You seem to be extremely popular with kids having hosted two shows so far and the third in the offing...
Yes, that’s because at some level, I am still stuck in my childhood. I remember, when I went with my friend and his kid to Disneyland recently, I was more excited than the child (laughs). Jokes aside, kids have a vulnerability to them, which is lacking in adults, who most of the time are selfish in their projections. Most importantly, I treat kids like adults and that works.
What is your new show Teenovators all about?
It’s a sweet show with a noble thought behind it. There are a lot of shows for the little ones, but nothing for smart kids who are innovative and think out-of-the-box. Teenovators on Nat Geo is the hunt for the most innovative kid among the sixteen shortlisted ones with four of them vying to be the best in each episode .
How innovative were you as a kid?
(Laughs) You know what, if I was a little younger I would have been part of the show. I had a completely innovative mind. I used to love eating chocolates, any leftovers, etc. Once me and my friend got hold of a softie ice-cream machine and dissembled it in our quest to find out from where the ice-cream came. In the process we messed it up completely and later turned it into a lamp shade. Of course, after all my hard work, I ended up with beatings from my parents!
Besides veejaying, you were also quite big on spoofing celebrities...
Yes, and it used to be hilarious. In fact, when I was shooting with Abhishek Bachchan for Delhi 6 and spoofed him, he loved it. Even Navjot Singh Siddhu was very happy when I had spoofed him in a show Piddhu The Great. He was so tickled that he expressed a desire to be a part of it. However, Simi Garewal didn’t take kindly to her spoof in The Simi Girebal Show, but I had a blast and we even had a second season of the show. Acutally, I like spoofing everyday people and will soon be doing one show online. I will also be doing a reality show on TV.
What is happening to your career as an actor?
I have already done a few films and am currently reading a few scripts. The problem is that people don’t take a veejay seriously when it comes to acting.
