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SPURRED on by the raging success of the first season of the chat show Be A Man Yaar!, former Bahrain resident and creative Nikhil Taneja has released the second season, which encourages conversations on ‘positive masculinity’.
In a double whammy, the series, produced under the banner Yuvaa (‘youth’ in Hindi) – a youth-centric platform founded by Nikhil – has cracked a partnership with an Indian airline, making the show available ‘not just on the ground but up in the skies’ too.
“Our goal with our chat show was always to have a safe space for conversations on positive masculinity online, as well as a catalyst for having these discussions offline,” the 37-year-old entrepreneur told GulfWeekly.
“With our partnership with Vistara and Alpha Pictures, we hope this is just the beginning of having more empathetic and non-judgmental dialogue on gender on every platform and everywhere.”
The new episodes feature an exciting lineup, including popular Bollywood and stage actors, an Olympic sportsman, a celebrity fashion designer, a renowned poet, and more, who share their experiences, touching upon the theme in some form. While the guests are Indians, their stories and underlying messages have universal appeal.
One of the episodes features an engaging conversation between Nikhil and Bollywood actor and heart-throb Kartik Aaryan who shared personal stories that showcased his vulnerability and at the same time a strong sense of security. He touched upon topics from his mum’s illness to his admiration for his female co-stars – in a primarily male-dominated industry.
He was followed by Indian comedian and YouTube personality Bhuvan Bam whose interview has garnered close to 1.3 million views on YouTube and is a ‘gigantic hit’ across other platforms as well.
The show’s first sport guest Rohan Bopanna also features in the latest season. The athletic legend represented India at the Paris Olympics 2024 and, on the show, presents his candid self.
Be A Man, Yaar! features guests from different walks of life, however, their experiences, no matter how diverse, are imbued with the same message – a positive conversation around gender and creating a safe space for men to express themselves – something that appeals to the show’s wide fan base.
“Our goal has always been to gather insights on masculinity from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences.
“(Poet) Javed Akhtar’s episode, for instance, is resonating with audiences of all ages, reminiscent of the acclaim we received with our Season 1 episode featuring (actor) Naseeruddin Shah,” the filmmaker added. Javed’s wisdom has inspired generations and his verses have won Indian hearts across ages worldwide.
Earlier this month, the first ever Yuvaa conclave was staged in the capital city of Delhi, featuring panels and speakers who participated in conversations on burning topics such as gender equality, climate change and artificial intelligence. The trailer of the show’s second season was screened during the event, captivating close to 800 young attendees.
Upcoming episodes will feature iconic fashion designer Manish Malhotra, renowned educator and author Vikas Divyakirti, and Indian pop sensation Prateek Kuhad, among others.
Nikhil grew up in Bahrain with his brother Sagar and their parents Sarita and Pradeep. The Indian School alumni moved to India in 2004 to pursue a degree in engineering. After working in the field, he decided to quit his well-paying job for his first love – journalism – the foundations of which were laid in the kingdom, freelancing for local and regional publications, including popular youth magazine Young Times based in Dubai.
The Bollywood enthusiast and voracious reader currently lives in Mumbai with his wife Daisy but continues to visit his parents who reside in Um Al Hassam.
“We’ve made significant strides in bringing positive masculinity into mainstream conversation with both seasons, and have also engaged directly with young people through roadshows and screenings at colleges nationwide. Our goal for Be A Man, Yaar! is to keep expanding with more prominent guests and eventually make the show global, featuring internationally renowned personalities.
“Yuvaa has always been envisioned as a safe space for young people to discuss important topics like gender, mental health and identity. We will keep working to strengthen our role as an organisation where young people can engage, feel seen, and be heard,” he added.
‘Be A Man, Yaar!’ is available @WeAreYuvaa on YouTube, and on Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple.
