Cyrus Says

Welcome to Cyrus Says!

On this episode of Cyrus Says, Poonam Pandey joins Cyrus for an unfiltered conversation about her journey, controversies and the viral moments that have defined her public image.

She opens up about how she entered the entertainment industry, recalling a difficult upbringing in the slums and the struggles she faced before making her way into modelling and show business. Poonam reflects on how different her real journey has been from the image people associate with her, and says that the struggle behind her rise has been far more serious than most people know. 
Poonam also addresses the controversial cervical cancer awareness campaign that sparked nationwide debate, explains why she believed the stunt achieved its purpose, and clears up bizarre misinformation about being from Kanpur and even reports claiming she owned a house there. 

She revisits her infamous 2011 Cricket World Cup promise, revealing that she wrote to the BCCI for permission after India won, and talks about growing up in Thane, dealing with public judgement and why she believes society often focuses more on controversy than serious issues. 

Watch the full episode of Cyrus Says for Poonam Pandey like you rarely hear her candid, controversial and completely unfiltered.

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Comedian and entrepreneur Aakash Mehta joins Cyrus Broacha for a chaotic conversation spanning stand-up comedy, marriage, politics, sport and life on tour.

Aakash explains why his comedy has become less angry, how marriage and therapy may have changed his writing, and why audiences now expect more than profanity and easy shock value. He also discusses performing for international audiences, including English-language comedy shows in Norway, and meeting fans who have followed his work across cities and different stages of their lives.

The conversation moves into student protests, political movements, freedom of expression, media accountability and whether young Indians could produce a new generation of political leaders.

Aakash and Cyrus also debate Indian football’s continuing struggles, Ajinkya Rahane’s career, Gautam Gambhir’s coaching role, the impact of the IPL schedule and the need for separate red-ball and white-ball cricket systems.

Along the way, they discuss Spider-Man, Ravi Kishan, Kangana Ranaut, Salman Khan, late-night work, auditorium bookings, terrible financial technology skills and one deeply uncomfortable public-toilet encounter.

Aakash also shares details from his upcoming international comedy tour.

Subscribe, comment and share the episode.

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Actor, theatre artist, writer and performer Gopal Datt joins Cyrus Broacha for a chaotic reunion filled with old stories, friendly insults and theatrical disasters.

Gopal talks about his podcast Pehla Pehla, where guests revisit important first experiences from their lives, and explains why stories of first flights, performances, paycheques and journeys from smaller cities deserve to be remembered.

The conversation also returns to Gopal and Cyrus’s long association on The Week That Wasn’t. They recall improvised sketches, makeup battles, disappearing accents, Kunal Vijaykar’s unique working style and the complete lack of seriousness that made the show memorable.

Gopal also shares stories from Indian theatre: performing for only two people, watching serious scenes get destroyed by accidental stage entrances, getting lost during a performance after drinking and falling onstage while playing Duryodhan. They also discuss his live musical show Jupiter Pe Juice, comedy cricket and his earliest stage and camera experiences.

It is part interview, part roast and part reunion between two longtime collaborators who believe that real friendship includes relentless disrespect.

Subscribe, comment and share the episode with someone who still misses The Week That Wasn’t.

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Welcome to Cyrus Says!

On this episode of Cyrus Says, Tusharr Kumar, CEO of OML, and Preranaa Khatri, CBO of OML, reveal how the company grew from representing independent musicians to becoming a major force across comedy, creators, branded content, production and sports entertainment. They explain what OML looks for in new talent, how artists are discovered and why collaboration between a creator and their manager matters so much.

They also talk about the rise of Indian stand-up comedy, OML’s journey with NH7 Weekender, producing over 70 shows for streaming platforms, Zakir Khan’s international success, the impact of the AIB Roast and how creators such as Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi and Kullu have built loyal communities. The conversation also covers brand collaborations, censorship in comedy, influencer marketing and why social media could change the future of Indian sports content.

Watch the full episode of Cyrus Says for an entertaining look at the business behind India’s biggest comedians, creators and digital entertainment brands.

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Stand-up comedian Punit Pania joins Cyrus Broacha for a chaotic, sharp and deeply funny conversation about political protests, Mumbai life and the everyday absurdities of modern India.

Fresh from attending the protest at Shivaji Park, Punit shares what he witnessed on the ground, how the gathering grew and what happened when the police began detaining participants, including fellow comedians. Cyrus and Punit discuss the importance of dissent, media coverage of protests, political communication, celebrity reactions and the sudden wave of political content across social media.

Naturally, the conversation repeatedly returns to Punit’s true area of expertise: Mumbai’s trains. A delayed AC local and a wasted ₹70 ticket become the starting point for a larger discussion about Indian infrastructure, public transport and political accountability.

The episode also covers Punit’s alleged girlfriend, Gopal Datt’s new podcast, unusual viral marriages, political mattresses, Mumbai restaurant inspections, Indian-Chinese food and a chaotic fact-or-fiction quiz involving dabbawalas, Pepsi, Soviet warships and ladies’ special trains.

Watch till the end for politics, protest stories, train trivia and classic Cyrus Says derailments.

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Shailendra Singh came to talk about his book. Instead, we got Sunburn, YouTube India, Salman Khan’s hair, IPL history and Cyrus trying to find a sponsor somewhere in the wreckage.

Shailendra looks back at the early Sunburn days, including YouTube’s ₹3.25 crore broadcast deal, and explains how the festival helped push live streaming in India before everyone became a creator. The chat then drifts into cricketainment, Lalit Modi, self-help, Bollywood and the urgent question of whether Cyrus can still save his hairline.

Basically, one guest, ten industries and absolutely no chance of staying on topic.

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Welcome to Cyrus Says!

In this episode of Cyrus Says, Farhad Samji joins Cyrus to share his journey from arriving in Mumbai with 350 songs to becoming one of Bollywood’s most recognised writers and directors. He talks about his early struggles, meeting Salman Khan, working with Ram Gopal Varma and Rohit Shetty, writing for Golmaal, Chennai Express and Singham, and the story behind the iconic line “Aata Majhi Satakli.” 

Farhad also opens up about his bond with Johnny Lever, how he writes comedy for big stars, and the pressure of working on popular franchises such as Golmaal, Housefull, Singham, the Rohit Shetty cop universe and Welcome. He also talks about recently working on Welcome to the Jungle and explains why, despite being a director, he still sees himself as a writer first. 

Watch the full episode of Cyrus Says for hilarious stories, Bollywood memories and a behind-the-scenes look at Farhad Samji’s creative journey.

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Akanksha and Shantanu came to discuss sensible things. We put a stop to that immediately.

There’s FIFA possibly protecting Messi, Ram Kapoor versus Kushal Tandon, wedding gossip, weight loss, reality TV and enough incorrect information to comfortably run a news channel.

Nobody learns anything. Cyrus talks too much. Standard episode.

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National Award-winning Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale joins Cyrus Broacha for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about music, career choices, spirituality and sport.

Mahesh shares how growing up around bhajans and classical music in Pune shaped his musical instincts, even as he followed the conventional path of studying engineering. He recalls the emotional encounter during his master’s programme in America that pushed him to reconsider a Silicon Valley career and give music his full attention.

He also talks about supporting himself through teaching, working in Marathi musical theatre, performing in Katyar Kaljat Ghusali and receiving national recognition for his singing.

The episode explores the philosophy behind Mahesh’s Abhangwari concerts and his efforts to connect Indian classical music with younger listeners. From writing bandishes about artificial intelligence and self-driving cars to experimenting with EDM, Mahesh explains why tradition must remain authentic while also finding new spaces in which to be discovered.

Cyrus and Mahesh also discuss football, cricket, Messi, Neymar and the psychology of high-level sport before ending with a classical music quiz and a spontaneous performance.

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Welcome to Cyrus Says!

In this episode, Cyrus sits down with Girish Talwar and Debayan Deb, founder and co-founder of Rebellion Management, for a fascinating conversation about India’s independent music movement, artist management, live events, creator culture, and how entertainment businesses are actually built from the ground up. Girish reflects on his journey from law school and playing bass in Zero to helping shape the indie scene through Only Much Louder(OML), artist management, CDs, music videos, festivals, and eventually some of the biggest shifts in Indian live entertainment. Debayan adds the next-generation lens, sharing how fandom, the internet, and modern creator ecosystems changed the way talent is discovered, built, and monetized.

The conversation moves through the rise of OML, the early independent band circuit, NH7 Weekender, artist communities, Babblefish, branded content, streaming, music economics, Vir Das, creator management, sync licensing, and how Rebellion now works across music, creators, and brand partnerships. It is funny, nostalgic, sharply observant, and full of real industry insight on what it takes to build culture before the market is ready for it. 

This is a great episode for anyone interested in music, entrepreneurship, media, and the business of entertainment in India.

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