Cyrus Says

IVM Podcasts

Broadcasting through the week with a rotating panel of guests, Cyrus Says is the definitive show on life in urban India, politics, sports, civic sense, traffic, kids, food, and everything that matters. Mostly.

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22 episodes
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Episodes22

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Today · 49 min
Poonam Pandey on Controversy, the 2011 World Cup Promise & Her Viral Cervical Cancer Awareness Stunt | 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Friday · 1 hr 1 min
Comedy, Marriage, Politics and Growing Older | Aakash Mehta | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday · 57 min
Gopal Datt on Theatre Chaos, Pehla Pehla and 17 Years with Cyrus | Pehla Pehla X Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 3 · 57 min
Tusharr Kumar & Preranaa Khatri on OML, India’s Creator Economy and the Future of Entertainment | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 31 · 54 min
Punit Pania Returns for Trains, Politics and Peak Cyrus Says Chaos
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 29 · 1 hr 3 min
Shailendra Singh’s Wildest Stories: Bollywood, Books, Hair and the IPL | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 27 · 53 min
Farhad Samji on Singham, Golmaal, Chennai Express and His Bollywood Journey | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 24 · 1 hr 12 min
Messi, Reality TV and Absolute Nonsense ft. Akanksha & Shantanu | Cock and Bull | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 1 hr 1 min
Music, Spirituality and Sports with Mahesh Kale | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 20 · 1 hr 3 min
Girish Talwar and Debayan Deb on OML, NH7 Weekender, Rebellion and India’s Music Business | Cyrus Says
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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 17 · 57 min
Films, Cricket and Midlife Comedy | Aakash Mehta & Kailashnath Koppikar | Cyrus Says
Most people collect degrees to build a career. Kailashnath Koppikar collected an MBBS, an MBA, film-school experience, jobs in cinema and television, ghostwriting work and then decided to start doing open mics.Naturally, Cyrus is offended on behalf of every Indian parent.Kailashnath and Aakash Mehta joins Cyrus Broacha to discuss his journey from medicine to NFDC, film production, television and stand-up comedy. They also get into Backspace, the importance of doing the unglamorous work, Aakash’s international tour and the strange economics of performing comedy abroad.The conversation then behaves like every Cyrus Says episode should: Christopher Nolan eating at Olympia, alcohol becoming a vaccine, unsuccessful fishing trips, Bollywood feuds, cricket fans, Rajinikanth in Japan, ancient Egyptian gold tongues and current affairs solved with absolutely no responsibility.Come for the career advice. Stay because nobody remembers what the original topic was. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 15 · 59 min
Venom, Cobras and India’s Snakebite Problem | Sumanth Bindhumadhav | Cyrus Says
Why are Indians so afraid of snakes and how much of what we believe is completely wrong? On this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus Broacha speaks with animal welfare and snake conservation advocate Sumanth Bindhumadhav about snake behaviour, snakebite prevention and the misinformation surrounding reptiles in India. Sumanth explains the difference between venomous and poisonous animals, introduces India’s “Big Four” medically significant snakes and reveals why a cobra’s hood is usually a sign of fear, not aggression. He also shares the correct response to a snakebite, including why cutting the wound, sucking out venom or tying a tourniquet can make things worse. The conversation explores India’s snakebite public health crisis, the lack of research and effective antivenom, dangerous advice still appearing in textbooks, unethical snake relocation and the role cinema has played in spreading animal myths. Along the way, expect stories about a 12-foot king cobra, a five-star hotel’s bizarre snake-catching scam, elephant conservation, Bangalore traffic, weight training and Cyrus asking questions nobody else would dare ask. Watch the full episode and share it with someone who still says “poisonous snake.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 13 · 56 min
Vaibhav Tatwawadi on The Titan Story, Theatre, Engineering, Marathi Cinema and Hindi Films | Cyrus Says
Welcome to Cyrus Says! In this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus sits down with Vaibhav Tatwawadi for a warm, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about theatre, engineering, acting, language, discipline, and the long road to finding success on your own terms. From growing up in Nagpur and choosing Pune over Mumbai, to discovering that badminton gave him applause but theatre gave him purpose, Vaibhav opens up about how he slowly built himself as an actor through inter-college drama, FTII projects, Marathi cinema, and eventually Hindi films. The conversation also dives into Vaibhav’s journey through COEP, his backup plan of becoming a professor, the realities of coming from a non-metro city, and how confidence, craft, and patience shaped his career. He speaks about working with Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Naseeruddin Shah, and the emotional impact of The Titan Story, which connected with audiences far beyond just performance because of the brand’s deep nostalgia and emotional place in Indian life. This is a thoughtful and highly engaging episode about passion, preparation, humility, and the kind of success that comes from staying rooted while growing across industries and languages. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 10 · 57 min
Ronaldo, World Cup Drama & India’s Football Problem | Shamik Chakrabarti | Cyrus Says
Comedian Shamik Chakrabarti joins Cyrus Broacha on Cyrus Says for a chaotic, football-heavy episode packed with World Cup takes, comedy tangents, pop culture jokes, and classic Cyrus-style derailments. The conversation kicks off with Shamik’s UK and Europe comedy tour dates before moving into Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible final World Cup, Messi comparisons, Portugal’s struggles, Spain’s defensive football, and why France may be the team to beat. Cyrus and Shamik also discuss India’s complicated relationship with football, smaller nations qualifying for the World Cup, and why hydration breaks might be ruining the rhythm of the game. Beyond football, the episode jumps into SRK’s Knight Riders building a cricket stadium in Los Angeles, cricket at the Olympics, Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3/Punjab censorship debate, a Spider-Man sighting in flooded Maharashtra, Trump and Meloni memes, AI humanoid robots built for love, and a rapid-fire quiz on football, YouTube, Netflix comedy, and George Carlin. Expect sports banter, political jokes, Bollywood references, stand-up comedy plugs, and plenty of absurd Cyrus Says energy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 8 · 59 min
Toxicity, Homeopathy, AI & Living Longer | Dr. Batra | Cyrus Says
In this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus Broacha sits down with Dr. Mukesh Batra, Padma Shri recipient, homeopathy pioneer, entrepreneur, author, and the man responsible for making tiny white pills a national emotion. Dr. Batra is here to talk about his new book Toxic: Stories, Science and Remedies for a Cleaner Mind, Body and Spirit, but because this is Cyrus Says, the conversation naturally goes from pollution, immunity, AI in healthcare, Google doctors, antibiotic resistance and mental toxicity to marriage, hair loss, toilet-seat politics, and whether Cyrus can be medically fixed at this point. It’s a fun, easy, deeply informative and mildly unhinged chat about living in a toxic world physically, mentally, digitally and spiritually with Dr. Batra bringing the wisdom and Cyrus bringing the nonsense. Watch till the end for health advice, life lessons, and absolutely no guarantee that Cyrus will follow any of them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 6 · 1 hr 4 min
Pooja Bhatt on Bigg Boss, Stardom, Sobriety, Family, Comebacks and Life in Cinema | Cyrus Says
Welcome to Cyrus Says! In this episode, Cyrus sits down with Pooja Bhatt for a candid, funny, and deeply personal conversation that moves from their unforgettable Bigg Boss journey to her life in cinema, family, fame, failure, reinvention, and survival. What begins as a nostalgic look back at shared bathroom duties, food fights, sleep deprivation, and the madness of reality TV slowly opens up into a much bigger conversation about what it really means to endure pressure in public and still keep your sense of self. Pooja speaks with rare honesty about growing up in the Bhatt household, being pushed into acting at 17, saying no to Aashiqui, finding her own path with films like 'Daddy', 'Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin', 'Tamanna', and 'Zakhm', and eventually stepping away from acting for over two decades before making a comeback on her own terms. She also opens up about ageing, menopause, addiction, sobriety, showbiz, marriage, tattoos, survival, and why stardom was never the goal, but substance always was. This is a warm, unfiltered, and surprisingly moving episode about resilience, reinvention, and not taking yourself too seriously while living through extraordinary chapters of life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 3 · 57 min
Abbas Momin & Urjita Wani React to Week's Craziest Headlines | Cyrus Says | Cock and Bull
Abbas' Twitter account gets hacked! This week on Cock & Bull, Cyrus Broacha is joined by comedians Abbas Momin and Urjita Wani to react to some of the week's strangest headlines. The conversation begins with Abbas explaining how his X (Twitter) account was hacked before the gang dives into bizarre stories including a real-life Batman catching criminals in Mexico, the Mirzapur movie announcement, football, Shah Rukh Khan's kindness, viral courtroom moments, award certificate spelling mistakes, Malayalam cinema and much more. Expect plenty of tangents, roasting, pop culture references and classic Cock & Bull banter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 1 · 1 hr 4 min
MTV, Playback Singing & Bollywood Memories | Shaan On Cyrus Says
Welcome to Cyrus Says. Playback legend Shaan drops by for what was supposed to be a conversation about music, MTV, Bollywood, playback singing, and three decades of surviving the entertainment industry. Instead, Cyrus and the gang spend an alarming amount of time debating whether a crow can be your best friend, whether it's your reincarnated father, and whether pizza is an acceptable bird diet. Once everyone (sort of) regains composure, Shaan takes us through the golden age of MTV, the birth of Indipop, how Shantanu Mukherjee mysteriously became Shaan, unforgettable stories about Biddu, Bappi Lahiri, Sonu Nigam, touring across India, music royalties, mimicry, and why being famous doesn't stop random people from requesting the same song you literally just sang. Expect nostalgia, absolute nonsense, music history, inside Bollywood stories, terrible jokes that somehow get worse with age (much like Cyrus), and two old friends reminding each other why the 90s should never have been documented. Featuring: 🎙️ Shaan (Shantanu Mukherjee) – Playback singer, television host, composer and one of India's most loved voices. Warning: No crows were harmed during this recording. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 29 · 53 min
Agu Stanley on Nigeria, India, Hindi, Internet Fame, Relationships & Hustle | Cyrus Says
Welcome to Cyrus Says! In this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus sits down with Agu Stanley for a hilarious, unpredictable, and surprisingly layered conversation about moving from Nigeria to India, learning Hindi in Lucknow, studying pharmacy, content creation, internet fame, cultural identity, and life between two worlds. What starts as a chat about Agu’s name, languages, physique, and viral presence quickly turns into a wild ride through Nigerian politics, Indian racism, Gurgaon relationships, arranged marriage pressure, Bollywood ads, basketball, boxing, nightlife, and why surviving in India and Nigeria both require serious hustle. The episode also explores Agu’s rise from pharmacy student to multilingual creator to actor, with stories about Lucknow, hostel life, a major breakup, learning Hindi through friendship, doing ads with stars, moving into films, and navigating the absurdity of public attention. With Cyrus constantly derailing the conversation into sports, culture, class, race, and relationships, this becomes a funny but revealing episode about identity, ambition, and what it means to belong in more than one place at once. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 26 · 1 hr 1 min
Mumbai Problems, Football Debates & Comedy | Punit Pania | Kautuk Srivastava | Cyrus Says
This week on Cyrus Says: Cock & Bull, Cyrus Broacha is joined by comedians Punit Pania and Kautuk Srivastava for an hour of hilarious conversations that go absolutely everywhere. From Mumbai's confusing roads and airport signboards to gym etiquette, civic sense, football fandom, Ronaldo vs Messi, the FIFA World Cup, cricket, politics and everyday Indian habits nothing is off limits. Expect plenty of jokes, wild observations and classic Cock & Bull banter as the trio turn everyday situations into comedy. If you enjoy unscripted conversations, stand-up comics and topical humour, this episode is for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.