Kartik Aaryan, Javed Akhtar, Bhuvan Bam- Nikhil Taneja Reveals His FAV Interview On Be A Man Yaar- EXCLUSIVE

Be A Man Yaar, India's first masculinity-positive show, has received a great response from the audience. Several celebrities including Kartik Aaryan, Javed Aktar, Nakuul Mehta and Bhuvan Bam have shared revelations and anecdotes during the fun-filled interviews with Nikil Taneja.

At Filmibeat, we strongly believe in bringing stories of artists, filmmakers, hosts and singers, who have contributed to the field of art in their own way. As we interacted with Nikhil Taneja about his show, the interviewer became the guest, spilling secrets from his chats with leading celebrities.

Here are excerpts from the interview-

1. Nikhil, 'Be A Man Yaar!' is being acclaimed as India's first masculinity positive show. What do you think sets it apart from other discussions about masculinity in India?

-In a world where we are seeing the rise in conversations around macho, alpha or toxic masculinity, we have tried to provide an alternative conversation. We have attempted to show that there is also space, alongside hypermasculine pop culture portrayals, for a positive, intentional, kinder and gentler masculinity. The conversations on the show are intended to spark conversations offline. So we don't just look at ourselves as a chat show, but hopefully as a starting point to a larger discussion about positive masculinity.

2. In a society where men are often expected to suppress their emotions, how do you approach the topic of vulnerability on your show? What impact do you hope it has on your viewers?

I love this question because it's so important for me to hold space for the guests on the show and be as empathetic as I can in the way I host the conversation. I don't see myself as a journalist or interviewer of a non-fiction show when I'm having a conversation. I almost think of it as two human beings, having an honest, raw, candid, vulnerable conversation about their lives and the stories that led them to being who they are.

For me, this show is the equivalent of a 3 am late-night conversation with a close friend, where you create a safe space to express yourself without the fear of judgment. So during the chat, I also share some stories, anecdotes, feelings and thoughts that I have on the themes we are speaking of because it is only fair that we are both being vulnerable, and we are in this together. The hope is to make the guest, myself and everyone watching feel a little less lonely because they will feel more seen, heard and represented in the stories of the guests.

3. You've featured many personal stories on 'Be A Man Yaar!'. Can you share a particularly powerful story that resonated with you the most?

I don't think any episode has come to the raw honesty of our episode with Bhuvan Bam. It's also the most watched episode of Be A Man Yaar, with 1 million views (and counting) in just 10 days, because it is the most deeply personal episode of the series. In the episode, Bhuvan shared the story of growing up with his father, who suffered from an alcohol addiction. He opened up about how that affected his growing up years, how it affected his family, how it inspired him to create a life for himself where he could break out of that 'curse'.

To be a star at the level of Bhuvan Bam where he's possibly one of the most loved men in our country, and to be able to be so truthful, so authentic, so deeply vulnerable, is not something that most people would be able to do. I think Bhuvan opening up will deeply impact so many young people whose families are going through the same struggle. I'm so grateful to him for trusting me and the show with his story.

4. What was the pivotal moment or experience that inspired you to create 'Be A Man Yaar!'? Was there a personal journey or observation that prompted you to start this show?

I was diagnosed with clinical anxiety 8 years ago. I was at the peak of my career at that time, I was GM at YRF and had produced 4 of the first 10 web series made in India, which were all runaway hits. And yet, I went through a phase of panic attacks, breakdowns and severe, debilitating anxiety. Up until that point, I used to think mental health issues happened when you were going through a bleak period in your life. But my anxiety started when I was doing well.

It took me a long time to overcome the stigma of going to a therapist. Over many months of therapy, I realised that a lot of my anxiety came from the conditioning I had as a man. To earn a certain kind of money, to be a 'provider', to have a certain kind of designation, and to hit certain milestones at specific ages. I was anxious because I was living a life burdened by the social conditioning that comes from being a man. Since then, I've been speaking about it a lot, and many, many men, of all ages have reached out to me to say how much they resonate with my story. That was the germ of the idea, to be able to create a show where we can have many more such stories of men, who are happy to open up about their lives.

5. Have you faced any resistance or challenges while promoting a show that focuses on positive masculinity and men's vulnerabilities, if yes, how have you navigated those challenges?

Not at all, in fact, it's been the most wholesome, heartwarming thing to see how quickly, warmly and wholeheartedly the audience, the media, and so many people of all genders have accepted the show. The success and love that the show has received have been overwhelming, and I'm so grateful because it shows there is a space, desire and necessity for conversations like this. I hope the support continues for as long as the show goes on - but beyond that, I hope people use the show as a way to have these conversations with the men in their own lives.

6. What messages do you hope the younger generation takes away from the show?

I think if at all there is a message to the show outside of the fact that men can cry, express, be vulnerable or be gentle, it is how, in a world where everyone has something to say, we need more people to listen. In the world of chat shows and podcasts, I've also found many people who love talking, and very, very few who actually like listening. This show tries to listen. And I feel like we all need to do that more. The 'yaar' in the title means being a friend and all of us can be better friends to the people around us if we listen with love and intent.

7. Hosting a show like 'Be A Man Yaar!' must have been a journey of personal growth for you as well. What have you learned about yourself and masculinity through this process?

More than learning, I think this process has reaffirmed to me the idea that empathetic spaces matter to people (including me!) both online and offline. While I was trying to create these spaces for others, it has also helped me recognize how much I need it too. My attempt after the show has been to have many, many more such conversations offline with my friends and the people I love, where I can speak too. In fact, one of my favourite days between season 1 and season 2 was when three of my friends and guests from season 1, Nakuul Mehta, Amol Parashar and Naveen Kasturia, and I, had an epic 6-7 hour long all-night talk therapy session! Need to do more of them soon!

8. Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of masculine positivity in India And most importantly, how do you see your show evolving to continue addressing these important topics?

I hope we go from being the first and only chat show on positive masculinity to being one of many. There is a big need for a movement away from angry, toxic or volatile hypermasculinities, particularly ones that are anti-women, anti-marginalized communities and anti-empathy. And for that, we need both accountability from us men about the privileges and power we occupy, and at the same time, a conversation on how we can use them to create alternate, more empathetic spaces.

I really hope that 'Be A Man, Yaar!' sparks many, many more conversations on this issue among all people, everywhere in India. We hope to have many more seasons of the show and hope someday to be able to franchise the show in multiple languages. I also want to evolve the format of the show to include women as duos with men: mother and son, sister and brother, husband and wife, father and daughter, so we can explore masculinity from the lens of women as well. I'd also like to explore masculinity from the lens of the intersectionality of caste, gender and sexuality. Most importantly, I hope this show is able to create supportive communities offline because that's the primary goal.

9. You have interviewed several prominent Bollywood celebs including Kartik Aaryan? Who has been your most favourite to interview? How would you describe the experience?

I love every conversation on the show, but having the opportunity to speak with Naseeruddin Shah sir and Javed Akhtar Saab, is a privilege that I'll be grateful for always! From managing to convince these legends to actually spending a few hours with them and listening to anecdotes from their lives was a singular joy, and I still can't believe I got to do that! The other two conversations I cherish are the ones with Nakuul Mehta and Bhuvan Bam because they were the most personal conversations I have had not just on the show but in my life so far. So grateful to every guest on the show.