Nikhil Chinnappa to host India's Got Talent

by Guest 29/6/2009, 6:28 pm

Nikhil Chinnappa to host India's Got Talent

Nikhil Chinappa, is going to host brand new reality show India’s Got Talent along with Ayushman Khurana. We caught up with Nikhil, who talked about his part on the show.

What role will you be playing on the show?
Ayushman and I will be the ones bringing out the stories behind the acts and talent. We are not just hosts but we will also act as friends to the contestants. We will encourage them and make them comfortable. Our job is very different from normal reality show hosts. We attended the auditions and would disagree with the judges’ decision most of the time after an act. We would make comments that were mostly incorrect! We bond emotionally with the contestants because, when you see such emotionally charged acts onstage, it triggers emotions.

How do you react when contestants get rejected?
There is lot of disappointment. Sometimes people expect rejection, sometimes they are genuinely disappointed. We have to encourage them by saying that this is not the end of the road. They obviously have passion and talent and they need to continue to pursue it so that they can come back better in the future.

Tell us about the show’s format.
Thousands of people come for auditions. The judges select a few of them, around 194. Then, it is narrowed down to 40 participants before the semifinals happen. There are going to be 5 semifinal rounds with 5 finalists participating in each. The winners will be selected according to the audience’s vote.

Is hosting this show different from hosting shows on MTV?
We enjoy the difference in the language. On MTV, we would use Hinglish or English. Here we will be using Hindi. Our show will be quite formal and very interesting. Further, we do not have to be onstage here. We’ll be talking to the contestants. More than the judges, the hosts will be the ones interacting with the participants.

Before attending the auditions, did you expect to see much talent?
No, I’m actually amazed to see so many talented people. I know India is a big country with lots of different food and languages. So I was thinking, ‘what kind of talent are we looking for?’ I have followed the show internationally and I have seen the acts here. There is a lot of diversity in India. The auditions have been an incredible experience.

What part of the country amazed you the most?
I think that would be Bangalore. I’m from Bangalore.

The show is similar to Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega which is already airing. Do you think it can still attract viewers?
What matters the most is who executes it best. With the kind of production value we have seen on the show and the kind of people we work with, the technicalities are completely different. It is India’s biggest and best talent hunt show.

Will we get to see the judges fight to increase TRPs?
They have different opinions but they are not going to fight with each other for the sake of fighting. If Shekhar (Kapur) says I do not like this act for certain reasons, then Kirronji (Kher) will say she did not like that act because of other reasons. Both the points will be valid. Talent is very subjective and that is why we have three judges and not one.

What is your opinion on showing death defying stunts on TV?
All these issues can be brought down to parenting. You always know what is right and what is wrong if you are brought up properly by your parents. So when someone sees something on TV, they should know it is dangerous. It is very easy for parents to neglect their responsibilities. No programme encourages viewers to try stunts. These shows always outline that the people performing are trained to do stunts and it should not be tried at home.
India’s Got Talent
Nikhil also mentioned that while he was amazed with the talent he saw, there were a few acts that were just intolerable. The winner of will receive Rs. 50 lakhs and a brand new Maruti Ritz.

<LI class=txt_grey type=square>Sonali Joshi/Hill Road Media </LI>

<LI class=txt_grey type=square>Saturday, June 27, 2009</LI>

Nikhil Chinnappa to host India's Got Talent

Nikhil Chinnappa to host India's Got Talent

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