Episode 119 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Farhan Akhtar, one of the most versatile talents in Indian cinema. He made his directorial debut with the iconic Dil Chahta Hai and went on to build a successful career as a filmmaker, actor, writer, and singer. From Rock On!! to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan has consistently pushed creative boundaries and left a lasting impact on Indian storytelling.Recording Date: July 31, 2025

00:00 - Intro0:01:06 - Kavi Kehna Chahate Hain Ki..0:10:49 - Farhan on Dil Chahta Hai0:17:16 - Why Sholay Is So Special0:22:32 - ZNMD's Core Emotion0:27:46 - The Story of 120 Bahadurs0:38:14 - Growing Up with an Intellectual Father0:41:56 - What He Likes to Read0:52:07 - Relationship with His Mother0:54:50 - Founding MARD1:02:00 - Men’s Issue with Masculinity1:05:53 - Farhan’s First Heartbreak1:10:12 - Learnings from His Spouse1:20:33 - Being Raised by a Successful Father1:22:33 - Directing Aamir Khan vs Shah Rukh Khan1:23:43 - Advice to the Young Generation1:27:08 - Getting Kicked Out of College1:34:38 - Question for Prakhar

Episode 118 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Viswanathan Anand, one of the greatest chess players of all time. He is a five-time World Champion and was the first Grandmaster from India. His journey has inspired millions and helped make chess popular across the country. Known for his calm mind and sharp thinking, Anand has received many top honours, including the Padma Vibhushan.Beyond the board, Anand is a proud father to 12-year-old Akhil, a prodigious talent in art and mathematics. Akhil has a deep fascination with patterns and often blends his love for both subjects by spotting mathematical beauty in the world around him. He has written a book titled The Heart of Math: A Young Boy’s Passion for Art, Math and Pattern, which showcases his unique way of seeing the world.

This is what we talked about:00:00 - Intro01:06 - Gukesh vs Magnus06:46 - Cheating in Chess

16:22 - Samay’s Impact on Indian Chess

20:15 - Vishy’s Impact on Indian Chess

26:24 - Rating His Juniors

31:58 - Why South India Dominates Chess

33:17 - Arjun vs Gukesh vs Prag

33:34 - Vishy’s Favourite Rivalry

35:48 - Vishy vs Magnus

41:12 - Computers in Chess

48:12 - Kasparov vs Deep Blue

53:16 - How the Mind of a Grandmaster Works

56:19 - Levon vs Vishy (2013)

01:16:20 - Vishy on Mikhail Tal

01:22:05 - Who Was Paul Morphy?

01:24:06 - Can Chess Make You Insane?

01:30:37 - How chess players make money?

01:38:46 - Learning from His Spouse

01:40:26 - What’s Next for Vishy

01:43:28 - Vishy’s Question for Prakhar

Episode 117 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features C. Sivasankaran, a fearless visionary entrepreneur who transformed India’s telecom landscape with Aircel and Sterling Cellular. His latest venture AIWO offers preventive healthcare solutions targeting physical, mental and cellular-level rejuvenation.

Recording Date: July 14, 2025

Episode 116 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Balaji Srinivasan, a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and author known for his influential ideas on technology, decentralization, and the future of society. Based in Silicon Valley, CA, he’s the former CTO of Coinbase, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz-backed startups like 21 Inc., and author of The Network State, a groundbreaking book on building digital-first nations.Recording Date: May 28, 2025

This is what we talked about:00:00 - How Global Power is Shifting?07:16 - The US, China and the Internet 24:00 - How Powerful is China?53:45 - What China is NOT01:00:00 - The Internet Century 01:38:00 - What is Internet Place?01:40:00 - Concept of Network States01:47:10 - How can India Play to Win?02:19:45 - Are Dangers of AI Understated?02:26:54 - The Ignored Global Conspiracy.02:29:33 - The Truth about Human Psychology 02:35:00 - About Network School02:37:35 - Prakhar's Reflections

Episode 114 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Akaash Singh, an Indian-American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster. He’s known for his work on MTV’s Guy Code and Wild ‘N Out, and co-hosts the Flagrant podcast with Andrew Schulz.Recording Date: July 18, 2025

This is what we talked about:00:00 - Virat Kohli's controversy07:28 - Akaash on Andrew Tate 09:48 - His Take on Donald Trump14:44 - Favorite podcasts16:07 - “How can she slap?”18:28 - What he learnt from people 22:00 - Dark side of Fame 25:48 - India’s Got Latent27:28 - His Experience on Joe Rogan's podcast31:10 - Thoughts on Bollywood Movies37:02 - He loves Shah Rukh Khan39:08 - Relationship with his wife41:29 - Is he a People pleaser?46:30 - What is love for him?49:42 - His Relationship with God52:22 - Questions for Prakhar

Episode 113 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Namit Malhotra, Founder of Prime Focus and Global CEO of DNEG - the VFX powerhouse behind global hits like Inception, Interstellar, Dune, Avatar, Oppenheimer, and major Marvel & DC films.

Starting Prime Focus from a garage in Mumbai, Namit has gone on to work with top directors like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. His companies have also shaped Indian cinema - with Prime Focus handling the Digital Intermediate (DI) on Bajirao Mastani, and DNEG contributing to blockbusters like Baahubali.

He is now producing India’s biggest epic - Ramayana, with music by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.Recording Date: July 1, 2025

This is what we talked about:00:00 - Introduction03:50 - His Vision of Ramayana12:50 - The Pressure of Making Ramayana23:44 - Working w/ AR Rahman & Hans Zimmer32:14 - Why India Still Hasn’t Won an Oscar46:44 - Working w/ Christopher Nolan55:44 - Working w/ Denis Villeneuve58:01 - What Does the Future Look Like1:02:46 - Namit's Biggest Fear1:14:39 - Questions for Prakhar

Episode 112 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features India’s top mental health experts in a round table discussion on depression.Dr. Annie BaxiDr. Annie Baxi is a psychologist and academic with over 7 years of teaching experience. She is currently a visiting faculty member at Ashoka University, where she teaches courses such as Qualitative Research Methods and Psychology of Health and Illness. Her research focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of mental health, with a particular emphasis on gender.Dr. Praveen TripathiDr. Praveen Tripathi is a leading psychiatrist, sexologist, and addiction specialist with 17 years of clinical experience. He has worked extensively in the fields of neuropsychiatry and behavioral medicine. Notably, he is one of the few Indian doctors to have cleared the United States Clinical Skills Exam, bringing an international standard to his practice.Dr. Siddharth WarrierDr. Siddharth Warrier is a Mumbai-based neurologist with a passion for science communication. He is widely known for his YouTube channel, where he educates over 400,000 subscribers on topics related to the brain, human behavior, and mental health.Recording Date: February 18, 2025

This is what we talked about:

00:00 - Introduction02:50 - First Experience with Depression08:31 - Is Sadness the Beginning of Depression27:11 - Is Depression a Real Disease33:56 - The Brain Science Behind Depression52:01 - How Society Impacts the Mind1:00:31 - Is Modern Life Making Us Depressed1:04:38 - Can Anger Help You Heal1:12:15 - How Doctors Decide Prescriptions1:14:02 - The Role of Childhood in Depression1:23:00 - How to Identify the Root Cause1:32:35 - Body vs. Mind What’s Really Wrong1:38:57 - The Rise of Antipsychotic Drugs1:42:30 - Experts on Depression and Anxiety1:43:17 - Can Fear Lead to Depression1:49:35 - What Healing with a Psychologist Looks Like2:02:12 - The Limitations of Therapy2:07:00 - Is the Mental Health System Actually Helping2:14:31 - Are We Overdiagnosing Mental Illness2:18:11 - Why People Avoid Psychiatric Medication2:26:30 - Beyond CBT What Else Can Help2:29:16 - What Are ACT and CBT2:30:24 - The Bhagavad Gita and Mental Health2:34:44 - How CBT Actually Works2:45:13 - Can Psychedelics Treat Depression

Episode 111 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Arjun Vajpai, India’s youngest mountaineer to scale Mt. Everest at the age of 16. Since then, he has climbed some of the world’s most dangerous peaks, including Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Manaslu, and Mt. Makalu, surviving avalanches, extreme altitudes, and multiple near-death experiences.

Recording Date: June 3, 2025

This is what we talked about

0:00 - Intro8:14 - The Psychology of a Mountaineer16:57 - Climbing as a Spiritual Journey26:24 - Scenery from the Peak32:46 - Why South Asian Mountaineers Need a Voice39:23 - Hardest Mountains to Climb50:01 - Why No One Has Ever Climbed Mount Kailash56:09 - India’s Rise in Global Sports1:00:06 - The Real Risks of Mountaineering

Episode 110 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Madan Gowri, one of South India’s top content creators. He has crossed a billion views by explaining difficult topics in a clear and simple way. His videos cover culture, news, and social issues, making him one of the most trusted voices in Indian digital media.Recording Date: May 17, 2025

This is what we talked about:00:00 - Introduction01:07 - Three Things Madan Would Change in India05:09 - The Reality of Indian Media15:17 - How Madan Makes Videos Daily23:39 - How India Can Move Forward28:15 - What Is TFR?30:29 - Language Debate: North vs. South45:54 - Madan’s Influencers50:10 - Caste in India53:53 - Politics and Identity1:01:29 - Success and Failure1:04:59 - ’90s Parents vs. Today’s Kids1:16:32 - Parenting differences in South & North India1:19:56 - Neem Karoli Baba’s Story

Episode 109 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Taksh Gupta. Taksh Gupta is the founder and CEO of IITIIMShaadi.com, a private matchmaking platform for IIT and IIM alumni. He started the company at 19 to offer a more secure, refined, and trusted way for high-achieving individuals to find life partners. The platform provides personalized services, verified profiles, and curated matches for serious, like-minded professionals.Recording Date: June 5, 2025
This is what we talked about:00:00 - Introduction01:31 - The Dark Side of Matrimonial Sites07:31 - Which IIT/IIM Grads Are Most in Demand?10:08 - How Highly Educated People Choose Partners12:07 - What Men and Women Look for in a Partner15:54 - Unrealistic Expectations in Indian Matchmaking22:06 - Family Pressure27:48 - Taksh on True Love35:59 - What Exactly Is IITIIMShaadi.com?38:03 - Why Divorces Are Rising in India41:24 - Building IITIIMShaadi53:51 - Questions for Prakhar