Raghu Ram Makes Rare Comment About Leaving Roadies: ‘We Were Told To Scream At People…’ – News18

Last Updated:November 28, 2024, 21:28 IST

Reflecting on his tenure, Raghu Ram explained how his on-screen persona wasn’t a calculated move to gain popularity.

Raghu Ram, once synonymous with MTV’s Roadies, has shed light on why he and his brother Rajiv Laxman chose to step away from the show that made them household names. Known for his fiery demeanour and sharp interactions with contestants, Raghu became an iconic figure in reality TV. However, behind the scenes, his departure was fuelled by mounting creative interference and an increasing demand for drama. Raghu quit Roadies in 2014 after 11 years of being one of the main judges on the show.

“As you grow bigger, you feel the pressure to cater,” Raghu shared. “I felt it, that’s why I left Roadies. Rajiv and I walked off because there was too much interference. We were told to scream at people. It’s either that, or you have to dance to their tune. It’s a good problem because you are a success, but now you are no longer you. You belong to them.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Raghu explained how his on-screen persona wasn’t a calculated move to gain popularity but rather an authentic expression of his inner turmoil. “I was going through a f****d up time where that guy (the Raghu on Roadies) was an extreme expression of my rage and relationship with society, with God, and with the concept that I felt I was lied to by the society,” he explained. “It connected because I was honest… it didn’t come out because I thought it would work. There was no case study that would tell me that it would work.”

Raghu’s take on the current state of Roadies is clear—he feels it has strayed too far from its roots. “If you look at Roadies now, it is what they wanted to make. It’s not what I wanted to make,” he remarked. Despite his criticism, Raghu refrains from dismissing the efforts of the current creators. “I don’t want to call Roadies dishonest. I think they are doing a great job and they are doing what they want to do, that’s fine. I just wish they found their own personality because I think that’s much more interesting than trying to do things that you think work.”