I don't think I am a youth icon: Raghu Ram


He is known for his aggressive demeanour in the hit reality show "MTV Roadies", and for thousands of youngsters Raghu Ram is the ideal rough and tough man. But Raghu dismisses any talk of him being a youth icon.

"I don't understand the whole youth icon thing. We (he and his brother Rajiv Lakshman) are workers. We work very hard 24X7," Raghu told.

"Once in a while, we do get a hysterical reaction from people on the streets and all that takes us by surprise. People approach us if they recognise us at the airport and say a lot of intimate things about themselves. But I don't think I am a youth icon," he added.

Raghu is the producer and brain behind the youth-centric adventure reality show. He came to prominence six years ago for conceptualising "Roadies" which has developed a cult following among youth.

Raghu was in the capital recently with his brother Rajiv to talk about their association with portal MySpace India's campaign "India Fights Back".

The brothers are trying to urge youngsters to vote actively during the Lok Sabha elections, through their exclusive blogs on the site.

Raghu is confident about the power of youth in India. On more than one occasion, he has said the contestants on his show mirror the true image of youth in the country.

But if the entire Indian youth is abusive, money-minded, manipulative - just like the Roadies contestants - how can one trust the generation to vote responsibly?

"The show is not just about the kind of mind game you can play. It is also about inculcating the importance of performance. We have always told our contestants that performance would get you more respect than politics and they do appreciate these lessons. I think this generation is the only generation that can bring change," he asserted.

Raghu, who also features in a music reality show "Sitaron Ko Choona Hai", says he wants the youth to become the biggest vote bank in the country.

"We need young leadership and new ideas to progress. If youth feel that something needs to change in the country, I urge them to vote and remove the corrupt politicians," Raghu said in his trademark style.

He said he was disturbed by the low voter turnout in Mumbai and added that citizens need to understand that if they want change, it can't happen if they choose to sit at home.

"There are a lot of youngsters who have no respect for leaders and most of them don't feel that anything would happen even if they vote. But they should first try voting - sideline those who are doing nothing and are corrupt.

If you don't know who the politicians are and what they have done, use the Internet to find out - there are ample sites giving such information.

"And for those who just want to sit back and crib, please do not express your helplessness. If you want change, please act," said Raghu. "Reject the old and accept change - give democracy another chance."

2 comments:

ONE AND ONLY RAGHU RAM IS A GUIDE FOR EVERYONE,MOSTLY FOR OUR COUNTRY ,THE GREAT INDIA.BAAS NAAM MAIN HI BARA BAAT.KAAM ATE HI "KAAM-SUTRA" JANTA HAI YE SOCIETY.AASLI PYAAR TO DE NAHI PATA KISIKO,TABHI TO SEX AUR MONEY SAMNE AA JATA HAI.KAASH RAGHU JAISA ASLI INSAAN DO-CHAR AUR V HOTE TO SAYAD ISS DESH K NAGARIK KAHENE MEIN ITNI SHARMANDAGI NAHI ATI MUJE.INSAAN KO JAB APNE ANTARATMA K AWAAJ SUNAAI NEHI DETA TAB MAAN K ANDAR V "DIRTY-PICTURE"JAISA BAN JATA HAI.INDIA MEIN BOHOT KUCH HAI SIKHNE K LIYE,PAR HAM LOG ASLI RICH CULTURE KO CHOR KAR SIRF AUR SIRF VAGWAAN YA DHARM,YA PURAAN GATHA KO LE KAR ITNA KHICHRI PAKA KAR DETA HAI K YOUNG AGE MEIN HI ADMI BUDDA BAN JATE HAI.MERI HISAAB SE AAP MANO YA NA MANO AAP HI AK INSAAN HO JO LIFE KI END TAK V "EVERGREEN " PERSONALITY RAHOGA.AUR SAB LOGO K DIL MEIN YAAD RAHE JAOGA.AAP JO JO MSG DETE HO JO SAMJH SAKA WO JIVAAN K HAR MOR PAR KAMIYAAB RAHEGA.YA KOSHIS K LIYE AAP LO LAKHO SALAM DETI HU.JINDEGI VAR ITNA KHUS RAHENA AAP ,JEENDAGI V AAP KO DEKH KAR SALAAM KARE.AAP JAISA KOI V NA KAVI AAYA HAI ISS DUNIA MEIN AUR NA KAVI AYEGA.PAR SAYAD JUNIOR RAGHU YA JUNIOR SUGANDAH KI BAAT ALAAG HAI.HAM LOG BOHOT KHUSNASIB HAI JO AAP KO DEKH KAR JA SAKTI HU.TUM JIO HAAZARON SAAL.

you are the youth icon......90% of the youth who know u will agree to dis sir....