Rupali Ganguli’s Anupamaa is the inspiration point for Delnaaz Irani’s chat show!

The idea of doing a chat show on YouTube came to Delnaaz Irani when India was in lockdown last year. After much research and discussion, the actor decided to have women achievers from all walks of life on her show.

“I didn’t want to do any of those typical run-of-the-mill shows. Percy (her partner) also liked the concept. During this time my friend Rupali Ganguly suggested that I watch her show Anupamaa, and I went on a binge-watching spree. And I was like is this for real? And then when I saw her stronger side, it made me realise that we all have this inner strength. Her journey and the story inspired me, when I was developing the concept of my chat show,” she says.

Soon Irani’s search for real life achievers who fought all odds and came out of it began. “The thought process was she could be anyone, a doctor, engineer, teacher, singer, dancer or a homemaker,” says the actor, who has done TV shows, Jamai Raja, Akbar Birbal and Choti Sarrdaarni, and films, Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Ra.One (2011).

Basking in the happiness of a successful first season, Irani confesses that she never expected her show would receive so much love. The actor has already started working on the next season.

“Initially I was sceptical because it is all about real women and not celebrities. Even if a celebrity sneezes that becomes news but that doesn’t happen with ordinary people. So I was shocked and overjoyed at the same time when I found out that my channel is doing well. People are interested in watching real stories. I have also got several messages and DMs from fans on social media saying how much they enjoyed watching the show,” she adds.

Highlighting how they fought the dark phase, the first season of the show had choreographer turned filmmaker Seema Desai, doctor and nutritionist Riya Banerjee Ankola, Aban Patel, a seventy-year-old grandmother, Jessie Xavier, a cancer survivor, and Jasmin Mistry, as guests.

Ask her about guests expected in the season 2 and Irani replies, “At the moment I can’t say much or else it would spoil the suspense. But of course this time too the viewers won’t be disappointed,” she ends.