Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Revenue Documents at Your Doorstep: BJP govt ensures you don’t run from pillar to post anymore

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Bengaluru:

The BJP government in Karnataka launched the Revenue Documents at Your Doorstep programme. Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai while speaking at an event in Chikkaballapur said that it was a pity that people were made to run from pillar to post to get basic documents like the caste certificate and RTC. Revenue Minister, R Ashok formulated this novel programme to end the plight of the poor, he also said.

Bommai also said that the most significant work done by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is that he created awareness among the people about their rights.

This dream programme of Bommai and Ashok was also launched in Kodagu district, where it has always been a nightmare to get property documents done. The programme attended by Kodagu MLA, K G Bopaiah and MLC, Suja Kushalappa was launched at Kavadi Village, Karmad Panchayat, Ammathi Hobli, Virajpet Taluk.

While launching the programme the BJP government assured that the revenue documents will be handed over at doorstep of the respective owners. The event was attended by the Tahsildar, Revenue Inspector and Revenue Department officials also.

Bopaiah, while speaking at the event said that this programme has been launched keeping the plight of the citizens in mind. They no longer have to run from office to office and waste time at revenue department offices. We have taken interest in delivering documents at your doorstep, he also said.

Documents such as the RTC, Income and Birth Certificates and Caste Certificates, survey maps will be delivered at your doorstep, Bopaiah also said. He explained that an application with 22 point checklist will be provided and the owners of the land will have to fill it up, following which the revenue department official will collect it at your doorstep. The MLA also assured that the corrections in the documents will be done at the earliest. There is no longer a need to stand in queues and run from pillar to post and office to office, he also added.

He said that the main issue that people were facing is the deletion of the pattedara’s (family head) name from the RTC (pauthi khatha). This new programme will ease out that process also, he assured.

Bopaiah however added that this programme is not an election gimmick, but has been introduced only with the view of easing the pain of and helping the people of the state.

MLC, Suja Kushalappa speaking at the event said that this is one of the best measures taken by any government in recent times. He said that the Revenue Documents at Your Doorstep programme is like a balm for the people who have been facing pain all these years.

Kushalappa assured that this programme would be a complete success and generations to come will thank the BJP government for this novel gesture. He said that he would ensure that the programme is a complete success and would personally oversee it in case anyone faces any difficulty.

source: http://www.oneindia.com / OneIndia / Home> News> Bengaluru / by OneIndia Correspondent / March 14th, 2022

Bird-watching begins in Madikeri on April 8

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Sports, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), World Opinion

After being deferred in January, the eighth edition of the Karnataka Bird Festival will be held in Madikeri from April 8-10, 2022.

Image used for representational purpose only. (Photo | Express)

Bengaluru :

After being deferred in January, the eighth edition of the Karnataka Bird Festival will be held in Madikeri from April 8-10, 2022.

The festival, organised by the Karnataka forest department and Karnataka Eco-Tourism Development Board, aims to draw attention of people to bird watching, spark interest among young wildlife enthusiasts, show people the bio-diversity of forests, and shift their focus from tiger-centric wildlife safari and tourism. 

“Every year a different location, region, bio-diversity, and a different bird is focused upon to increase awareness and ensure better conservation measures.

This year, the mascot is Baza bird,” a forest department official said. Baza is a migratory bird from the eastern Himalayas, China and South East Asia. Forest officials of the region have reportedly sighted a couple of the birds now, in the onset of summer. 

Kumar Pushkar, additional Principal Conservator of Forests and CEO of the Board told TNIE that the festival was postponed because of spike in Covid-19 cases. “We always wanted to host one is Kodagu because of its bio-diversity and the many species which can be sighted there. Baza was chosen because it is sighted in winters in this region.

There will be around six to seven different trails, which the deputy conservator of forest is finalising. The event will also cover Madikeri city, and will be inaugurated by forests minister Umesh V Katti,” he said. Experts from across the country will be brought to share their experience, knowledge. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Bosky Khanna, Express News Service / March 14th, 2022

Back to ‘school’ in Coorg to learn about the German connect – An unforgettable drive in Volkswagen Taigun

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

The board that greeted us at the end of our 200km-odd journey from the heart of Bengaluru said School Estate. But that wasn’t our final destination, is what we realised soon. That would be School Thota, a division of School Estate, and a few hundred metres into the estate, we saw a smaller board directing us to it.

Thota roughly translates to garden in the local Kannada language. Of course, like many other places around India, there is a local language (not dialect) just for Coorg too. There are many further distinctions and groups within locals here, such as Kodavas, to which the family that owns School Thota belongs. Surely, there are many equally beautiful plantations and homestays in Coorg. But what caught our fancy on this particular drive of Volkswagen’s impressive new Taigun is the story of a German reverend who is associated with the early history of this place, including the reason why it ended up being called School Estate.

Georg Richter was the principal of a local Mercara High School. He was instrumental in mobilising local leaders in the field of education. Under his guidance, they came together and collected money to purchase around 350 acres of land for Rs 3000 back – a princely sum back in the 1860s. The aim was to fund the school with yield from the coffee and other plantations, hence the name School Estate. Since Richter was in charge, the house on the property also was built to his liking. While earlier it was only a makeshift place for the occasional visitors, the subsequent owners kept the core structure intact and built a seemingly European-style Indian home first for themselves and now extended to guests interested in soaking in nature and School Thota’s heritage.

Coorg is one of the places that still rely on roads for its connections. The drive from Bengaluru to its centre, Madikeri, is a mix of choc-o-bloc metropolitan roads followed by a busy but reasonably fast Mysore highway that you leave after Srirangapatna for a more picturesque country road interspersed with short stretches of busy towns. It was a mix that helped the versatility of the Taigun shine through. Volkswagen offers this made-for-India SUV in two engine and three gearbox options. While we took what was on paper, the smaller 1.0-litre TSI (114bhp/178Nm) coupled with a six-speed torque converter gearbox revealed the variety of traffic and road conditions. One of the biggest clichés busted was it doesn’t tire under relentless highway driving. A frugal fuel consumption figure meant we could do the entire stretch without a fuel stop en route.

Coorg roads are typically narrow and twisty, and the agile Taigun seemed up for some confident driving. Patches of bad roads were dealt with ease, as the Taigun feels planted on the move, just like its bigger stablemates. The solid German connection is there to see.

Inside School Thota, we had many glimpses of the European connection too. Its current owners – the Aiyappa family, is led by 81-year-old Saraswathi, who runs the show along with her son Kushalappa. Together not only do they manage half of the School Estate (the other half bought by another local family a few generations ago) but also keep the homestay’s heritage intact.

“The doors of this homestay are the original ones,” said Saraswathi Amma. She also pointed out that they were much larger than the entrance door, which was an extension added to the School Thota structure after the Indian family took over. “Typically, Germans are taller, which explains the bigger doors. Moreover, for us, we bend or hunch a bit and enter the house. This is also about showing respect to the house, which is a temple of sorts for us,” she pointed out. Keeping tradition alive is one of the motives of such homestays around Coorg so that you can see many old artefacts and even furniture tastefully retained here. At School Thota, even a European-style fireplace reminds you of the kind of the early occupants of this structure.

Coorg is an extremely ecologically sensitive area, and its locals try hard to maintain the balance between earning from the soil and keeping it sustainable. Plantations are not only home to various kinds of flora and fauna but also the livelihood for many locals. Agriculture in today’s times can be challenging, but families running the show have tried to improvise and keep the fire going in their Indianised versions of the colonial way of life. A few have even managed to hold on to the original way of life, just like a Taigun does by keeping a Volkswagen badge’s core values intact in an SUV that’s completely at home in India. Its Volkswagen genes are unmistakably apparent despite being born and brought up in India.

It took a visit to this place to reiterate and experience this first hand. Lesson learnt by going back to school… auf wiedersehen.

Contributed by Girish Karkera,
Consulting Editor – Times Auto · Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd.

Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Volkswagen by the Times Internet’s Spotlight team.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Spotlight / by Girish Karkera / March 10th, 2022

‘Pushpa-The Rise’ actress Rashmika Mandanna just wore a Kodava style sari, here’s what makes it so special

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

Telugu actress Rashmika Mandanna is making news since the time her last release Pushpa-The Rise became a blockbuster, breaking all records at the box office. The pretty lady is not only a great actress but also a fashionista, who loves wearing statement making clothes. While she has always inspired millennials in experimenting with clothes, her recent sari outing has left one and all impressed, as it revives an old tradition.

Kodava sari
Rashmika picked up a midnight blue georgette sari by designer Nitika Gujral. The beautiful sari featured antique zardozi embroidery. She draped the sari in Coorgi Kodava style. What makes the gesture so special is the fact that Rashmika hails from the Kodava community and wore the drape as a tribute to her ancestors.

The price The dark blue drape is totally made in India and costs INR 77,500.

The accessories
Styled by celebrity stylist Stacey Cardoz, Rashmika finished off her look with chunky oxidised jhumkas and rings.

She looked stunning
We loved Rashmika’s gorgeous blue sari and think it could be your perfect pick for a friend’s wedding or the festive season.

  1. What is a Kodava sari?
    It’s a special sari draping style followed by the Kodava community, which is a ethnolinguistic group from the region of Kodagu (Coorg) in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
  2. What makes it so special?
    The Kodava or Kodagu style of draping features pleats created in the rear, instead of the front. What makes this draping style rather different is the fact that the loose end of the sari is draped back-to-front over the right shoulder, and is pinned to the rest of the sari.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> E Times> News> Lifestyle> Fashion> Style Guide / by TimesofIndia.com / March 09th, 2022

Raj Tarun, Varsha Bollamma’s ‘Stand Up Rahul’ trailer out

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

Hyderabad: 

Starring actors Raj Tarun, Varsha Bollamma, Murali Sharma, Indraja, and Vennela Kishore, the upcoming movie ‘Stand Up Rahul’, has grabbed attention.

The makers of this upcoming Telugu romantic comedy released the trailer, creating much anticipation.

As the trailer divulges the film’s storyline, hero Raj Tarun is established as a young man, who cannot put up with a regular job. The reason given for his inconsistent career path is his sarcasm.

Rahul (Raj Tarun), then decides to take up a job as a stand-up comedian, when his mother (role played by Indraja) is against the idea. Rahul’s father, a role played by Murali Sharma, on the other hand, encourages his son to take up the job, while his role is well-established as a new-age father.

The heroine in ‘Stand Up Rahul’ is established as a dreamer, who meets Rahul, and they start living-in, together. Vennela Kishore’s role seems to have acted in a lengthy role, after quite some time, and his scenes in the trailer amplify the hype.

The stand-up comic scenes imbibed in the trailer cut, seem to be interesting, while it is expected that the family audience will enjoy the movie.

Directed by Santo Mohan Veeranki, is being co-produced by Nandkumar Abbineni and Bharath Maguluri under the banners of Dream Town Productions and HighFive Pictures.
‘Stand Up Rahul’, is slated for its release on March 18.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home / by IANS / March 06th, 2022

On a green path

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), World Opinion

From an abandoned barren land to a green lush private sanctuary, author Pamela Malhotra recounts the transformation.

Bengaluru : 

Pamela Malhotra’s From the Heart of Nature (`599, Penguin Random House) documents the story behind the creation of a private forest sanctuary in India. More than just the struggle, Malhotra also recounts how she connected with animals and trees both at a physical and spiritual level. 

What was the turning point in your life? 

My husband Anil and I shared that love of wildlife and that dream. This realisation initially came while living in the USA in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which is why we established our first small wildlife sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1979. When we came to India in January of 1986, we were quite upset by the deforestation we saw, especially in the Himalayas. We had gone to Haridwar and fell in love with the Himalayas. So, we purchased land in the Uttarkashi region to help reforest that area. 

How did you zero-in on Kodagu?

There were land ceiling laws in the state (then Uttar Pradesh – now Uttarakhand) that limited a family to owning just 12 acres of land. There was not enough land for establishing a forest wildlife sanctuary through reforestation. Also, we had visited Nagarhole National Park in Jan 1986, where the then-Wildlife Warden of the Park urged us to establish our forest wildlife sanctuary in his home district of Kodagu. As a result my husband Anil travelled throughout southern India to see what he could find, finally finding suitable land in Kodagu. Purchasing larger pieces of land was possible here if the land was deemed ‘plantation’ and the purchaser was an agriculturalist which my husband was.

What were the initial struggles that you faced?

Accessing the land. It was almost impossible to bring in any kind of building materials for our home in the beginning due to the poor roads. So, my husband put loads of rocks and other road material into these dirt roads to help give us drivable access which was also a big boon for the local people. Another major challenge was the legal maze encountered in the district since lands were divided into several different categories, often with different rules/laws applying to different categories in terms of purchase and ownership. Acceptance by the local people was also initially a challenge, although the older generation did understand the importance of maintaining forests and not killing off all the wildlife. The most distressing challenges have been illegal logging and poaching of wildlife. 

The sanctuary is spread across 300 acres, what are the kinds of species that are found there?

Hundreds of species have made the sanctuary their full-time home and/or come visit frequently. A short list of species found here includes 100s of species of butterflies and birds including Great Indian Hornbills and Malabar Grey Hornbills, Bengal tiger, Asian leopard, Asian elephant, sloth bear, dhole (Indian wild dog), Gaur (Indian bison), species of deer (sambar, cheetal, muntjac/barking deer) etc. So diverse are the species found here that one Oxford scientist dubbed our sanctuary ‘Noah’s Ark’.

You first purchased the land for the sanctuary in 1992, to create a private sanctuary. How did you decide on writing a book?

I hope to sow the seeds of love of nature in the hearts and minds of all who read the book, and to create a sacred perspective when viewing and dealing with nature.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Monica Monalisa, Express News Service / March 02nd, 2022

Kodava Samaja Mysuru Gets New Team

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

A group photo of Kodava Samaja Mysuru (KSM) Management Committee Members for the year 2021-23

(Sitting from left): Chembanda Nanjamma Pemmaiah, President – Kodagu Sahakara Sangha (KSS), Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah, President – Shri Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha (SKKMS), Appanderanda Tara Somaiah, Joint Secretary – KSM, Mukkatira B. Jeevan, Hon. Secretary – KSM, Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa, President – KSM, Malachira M. Ponnappa, Vice – President – KSM, Machimada P. Nanaiah, Hon. Treasurer – KSM, Kekada M. Belliappa, Chairman, Sree Cauvery Educational Institutions (SCEI) and Kuttimada D. Muthappa, President – Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club; Committee Members – middle row from left: Kalyatanda Meena Ponnappa, Thapanda Latha Nanjunda, Ajjinikanda Manish Pemmaiah, Ponnimada K. Biddappa, Balekuttira M. Poonacha, Pattamada T. Charamana, Kanacherira N. Mohankumar, Kunjiyanda Robin, Chovanda B. Harish, Kotera Revathy Kushalappa and Palachanda Saraswathi Suresh; Standing top row from left: Anjaparavanda T. Chinnappa, Kanjithanda B. Kushalappa, Chottemanda U. Alok Appanna and Sadmudira S. Rashan Bopaiah.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 04th, 2022

Rashmika Mandanna: It is surreal how my life has changed in five years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All
Rashmika Mandanna will be seen next in the Telugu film ‘Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu’

Beyond the starry aura, Rashmika Mandanna declares she is a happy 20-something making memories of a lifetime.

There was a time when a trip to Bengaluru from her hometown Virajpet in Kodagu district was special for actor Rashmika Mandanna. “It was our Paris,” declared Rashmika Mandanna to this writer a few years ago. Today, she is a pan-Indian star straddling Telugu and Hindi cinema and basking in the spotlight after the stupendous success of Pushpa – the Rise. In Hyderabad for her new Telugu film Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu, which releases in theatres on March 4, Rashmika Mandanna says with a hearty laugh: “It feels surreal when I think how my life has changed in the last five years. Hyderabad has nearly become home and I am often travelling to Mumbai and other cities for work.”

Her staff reminds her that she hasn’t had her meal yet, but she insists on this quick conversation first: “It is my responsibility to fulfill my commitments.”

Rashmika Mandanna remembers the time she filmed for the Kannada film Kirik Party as a teenager: “I had no idea about films, camera or acting. I went to the film sets from my college hostel. I am still discovering the real me, but I am becoming comfortable with being in the spotlight.”

At 25, Mandanna has captured the attention of filmgoers in different languages. “A lot of what makes a star, I think, are the choices made off-screen, rather than the on-screen performances. Do I want to workout to look a certain way, how much can I push myself as an actor and what sort of a person I am on and off set… all this matters. The 20s is the time one begins to explore the world, and all that confidence shows on screen.” 

Rashmika Mandanna has been a part of big budget films since the beginning, and her career is further on the rise after Pushpa, but she reckons that every film she has done so far has helped her reach where she is: “Had I not done Kirik Party or Chalo (Telugu), I would not have been chosen for Geeta Govindam. I am conscious that the scripts I choose today will shape who I am tomorrow.”

Currently working on two Hindi films — director Shantanu Bagchi’s spy thriller Mission Majnu co-starring Siddharth Malhotra and director Vikas Bahl’s Goodbye co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, she says, “There are times I am overwhelmed when I think of the big people I am getting to meet and work with. The other day I was telling my mom, ‘do you realise I am an actor?’ I have to remind myself that unless I am in the moment, confident and capable, I cannot do justice to my work.”

Sharwanand and Rashmika Mandanna in ‘Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu’

Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu, written and directed by Kishore Tirumala, is a comedy family drama where Rashmika stars alongside Sharwanand and a line-up of talented female actors including Radhika, Khushboo and Urvashi. “When Kishore sir narrated the story, I was curious about the female actors in these important roles. I couldn’t believe my ears when he reeled off the names. The cast is a huge plus for the film.”

On the sets, Mandanna found herself observing Urvashi, Khushboo and Radhika closely, trying to absorb whatever she could to hone her craft. “Initially I was scared to be in the presence of these talented and beautiful women. Urvashi and Radhika ma’am were together in most scenes and they were incredibly funny. They made everything appear so easy. When Khushbhoo ma’am walked in, I was taken in by her grace and poise. I got to talk to all of them about life, families, pets, how they handled their career… I feel blessed that I have been able to work with them.”

Earlier, Rashmika Mandanna was perceived to be an outsider in Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. She says she has begun to imbibe the best of cultures from different cities and film industries: “Whichever set I enter, for the first few days people think I am pretending to be nice to them. A month later they would tell me that they did not expect me to be so warm. But then, I am a people’s person. If I am going to spend so much time working, I might as well have fun and make memories to cherish.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainmen> Movies / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / March 01st, 2022

INS Shivalik Model, Submarine, Anti-Aircraft Gun At Madikeri

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

New war machines brought to Sunny Side, General K.S. Thimayya Museum

The submarine, INS Shivalik model and the anti-aircraft gun were brought to Madikeri from Visakhapatnam Naval Base in giant many-wheeled trucks and have been placed on the museum campus for a formal handing over and opening.

The formal handing over will take place in Madikeri either in December this year or January 2022. The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy, will arrive in Madikeri and officially hand over the new items to the Deputy Commissioner and they would be open for public display.

Till now, only one ship anchor was on display in the museum and not many of the Indian Navy relics were there. But now with the addition of the INS Shivalik and a submarine being added to the existing attractions, it is a befitting tribute to the celebrated General who is Kodagu’s pride. 

About INS Shivalik

INS Shivalik is designed to escape detection by normal radars and surveillance equipment. Special aerodynamics, equipment and material used in designing and building these ships makes it very difficult to monitor their movements. That’s why they are called ‘stealth frigates.’

With INS Shivalik, India made it to the elite club of eight nations that build stealth warships, adding new fire power and muscle to its Navy. Apart from India, only the US, Russia, UK, France, Sweden, Japan, Italy and China have the capability to build stealth warships of this size and class.

The vessel was ordered in 1999 and saw its keel laid down on July 11, 2001 by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited. As a multi-role warship, the INS Shivalik is fielded with a varying group of armament options to contend with aerial, surface and underwater threats.

Rear Admiral’s contribution

Rear Admiral Ichettira Uthappa, who is a relative of Col. (Retd.) Kandrathanda Subbaiah, the President of Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum, had visited Sunny Side four months back and Subbaiah had drawn the attention of the Rear Admiral to the fact that the museum did not have a warship.

Uthappa promised Subbaiah that he will pursue efforts to bring a warship model to the museum and accordingly, the war machines were brought to Madikeri. Rear Admiral Uthappa interacted with Navy authorities and sanctioned INS Shivalik warship model that is 24-ft in length and a submarine which is 8-ft in length.

Even the anti-aircraft gun that was brought to Madikeri from Visakhapatnam had served the Navy for years and the cost of all the latest additions to the museum is estimated to be Rs. 20 lakh.

According to Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum Convener Major (Retd.) Biddanda Nanjappa, Rear Admiral Uthappa bore the transportation costs of shifting the naval items to Madikeri and in the coming days, a suitable place will be made to accommodate these war machines, he added.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 01st, 2021

Nikhil Chinapa ‘Disappointed’ Over Roadies Format Change: ‘Hope Someone Will Rope in Neha, Rannvijay, Me for Spin-off’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Nikhil Chinapa opens up about not being a part of Roadies. He says that he is disappointed that he won’t be a part of the show this time.

Host-VJ Nikhil Chinapa has been part of Roadies since 2017.

With a change in the format of popular adventure-reality show Roadies, anchor and VJ Nikhil Chinapa has been disheartened that he will no longer be a part of the TV show. So far in Roadies, gang leaders would choose their gang members who would then compete against members of other gangs.

However, the format has been changed now where the show will witness just one host who will be in charge of the journey. Reportedly, the host is said to be Bollywood actor Sonu Sood who will replace current long-serving host Rannvijay Singha.

Dismayed by the change in format, Nikhil Chinapa told ETimes, “I am disappointed that I wouldn’t be a part of Roadies now.” Nikhil acknowledged that the makers of the show have changed the format and thus not only he but none of his colleagues will be a part of it anymore.

Nikhil further said that the gang leaders used to look forward to the show every year and that “it would be great fun.” Talking about his journey in Roadies, Nikhil highlighted that he first entered the show as a contestant and worked his way to become a gang leader and judge too.

Nikhil talked about being an active member of the selection process of Roadies for many years and said that it used to be a challenging journey for him. Nikhil added that the channel wants to bring a fresh perspective by changing the format but he still hopes that he and other gang leaders including Neha Dhupia, Prince Narula, and Rannvijay Singha will be roped in again.

When asked about the new host of the show, Nikhil claimed that the success of the show does not just depend on him but on the contestants too who are responsible for making it entertaining. Notably, Nikhil refrained from comparing Rannvijay and Sonu Sood saying that “it’s like apples and oranges.” He further underlined Rannvijay’s long journey in Roadies and praised his ability to steer the show to success. Meanwhile, he also assured Sonu Sood that he will have a great time hosting the popular show.

Earlier, it was reported that apart from Rannvijay being replaced by Sonu Sood as the new host, other gang leaders including Neha Dhupia, Nikhil Chinapa and Raftaar will also be skipping the new season of Roadies.

source:http://www.eng.bharattimes.co.in / Bharat Times / Home> Bollywood> News / February 25th, 2022