E-Paper
Success means following my heart
His love for sports has made VJ and actor Rannvijay go for greater challenges
I hail from Jalandhar and have completed my education from Delhi. I studied at the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, and then went to Hans Raj College, Delhi University. My father servs in the army and our upbringing allowed us to be independent and outgoing. My parents always stressed on good values and never pressurised us to score high marks. The focus was always on all-round development. I was interested in adventure sports and basketball. I have represented the country at the under-17 and under-19 levels in basketball. I then auditioned for MTV Roadies’ first season, got selected and ended up winning. I have hosted and judged several editions of the show.
On achievements
The first big one was when I played the basketball nationals. Subsequently, I cleared the Combined Defence Services Exam and made it to the Sashastra Seema Bal, and then Roadies happened.
My inspiration
I look up to my grandfather, father and uncle who are also army men. They are tough and classy, loved and respected by people around them. I also learn a lot from producers and presenters Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman. I have been reading autobiographies of achievers such as Bruce Lee, Lance Armstrong and Andre Agassi.
Success for me is…
Following my heart, instinct and passion. My love for adventure sports has allowed me to do things I like. I like bike stunts and that’s why I took up Stuntmania on MTV, which encourages bike stunts as a sport. I’m also going to learn extreme adventure sports such as drifting, surfing and snowboarding. Besides these, I’m working on some film projects. I’ll be hosting Roadies 9 and my next film is Mod by Nagesh Kukunoor, which will be released this year.
Dealing with failure
Setbacks charge me to do better. I feel very frustrated when there are low points in life but I don’t crib about them and try to get out of them soon.
Tips for youngsters
Remember there’s never a shortcut to success. You must have the courage to follow your passion and overcome tough circumstances. Be able to face any kind of situation with ease. That’s the hallmark of a successful person.
As told to Gauri Kohli
