Get to know...Ali Merchant

Actor and DJ Ali Merchant (@AliMercchant) is secretly writing poetry, craving Lucknow’s galouti kabab, and wishing he could be 18 again

Personal Agenda

• Currently I am

  Prepping for my playlist and my set for Royal Stag BoomBox.

• High point in life

  Getting married.

• Low point in life

  When one of my pets passed away.

• On my playlist

  Yeh Dil Deewana from Pardes; Subah Hone Na De by Mika Singh and Shefali Alvares. Let’s Nacho by Badshah, Benny Dayal, and Nucleya.

• One thing I would never buy

  Tight-fitting jeans.

• Today I’m craving

  Sheermal and galouti kabab from Lucknow.

• Last thing I ordered online

  Something for my wife.

• App I check before bed

  Instagram

• Advice I’d give my 18-year-old self

  I think you should be emotionally strong and be in touch with your feelings. It is the only way to lead a beautiful life.

• My favourite subject in school

  History.

• I’d swipe right on

  World cinema.

• My secret skill is

  I write a lot. I write poetry.

• A superpower I wish I had

  The ability to go back to being 18 again and know what I know at 38.

• My favourite Sunday memory

  Holi, last year. I performed in Hyderabad and Mumbai and both shows had over 10,000 people.

• My most star-struck moment

  Meeting Shah Rukh Khan for the first time.

• The best thing about fame

  That you get to do everything you want to, on your own steam. You are responsible for the legacy you want to create.

• The worst thing about fame

  It gets a lot of people over-excited.