other countries and not USSR. I
1:06:34remember in school it was
1:06:35>> USSR, yeah. We were taught USSR.
1:06:37>> So some things have changed but
1:06:39yeah, I think
1:06:42can more be done? I think I think
1:06:43schools have smart boards. They have
1:06:45integrated a lot of things but children
1:06:47are way ahead of their teachers. You
1:06:48know, when all this this online
1:06:50class began, I saw that the teachers
1:06:53were figuring out how to share their
1:06:55screen and the kids were telling them
1:06:57>> Oh, they were really really good.
1:06:59I have with tech and with the figuring
1:07:02things out, I mean these guys are just
1:07:03we I was not so good with I still am not
1:07:07so good with figuring out tech. I'm
1:07:09actually quite bad at it.
1:07:10>> Yeah, neither am I. But I'm a little old
1:07:12school that way. I think that the
1:07:14concepts
1:07:15the equations in maths, the concepts in
1:07:18physics, the basics in biology are still
1:07:20the same.
1:07:22I still believe that children should be
1:07:25asked to memorize poems and do hard and
1:07:28mohair rods and idioms and all of those
1:07:30things.
1:07:30>> Yeah.
1:07:31>> Those are still the same
1:07:33and and you
1:07:35obviously use that information in a very
1:07:37different environment. There is so much
1:07:39more exposure.
1:07:40So I'm not the most qualified to comment
1:07:43on how our textbooks have or have not
1:07:46evolved simply because I've not seen
1:07:48very many of them.
1:07:50But I think that
1:07:53I I What what needs to change is that
1:07:56there needs to be more investment in
1:07:57education, better infrastructure, better
1:07:59paid teachers.
1:08:01You know, we have IB schools now.
1:08:04You need to
1:08:06give the right platform.
1:08:10IB IB is a course that requires
1:08:13a lot more
1:08:14from a from a teacher. It's more
1:08:16interactive, more
1:08:18a more two-way conversation and and do
1:08:21you have those qualifications?
1:08:24I've not done enough research but I I
1:08:25think
1:08:26>> teachers for IB earn
1:08:29like
1:08:30really well.
1:08:31>> Good for them.
1:08:32But I I I think all teachers should earn
1:08:34well. You know, how How do you How do
1:08:35you expect a teacher to
1:08:37If you have one teacher on 100 kids some
1:08:40>> Yeah.
1:08:41>> you know, village schools. Then
1:08:43on paper you you you said that okay,
1:08:45there is X level of literacy. But what's
1:08:48the point of that? In fact, there was a
1:08:49there was a report recently that also
1:08:51talked about uh
1:08:53uh children in Europe
1:08:55or or the UK and said that
1:08:57only X percent are actually literate in
1:08:59math and science. So they may be going
1:09:01to school, they may be getting the
1:09:03grades, they may be passing the exam.
1:09:05But, they have no meaningful
1:09:08skill to show for it. Yeah. So,
1:09:12So, very What else about you according
1:09:14to you about the education system do you
1:09:16think needs to change?
1:09:19Like I said, we need to invest more. We
1:09:21need better infrastructure. We need more
1:09:23colleges. We We have very many, but we
1:09:26Look at the size of our country. When we
1:09:28see that we have a We have a young
1:09:30population and a demographic dividend
1:09:32and all of those things. It can also be
1:09:33a demographic time bomb if it's not
1:09:35addressed. All the millions of young
1:09:38people who are coming out in the
1:09:39workforce, who are going to college,
1:09:41they need to see something at the end of
1:09:42that road.
1:09:45So, I think that
1:09:46Yes. Yeah.
1:09:48And I know that enough has been
1:09:50discussed and debated about rote
1:09:51learning and, you know,
1:09:53but I think some of it is It also
1:09:55depends on the teacher. I think I think
1:09:56a good teacher makes a world of
1:09:58difference. I've seen with my children
1:10:00that in the years when they've had a
1:10:01good math teacher,
1:10:03they've come and told me that I will
1:10:05take up math in college
1:10:07simply because the teacher was very good
1:10:09and made the subject that much more
1:10:10interesting. And in the years when they
1:10:12did not have a good one, they're like, I
1:10:14don't like math. No, and I was I'll tell
1:10:16you what, I was terrible at math
1:10:19and I excelled at social studies,
1:10:21English,
1:10:22geography, political science, but at
1:10:24math and I think
1:10:26in Sanskrit I was horrible.
1:10:28>> [laughter]
1:10:28>> And so, I be till now like I need a
1:10:30calculator and all to just add up, you
1:10:32know,
1:10:33like very simple things and all as well.
1:10:35And my daughter laughs at me and my
1:10:37husband is constantly telling her that
1:10:38it is not her fault, it is her teacher's
1:10:40fault because that teacher could not
1:10:43could not bring out the the whole
1:10:45concept and all, you know, properly. And
1:10:46I And I was like, wait a second, really?
1:10:48Okay, so I don't feel so bad about
1:10:50myself now.
1:10:51>> [laughter]
1:10:52>> But yeah, you're right because he
1:10:53believes that it is the person who's
1:10:54teaching you and then if they're not
1:10:56being able to explain concepts to you
1:10:57properly then you know there's something
1:10:59like
1:10:59>> I've had some very good teachers. I
1:11:01think I think the fact that some of them
1:11:03pushed me to
1:11:04to be on stage, to perform, public
1:11:07speaking. A lot of it has come from
1:11:09them. Because you know you tend to take
1:11:11your parents for granted. She's my mom
1:11:13of course she'll say nice things about
1:11:14me. But when my teacher is saying that
1:11:16okay this is very well written or you
1:11:18spoke very well the other day. I feel
1:11:20encouraged. So a teacher has that hold
1:11:23and power over a child. And
1:11:26there are so many
1:11:30teachers I know simply because my mom
1:11:31was a teacher and I I interact with some
1:11:33others and they are they're so well
1:11:35meaning. It's not easy you know to to go
1:11:38to one class and the next class 40
1:11:40children and they are
1:11:41all have their own priorities and
1:11:43they're fighting. For for someone to
1:11:44make a meaningful difference to
1:11:46somebody's life and they do it. And look
1:11:48at what they're paid.
1:11:49Look at how they're how they're treated
1:11:51in society.
1:11:53So I think that needs to change.
1:11:54>> We had up to 40 50 kids in a class.
1:11:56>> So we have one teachers day in this
1:11:58country and that's that's all that we
1:12:00need to be
1:12:01>> So up to 40 50 kids and there were five
1:12:03Nehas.
1:12:04>> [laughter]
1:12:04>> Imagine that. So we were never referred
1:12:06to as Neha. You were always Bedi. I was
1:12:08always Bedi. You also used to call me
1:12:09Bedi.
1:12:10Always like and since I think since I
1:12:13was working since in college also I was
1:12:15always referred to as Bedi. Never Neha.
1:12:18So when somebody calls me Neha I'm like
1:12:20Okay.
1:12:22>> [laughter]
1:12:23>> But yeah but yeah I want to stay with
1:12:25with you being a mom and you never stop
1:12:28being a mom even if you're the founder
1:12:29of IGR.
1:12:30>> No I don't.
1:12:33>> Do your kids let you work from home?
1:12:37>> It's not their choice. It's not their
1:12:39call to make. I do work from
1:12:41>> But do they interrupt you? But up to get
1:12:42ready be okay with it.
1:12:43>> Huh but I've never
1:12:45sort of work from home meaning I've not
1:12:47not gone to office.
1:12:50In my hours which are not office hours,
1:12:52I still work.
1:12:54They let me be. Okay. I sometimes make
1:12:56them part of whatever I'm doing like I'm
1:12:58I'm working on
1:12:59>> let me work from home at all. She wants
1:13:00all the attention on her, but also I
1:13:02think it could be a single child thing.
1:13:03>> Maybe.
1:13:04>> Yeah, she's alone so she wants all that.
1:13:06I've got three dogs but she doesn't want
1:13:07to play with the dogs.
1:13:08>> She wants [laughter] to play with the
1:13:09dogs but she wants attention from you.
1:13:13>> She wants attention from me always.
1:13:14Yeah. So yeah, I've been I So before
1:13:16your interview I've been it took me like
1:13:183 days to prep for, you know, what I
1:13:19have to say and and the stuff that I
1:13:21have to take out and every time I would
1:13:22get into this So I'm perimenopausal
1:13:25where I get these brain fogs 3 days.
1:13:28>> [laughter]
1:13:29>> Because of my perimenopause I sleep into
1:13:31these brain fogs very fast. Okay, so
1:13:34just when I'm
1:13:35when I'm on a
1:13:37on a
1:13:39you know, like a a thought
1:13:41she'll just open her mouth and go
1:13:43>> [laughter]
1:13:44>> And then it's lost and I'm I show her
1:13:46the hand and I'm like, "Listen, I need
1:13:48to work and I have a in in important
1:13:50show coming up so I need to She's like,
1:13:52"I'm in front of you. What could be more
1:13:54important than that?"
1:13:55>> I've heard that line. Yeah, I've heard
1:13:56that line.
1:13:57>> [laughter]
1:13:58>> So how can you argue with that?
1:13:59>> You can't.
1:14:00>> How can you argue with that? Do you get
1:14:01told that a lot?
1:14:02>> All the time. I make them a part of
1:14:04whatever I'm doing like, "Hey, I'm
1:14:06trying to figure this out. What do you
1:14:07think?" And they will usually laugh
1:14:09about it or joke about it and and if I
1:14:12try to tell them something like if I try
1:14:13to give them gyan, they're like, "Your
1:14:15show is over."
1:14:16So
1:14:18Don't do it here.
1:14:19>> So mine is very critical about the
1:14:20social media stuff that I put out. And
1:14:22so she says, and rightly so, my husband
1:14:24is like, "Yeah, yeah, you should listen
1:14:25to whatever she's saying." Like in the
1:14:27first five or seven seconds I'm bored of
1:14:29what you've just said, I just scroll up.
1:14:30I'm like, "I don't want to see it
1:14:31anymore." So I said, "I can't hook your
1:14:33attention in like five or seven seconds.
1:14:35How can I do that? If I'm if I want to
1:14:37put a point across it takes a while. So
1:14:38you stand and listen to me." No, it's
1:14:41social media. She's just like, "I'll
1:14:42swipe to the next reel." That's good
1:14:43advice, actually. I said, "Fine, yeah."
1:14:46Unfortunately. So what am I supposed to
1:14:47like do some theatrics in front of you
1:14:48so that you're like who want to do that
1:14:50because I don't want to do that because
1:14:52I don't want to do that because I don't
1:14:53want to do that.
1:15:05>> By not living in guilt.
1:15:08>> That's a good one. I think that there is
1:15:10guilt when you
1:15:12work and there is guilt when you don't
1:15:14work.
1:15:15And then you realize that
1:15:17you just have to shed the guilt because
1:15:19some days you work and some days you
1:15:20don't work and and different things take
1:15:23priority in your life. So, I think that
1:15:26moms have to tell themselves that
1:15:27they're like just anyone else and um
1:15:31I love quoting uh
1:15:33Henrik Ibsen uh Doll's House where uh
1:15:37where it's said that uh your your first
1:15:39responsibility is towards yourself as an
1:15:41individual. If you can't fulfill
1:15:42[clears throat]
1:15:43your expectations, your ambitions, you
1:15:46can't prioritize what's important for
1:15:48you in life. You can't make people
1:15:49around you happy that's what you set out
1:15:51to do.
1:15:52So, you have to be at peace with
1:15:54yourself. You have to explore your full
1:15:56potential. Only then can you be a
1:15:59well-rounded individual and a good mom
1:16:01if that's your ultimate goal.
1:16:03>> are uh from what I hear, you're a doting
1:16:05mom. You're a very very good mom keeping
1:16:07everything together.
1:16:08>> Uh
1:16:09this is what I have been told.
1:16:11>> Who are you talking to?
1:16:12>> I will tell you.
1:16:14>> [laughter]
1:16:15>> Do you help them with their homework?
1:16:16>> No.
1:16:17>> You don't help them with their homework.
1:16:18Who takes them to extra classes?
1:16:21>> We take turns.
1:16:22>> Okay.
1:16:22>> We live in a joint family.
1:16:23>> Okay. Oh, so then it's it's also easier
1:16:27that way. [clears throat] My god, that's
1:16:28a blessing.
1:16:29>> Yes.
1:16:29>> I used to think of it like you know it's
1:16:31>> Their grandfather has basically taken
1:16:33care of their projects and homework
1:16:35since forever.
1:16:36>> How nice. Everybody's involved in in
1:16:38raising them.
1:16:39Okay. And birthday parties and
1:16:41coordinating with didis and other moms?
1:16:43>> A lot of times they do that.
1:16:45>> They do that, but yeah, me too.
1:16:47>> Initially when my husband started to do
1:16:49it, he's like, "Is it possible for you
1:16:51to show some enthusiasm? I'm the only
1:16:53dad in that group."
1:16:55>> [laughter]
1:16:55>> I said, "That doesn't matter."
1:16:57>> No, but that's that's the thing about
1:16:59yeah, most groups. Even in my own family
1:17:01groups, I cannot show enthusiasm.
1:17:03He does the heavy lifting.
1:17:08>> I don't know. Once I sent him for coffee
1:17:09with 18 moms.
1:17:10>> [laughter]
1:17:11>> You won't believe that.
1:17:12There was a coffee meet and he's like,
1:17:14"There will be other dads or whatever."
1:17:15And I was working and he said, "Yeah,
1:17:17you There was no other guy there."
1:17:20>> Yeah, that I've not done.
1:17:22>> [laughter]
1:17:22>> I did that.
1:17:24>> Okay, so do you attend PTMs?
1:17:26>> Yes.
1:17:27>> You attend PTMs. Okay, and
1:17:30do you call them before a show to check
1:17:33if they are at home, they've eaten,
1:17:34etc., etc.
1:17:37>> No.
1:17:38No.
1:17:39But but because there are other people
1:17:41at home. They are uh they're
1:17:43There are people who are taking better
1:17:44care of them than I ever could. So
1:17:46>> I agree. So what is What is like your
1:17:48typical morning routine like when you're
1:17:49working?
1:17:50>> I get up at 6:00. Um
1:17:52I see them off. They leave for school
1:17:54around 7:00.
1:17:56Then I read. I sometimes try to take a
1:17:59nap again because I've not I've slept
1:18:00only for 5-6 hours because I My day ends
1:18:03very late.
1:18:05And then I work out.
1:18:07I have a bunch of meetings from home.
1:18:10Um then I go to work around noon, a
1:18:12little little afternoon.
1:18:14Uh I come back home at 11:00, 11:30.
1:18:17>> Okay. I want to know what you work out.
1:18:19What What what What exactly do you do?
1:18:21>> A lot of strength training.
1:18:22>> Were you doing this before?
1:18:23>> I was always doing it on and off, but
1:18:25sometimes I do it
1:18:26>> But you've gotten into it a lot more
1:18:28now.
1:18:28>> Yes.
1:18:28>> Yeah?
1:18:29>> Yeah, we've built something at home, so
1:18:30it's easier.
1:18:31>> Oh, okay.
1:18:32So you have somebody coming to train
1:18:33you.
1:18:34>> and we have a little gym, so it helps.
1:18:36>> How nice. I'm so glad.
1:18:38>> Yeah.
1:18:38>> That more women I think
1:18:40>> always into like I've I've tried all
1:18:42sorts of things from kickboxing to yoga
1:18:44to over a period of what, 20, 25 years.
1:18:48But now I think I've I've sort of
1:18:49figured out my rhythm.
1:18:50>> Mhm. I think strength training is
1:18:53something more women need to do and need
1:18:55to get involved with
1:18:56because they need to understand the
1:18:59massive benefits that go along with
1:19:01this. Like I have not seen a better form
1:19:03of when when when we uh
1:19:06we've started talking about reverse
1:19:07aging and anti-aging and biohacking and
1:19:09all this is what it is.
1:19:11>> Yes.
1:19:11>> Strength training is what it is. It's I
1:19:13mean it's it's just there in front of
1:19:15you. Go and lift.
1:19:15>> Yeah.
1:19:16>> Yeah.
1:19:16>> And home food. I'm a big big
1:19:20supporter of that.
1:19:21>> Fan of home food, yes.
1:19:22>> Okay. Okay. But uh but you tell me when
1:19:25you see um
1:19:28you know these food influencers like
1:19:30people who
1:19:31pick up stuff and case me chini both
1:19:33here is me
1:19:34is me both here is me
1:19:36you know
1:19:37etc. here.
1:19:40How
1:19:41how far do you think they can go with
1:19:43testing stuff and putting it out on
1:19:46social media? Do you think we should be
1:19:47trusting them blindly and not the brand
1:19:50and the people behind that particular
1:19:52packaged food?
1:19:53>> I think we should not trust anyone
1:19:55blindly. I think we should
1:19:57if possible avoid all packaged food. I'm
1:20:00losing advertisers, but that's okay. Uh
1:20:03but if you must, then you have to look
1:20:05at the packet.
1:20:06>> Yeah.
1:20:06>> And you know this whole conversation
1:20:08that has happened about putting food
1:20:10labels and such insane arguments.
1:20:13>> Yeah.
1:20:14>> They're saying that if it's if the
1:20:16sodium is high or XYZ thing is high,
1:20:18then then it it says at the back of the
1:20:20packet. But when you have zero calories,
1:20:22you put it on front.
1:20:25Coke zero, zero calories, zero sugar.
1:20:27>> Mhm.
1:20:28>> You should put that at the back in the
1:20:30ingredients list.
1:20:31>> Mhm.
1:20:31>> If it's if everyone's reading it.
1:20:33>> Mhm. people aren't. So I think that uh
1:20:36And I unfortunately
1:20:38developing economies have become these
1:20:40big hubs of
1:20:42a lot of cheap packaged food.
1:20:45It's so unhealthy.
1:20:47It should be avoided. You should not
1:20:49trust I think you should have You should
1:20:51talk to your doctor. You should read up.
1:20:52>> Not even food creators or influencers
1:20:55who got like over a million followers.
1:20:56>> is. I I think influencers I mean
1:20:59>> And there has to be some regulation
1:21:01there. There is talk about regulating
1:21:04finfluencers, financial influencers.
1:21:06>> But it has to extend to others also. The
1:21:08health influencers
1:21:09>> to go towards health.
1:21:10>> Because all kinds of things are floating
1:21:11around and people think that just
1:21:13because
1:21:13>> Even doctors are doing it.
1:21:14>> I have a few thousand followers that
1:21:17doesn't give you the authority to
1:21:18comment on something that you have no
1:21:20idea about.
1:21:20>> Yeah, I agree. Even even doctors are
1:21:22doing it as well. I recently had a
1:21:25health educator uh on my show and he
1:21:28said my pretty project
1:21:32Instagram or social media page. Like
1:21:35what are they doing? According to them
1:21:36this is right, this is wrong so you
1:21:37should blatantly just follow it. And
1:21:39look what they check that they check the
1:21:41total amount of followers
1:21:42>> Yes.
1:21:43>> that that person has or his gay videos
1:21:45how many views or likes I have.
1:21:48>> So somebody was saying I tell you shadi
1:21:50I say only. How many lucky you get me
1:21:52followers
1:21:52>> How many followers
1:21:53>> social media how many followers
1:21:55>> How many followers
1:21:56>> Yeah, my god.
1:21:58This is so crazy. I should tell me
1:21:59something.
1:22:00>> How have you Do you know of any Gen
1:22:02Alpha No, Gen Alpha to Suhavi. What is
1:22:04your kids generation? Gen
1:22:06>> Alpha.
1:22:06>> Alpha only. Tell me some of the slang
1:22:08that you picked up.
1:22:10>> Poggers.
1:22:11>> What is poggers?
1:22:12>> know. They've not told me and they've
1:22:13said never use it. But I I go on every
1:22:15interview and say it and nobody knows
1:22:17the meaning of it.
1:22:17>> I don't know what is poggers.
1:22:18>> Maybe they just made it up.
1:22:19>> Yeah.
1:22:19>> Uh no, but they use a lot of So it
1:22:21started with sus.
1:22:22>> Yeah, sus.
1:22:23>> But that's old now.
1:22:24>> Yeah.
1:22:24>> And the other day I asked them what is
1:22:27the meaning of a wilting rose emoji and
1:22:30they both gave me looks and they're like
1:22:32where is she picking this up and I said
1:22:33>> Wilting rose?
1:22:34>> Yes, so I said is that heartbreak? So my
1:22:36son said it's mock heartbreak or
1:22:38my daughter said something else and and
1:22:40they usually tell me to not bother and
1:22:42be my age.
1:22:43>> Okay.
1:22:43>> Don't use words that don't belong to
1:22:44you.
1:22:45>> Yeah.
1:22:45>> But yes, I I do pick up a lot of things
1:22:50that I
1:22:50>> My daughter writes me a message and says
1:22:52hi mama w y d.
1:22:54>> What's that mean?
1:22:56>> I said
1:22:57what does that mean? She said what are
1:22:58you doing?
1:23:00I said why can't you just write a full
1:23:01form of that? I said I'm paying good
1:23:04money to send you to a school to learn
1:23:05proper English not w y. I said is your
1:23:08teacher teacher teaching you this? She's
1:23:09like bro, come on.
1:23:11>> Yeah.
1:23:12>> That that I I
1:23:14made it very clear that I'm not bro.
1:23:16>> Yeah.
1:23:17>> I'm mom.
1:23:18>> Yeah.
1:23:18>> And yeah, that's what I will be called.
1:23:20>> Well, I have said this to her dozens of
1:23:21times but it just doesn't register. It's
1:23:24still bro. I am bro, her dad is bro.
1:23:27>> Yeah.
1:23:27>> And
1:23:28everybody else is not bro but yeah, I
1:23:30mean we are the bro thing. Bro, what are
1:23:33you doing?
1:23:35I'm like what bro?
1:23:37Okay
1:23:38without naming anybody give me some
1:23:40stories and anecdotes of the newsroom.
1:23:43Anything that you remember.
1:23:45Which newsroom?
1:23:46>> Any.
1:23:46>> Any any newsroom that you worked at.
1:23:50>> So somebody who doesn't understand
1:23:52newsroom can find it like a very um
1:23:55dystopian sort of an environment and uh
1:23:58for instance when there is news of a
1:24:01blast somewhere.
1:24:04The producer is usually asking blood
1:24:06hair visuals make.
1:24:07>> Blood hair visuals make?
1:24:08>> Because you have to
1:24:10you know so
1:24:11or how many people dead and they're
1:24:13asking for information but but if you
1:24:15don't understand
1:24:17the dynamics of a newsroom for an
1:24:18outsider it can be quite funny.
1:24:20>> Mhm.
1:24:21>> Yeah. When was the last you were in a
1:24:22newsroom? With you?
1:24:24>> Oh, then?
1:24:25>> Yeah. You should visit.
1:24:27>> I said after that I saw it. I said
1:24:28>> It's very charged. It's uh it's
1:24:31pulsating. Especially the closer you get
1:24:32to the show, the
1:24:34the more things heat up and it's quite
1:24:36nice. I like the energy. I like the the
1:24:39vibe.
1:24:39>> I'll come to yours.
1:24:40>> You should.
1:24:41>> I'll I'll check it out. You invite me
1:24:42and then I will come. I want I want a
1:24:44tour of IGR.
1:24:45>> For sure.
1:24:46>> Yes.
1:24:47>> [laughter and gasps]
1:24:47>> Okay, I have um
1:24:50collected some fun facts about you from
1:24:52a few different people that I've spoken
1:24:53to. This doesn't happen to me.
1:24:54>> I'm getting worried now.
1:24:55>> Huh?
1:24:56>> I'm worried now.
1:24:57>> No, this doesn't happen to be just one
1:24:58person. But they're just fun facts. So
1:25:00maybe just you as a person.
1:25:02>> Okay.
1:25:02>> You tell me how much of it is true.
1:25:04>> Mhm.
1:25:05>> Pulkit is a great cook.
1:25:06>> True.
1:25:08Great, but I yeah I I enjoy cooking.
1:25:10Decent.
1:25:11>> Apparently you're a very good cook.
1:25:13>> Okay then, I'll take it.
1:25:14>> [laughter]
1:25:15>> Okay, you're quite a foodie even if you
1:25:18don't look like one, but you love trying
1:25:20different cuisines and you experiment
1:25:21with food a lot.
1:25:22>> All the time.
1:25:23>> Really?
1:25:23>> All the Everywhere I go I ask for local
1:25:26cuisine. I try I've tried the craziest
1:25:28things and love them.
1:25:31>> You are a Rajasthani, but you can cook
1:25:32really everything.
1:25:34>> Yes.
1:25:36>> Vegetarian non-vegetarian?
1:25:38>> Not so much non-vegetarian because um
1:25:41I I learned most of the cooking from my
1:25:42mom and
1:25:44we are a vegetarian household.
1:25:45>> Okay. Okay. Okay.
1:25:47You learned how to drive after your
1:25:49first child was born.
1:25:50>> That is true. This was a phase where I
1:25:52>> Tell me about this. I want to know. I
1:25:54want to know. Tell me about this. I This
1:25:55is this so I'm not going to leave you at
1:25:56all.
1:25:57>> So no, so I was in I I I used to set
1:26:00myself these weird challenges.
1:26:02>> Okay.
1:26:03>> For the longest time. Like one year I
1:26:04decided that this year I'm going to read
1:26:06100 books.
1:26:07>> 100 books?
1:26:07>> Yes.
1:26:08Um or then then I had to learn one new
1:26:12life skill every year. So swimming
1:26:14happened much later, I think. I was 31
1:26:18when I learned swimming.
1:26:19Um but uh yes, when my daughter was born
1:26:23I thought I'd learn driving.
1:26:25Um and initially
1:26:27I thought I'd learn it from people at
1:26:29home and it didn't work out because we
1:26:31ended up arguing all the time.
1:26:32>> Ghar pe toh you can't
1:26:34>> So but after she was born, um it took me
1:26:3715 days uh and I I just signed up for a
1:26:41course.
1:26:41>> Okay.
1:26:43I What was the motivation behind
1:26:44learning how to drive after she was
1:26:45born?
1:26:46>> Uh
1:26:48I could have done it earlier, but I
1:26:49never thought about it. But uh but after
1:26:52she was born I thought I thought that it
1:26:53will give me more flexibility for me to
1:26:55drop her to her grandmom's place. We
1:26:58weren't living together then and
1:27:00>> I rate it as a life skill, by the way.
1:27:01>> It is a life skill.
1:27:02>> So driving, cooking and I did a reel on
1:27:04it and which was loved by so many
1:27:06people. So driving, cooking and
1:27:08swimming.
1:27:08>> Three things.
1:27:09>> Yeah, so I can do all three. I'm very
1:27:11happy to share.
1:27:12>> Happy to hear that.
1:27:13>> And then it opened so much like I could
1:27:15go shopping and not worry about
1:27:17>> Okay.
1:27:17>> someone else with me. Like I could just
1:27:19>> You did your schooling from Shimla?
1:27:22>> Yes, part of it.
1:27:23>> Part of it.
1:27:24Uh you when you were at work, you would
1:27:27um even while you were living alone, you
1:27:29would carry your lunch and your fruit,
1:27:30etc.
1:27:31>> Yes.
1:27:32Yes.
1:27:33>> [laughter]
1:27:33>> I Like I said, I'm big on home food. I
1:27:35used to cook and bring all the food.
1:27:37>> Yeah?
1:27:37>> Yes.
1:27:38>> You keep to yourself and are reserved to
1:27:42an extent.
1:27:43>> Yes.
1:27:44To a large extent.
1:27:45>> To a large extent.
1:27:46Okay.
1:27:47Uh
1:27:48you love to read, which you've just
1:27:49mentioned so many times that you are a
1:27:51complete bookworm and you love to read.
1:27:53What are you reading um of late?
1:27:56>> Creativity Inc.
1:27:58>> Creativity Inc.
1:27:59>> Yeah.
1:28:00>> Okay.
1:28:00>> that's what the book is called. It's
1:28:01about uh it's about Pixar.
1:28:04And um the culture and the coming
1:28:06together of the company and it's just a
1:28:08You know, I was reading a bunch of
1:28:09things is
1:28:12people who've
1:28:13become big business owners. And I told
1:28:16someone in my team that it seems that uh
1:28:19they're all
1:28:21not well-behaved people. They all yell
1:28:23at others. They're all a little
1:28:25unhinged. Um and maybe this is a
1:28:27requirement.
1:28:29So, I think my team got worried and they
1:28:31gifted me books about uh team leaders
1:28:33who are who are emotionally well-rounded
1:28:35individuals and can still do great work.
1:28:38So, one of it was was this. And it's
1:28:40it's it's a very good book.
1:28:41>> Okay. Um you call your mom before every
1:28:45big show.
1:28:47>> Every show.
1:28:48>> Every show?
1:28:48>> Every day before I go on air because
1:28:51yeah, I call her.
1:28:53>> What do you say to her?
1:28:54>> I I have that's that's my time. Like
1:28:56after I've written everything and that's
1:28:58the time when uh we have video call
1:29:01>> Video call?
1:29:02>> Yes, after 8:30 because she likes to see
1:29:04what I'm wearing.
1:29:06>> [laughter]
1:29:06>> But otherwise, she wants to know what
1:29:08I've eaten, how my day has been, and
1:29:11um so it's a and yeah, so it's a bit of
1:29:14a family call. My brother's also usually
1:29:15free around that time. So, whoever is
1:29:17free sort of joins.
1:29:18>> Okay.
1:29:19Um you never lose your cool and you
1:29:22don't get angry.
1:29:27That's 50/50?
1:29:28>> 50/50. How do you lose your cool?
1:29:30Like what is your angry face?
1:29:32>> [laughter]
1:29:32>> Make an angry face for me, Palak.
1:29:33>> I can't.
1:29:34>> Please.
1:29:34>> No.
1:29:35>> Why?
1:29:36>> No, no.
1:29:36>> I want to know what your angry face
1:29:37looks like.
1:29:38>> I have an angry face.
1:29:38>> You have an angry face?
1:29:40>> Of course, I'm sure I do.
1:29:41>> [laughter]
1:29:44>> So, how much of that statement is true?
1:29:46>> I do lose my cool, but um
1:29:48I usually don't I I don't like insulting
1:29:50people. I don't like yelling at people.
1:29:52>> Okay.
1:29:54And the last one is that you love to
1:29:55shop.
1:29:56>> Absolutely.
1:29:57>> Oh my god.
1:29:58>> Absolutely. Like
1:30:00>> What is the last thing that you bought?
1:30:02>> Uh uh
1:30:04Where do I start?
1:30:06I don't know. I keep shopping. I don't
1:30:07even remember. I I
1:30:10I shop quite a lot.
1:30:11I think I bought a lot of clothes.
1:30:14I went for lunch somewhere and then I
1:30:17I was in Khan Market.
1:30:19One thing led to the other.
1:30:20>> Okay. We'll do quick takes with you now,
1:30:22Palki, and um
1:30:24do you think it is tougher for a woman
1:30:27in journalism?
1:30:29>> No.
1:30:31>> One stereotype about successful women
1:30:33that you wish would disappear.
1:30:39>> That they have a godfather.
1:30:43>> That they have a godfather?
1:30:44>> Yeah. That they have somebody supporting
1:30:46them. Like, they couldn't have done it
1:30:47by themselves.
1:30:48>> Okay. One thing people assume about you
1:30:51that is completely wrong.
1:30:55>> That I'm always talking geopolitics.
1:30:58>> She has not spoken about geopolitics at
1:30:59all.
1:30:59>> At all. Yes.
1:31:00>> We've had such a fabulous conversation.
1:31:03Uh one What is something that you are
1:31:05surprisingly bad at?
1:31:07Bad at?
1:31:09>> Tech.
1:31:09>> Tech?
1:31:10>> I I struggle to take a printout.
1:31:13>> Uh biggest professional setback that
1:31:15changed you?
1:31:18>> When I
1:31:20left CNN-IBN and I thought I'll I'll
1:31:23do a sari business.
1:31:25>> Sari business?
1:31:26>> It did not take off at all. Such a
1:31:29But it taught me so much.
1:31:31I did it for barely 6 months. I got out
1:31:34of it very quickly.
1:31:35>> Okay.
1:31:36>> Yeah, it it just
1:31:38it was a it was a life-changing
1:31:39experience.
1:31:41>> What criticism still gets under your
1:31:43skin?
1:31:48Nothing of that sort?
1:31:49>> No. I mean, I No. I
1:31:52I have I have seen everything, I think,
1:31:54in terms of criticism. So, no.
1:31:58>> Um I think everything has been thrown at
1:31:59you.
1:32:00>> fair, then I'll work on it. Yeah, very
1:32:02good at taking feedback.
1:32:03>> Yeah.
1:32:04>> But otherwise, I'm
1:32:05not going to bother.
1:32:06>> Okay.
1:32:08Um
1:32:08what would a 20-year-old Balki think if
1:32:10she saw you today?
1:32:15>> Mm.
1:32:18I hope she's
1:32:20proud of what she sees.
1:32:22Uh but I think
1:32:23um I think she would think that um
1:32:26there's a lot to unlearn.
1:32:28>> A lot to unlearn?
1:32:29>> Yes.
1:32:30I have unlearned so much in the last
1:32:32>> So you do not You're a very porous
1:32:34person then. You like to absorb new
1:32:36things.
1:32:37>> Yeah, I evolve.
1:32:37>> Okay.
1:32:39>> I'm not uh beholden to
1:32:40>> You're open to change.
1:32:41>> Yes.
1:32:42>> Okay.
1:32:43What scares you professionally today,
1:32:44Balki?
1:32:48>> I I think that I have a very strong
1:32:49connect with my audience. Um
1:32:52>> That scares you?
1:32:53>> No. So I I What scares me is um
1:32:58a scenario where I don't understand
1:33:01what they're thinking.
1:33:04Um
1:33:05>> And that can happen because technology
1:33:06is evolving very fast.
1:33:11It's It's It's a beast that we don't
1:33:13quite know how to tame.
1:33:16And so
1:33:17I have built a career on the power of
1:33:20storytelling.
1:33:21And if that's not good enough, then
1:33:23then who are we?
1:33:24>> Okay. Okay.
1:33:26How do you switch off?
1:33:29>> By doing all the things that you
1:33:30mentioned.
1:33:31>> A workout is a great way to switch off.
1:33:33>> Cooking.
1:33:33>> Cooking. Cooking helps me.
1:33:35>> Mm.
1:33:35>> I try to do it
1:33:37almost every day.
1:33:38>> Okay.
1:33:38>> Um
1:33:39reading.
1:33:40>> Just What is one thing that people don't
1:33:42know about Balki Sharma?
1:33:43>> When I'm very emotional or very happy or
1:33:45very sad, then I'm usually speaking in
1:33:48Marwari.
1:33:49>> You're
1:33:49>> speaking in Marwari.
1:33:51>> Speaking in Marwari?
1:33:52>> [laughter]
1:33:53>> That's my
1:33:55uh emotional outlet.
1:33:57>> Balki, I want you to do one thing for me
1:33:59which I think is going to
1:34:01be very very good. I want you to read
1:34:03out this anchor view
1:34:04as a Gen Z has written it.
1:34:07Dear Lord, this is on you now. How you
1:34:09read it and how you bring out the Gen Z
1:34:11element is on you.
1:34:13Okay?
1:34:15So
1:34:15>> [laughter]
1:34:16>> you laugh, you just be yourself. No,
1:34:18actually don't be yourself because
1:34:20otherwise you'll be very serious. LAUGH.
1:34:23>> [laughter]
1:34:24>> JUST LAUGH.
1:34:26GOOD EVENING. BREAKING NEWS tonight from
1:34:28the front lines of domestic diplomacy.
1:34:32A high-level standoff has erupted in the
1:34:33living room after a Gen Alpha refusal to
1:34:36drop the screen. Reports confirm the
1:34:38iPad screen time hit 3 hours triggering
1:34:41an immediate skibidi meltdown.
1:34:43>> [laughter]
1:34:44>> The parent in charge attempted to assert
1:34:46authority only to be branded and I quote
1:34:49totally cringe and strictly el ris el
1:34:52ris. Okay. When questioned about unmade
1:34:55beds and undone homework, the primary
1:34:56suspect looked up and replied, "Chill,
1:34:58Mom. It's not that deep. You're low-key
1:35:00capping." Wow.
1:35:03Efforts to negotiate a peaceful dinner
1:35:04transition have officially flopped. The
1:35:06situation is a stark reminder of how
1:35:08dilulu is the only salulu.
1:35:11Let us analyze the tactical breakdown.
1:35:14Bro, clock it.
1:35:15>> [laughter]
1:35:16>> No, you have to say it like this, Bulky.
1:35:19This This is This I learned
1:35:21>> Yes, this.
1:35:22>> Clock it.
1:35:22>> Yes.
1:35:23>> The suspect was caught in four
1:35:25>> Okay, dodging chores. Who's writing this
1:35:26for you? This is fantastic.
1:35:28>> The parent attempted to issue a counter
1:35:30strike, but the suspect hit them with an
1:35:32immediate side eye and a lol.
1:35:34>> So lol, l o l.
1:35:36>> Lol lol. Okay. At this stage, parental
1:35:38patience has worn paper thin. Now
1:35:40intelligence reports suggest the parent
1:35:42is contemplating a total Wi-Fi blockade.
1:35:45It is a proportionate response. Is it a
1:35:48proportionate response or is dilulu the
1:35:50only salulu when trying to reason with a
1:35:529-year-old?
1:35:54Because from where we sit, managing
1:35:56screen addiction has become every
1:35:58parent's nightmare. Will authority be
1:36:00restored?
1:36:02Damn, you can only watch and let them
1:36:04cook. But bet if bedtime hits without a
1:36:07without a resolution, sanctions will be
1:36:09absolute, no cap.
1:36:11Bet.
1:36:12Bet. They keep saying bet. Bet. Oh.
1:36:14Yeah. I'm Pulkit Sharma. Stay tuned
1:36:16because
1:36:17the phantom tax on your sanity is real.
1:36:20>> Phantom tax.
1:36:21>> Good night from New Delhi. Wow.
1:36:24>> [sighs and gasps]
1:36:24>> Yeah, I wanted you to read this out
1:36:26because I'm hearing this every single
1:36:28day. I'm like, what is with your
1:36:29English? But apparently, do you know
1:36:31that some some of these words have
1:36:32gotten into the dictionary now?
1:36:35I just read on Instagram.
1:36:37>> Yeah, possibly.
1:36:41>> Imagine
1:36:46I've had such a lovely time with you,
1:36:47Pulkit.
1:36:49Like this conversation has been
1:36:50completely insane. It's it's just been
1:36:52It's been so lovely to just
1:36:54sit across you. I get to watch you and
1:36:56to speak to you and
1:36:58you know, to see the kind of person
1:36:59you've
1:37:00evolved into after like what, 13 years?
1:37:0213 years?
1:37:03>> 14 years.
1:37:04>> 13, 14, whatever. Yeah.
1:37:05>> Yeah, at that time we didn't
1:37:09>> [laughter]
1:37:12>> know where life has brought us now.
1:37:13>> Yes, so lovely to be here and thank you
1:37:16for having me on your podcast and this
1:37:17is
1:37:19this is one conversation
1:37:20>> I was really looking forward to
1:37:21especially because I was looking forward
1:37:22to seeing you.
1:37:23>> Yes, I was looking forward to this time
1:37:24and yeah, it's it's great to reconnect.
1:37:27>> I'm so happy that you could come.
1:37:29>> I'm happy I could too and thank you
1:37:31again.

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