As a little girl, Archana ran to the mic at a wedding in Kuwait, confident and fearless. Today, her voice reaches millions, spreading joy, inspiring change, and connecting hearts. Behind the fame lies years of dedication, challenges, and growth. This interview uncovers the real stories, the struggles, and the purpose that shape her journey every day.
Archana, after so many years in the public eye, what still excites you about picking up the mic each day?
The magic for the mic will never fade, because it started as young as 3 years of age, in Kuwait at a wedding party where my parents tell me I ran to the stage to just hold the mic & speak sweet nothings VERY CONFIDENTLY, they couldn’t believe my confidence at that tender age.
Today it’s about how we could make someone smile, someone feel nostalgic, spread a kind word & inspire them to live happily. Because radio has a beautiful way to increase buoyancy in our otherwise weighed-down lives, via our spoken word, spun with songs & so much fun, entertainment, interviews & our unique views/perspectives that we are always enthusiastic to share.
In short, our love for making someone’s day & also being surprised by our listeners who take the time to call & express themselves to our next big Bollywood chat to when we may make something better in our cities with the help of civic authorities.
Your voice is familiar to millions. How does it feel knowing people trust and connect with a voice before a face?
That is a HUGE responsibility & compliment, thank you. While it feels like one big family with your city, but you have to consistently endeavour to do things that matter. But it does come from a consistent “showing up” that we manage, to- doing what makes us an integral part of their daily routines to the fact that over the years, the various things we have managed to achieve with their love and support for the city to for the sake of entertainment, we have been accepted by fans & stars all the same.
But honestly, its heart warming to be in the hearts andminds of so many. Infact somany influencers, artists & guests who come to our radio station tell us they have grown up loving our voices on the radio and all we do.
You move easily between radio, stage, films, and voice work. What has each space taught you about yourself?
Dubbing & acting too sometimes.
So they are all interconnected because radio is the theatre of the mind. Dubbing is also acting, and voice over is a voice modulation-dominated craft that requires you to be fir into the narrative you have been given.
Anchoring is also a way of engaging and storytelling, so that the audience doesn’t lose interest!
So basically, the common thread here is playing to the gallery a bit and allowing your unique self to shine in that moment of craft and performance. But since watching tv shows/movies has been a passion since I was young, I think it was preparation in passion indulgence.
Because mimicking is such a huge part of my personality- in school/college, my teachers WERE my stars, I loved mimicking!
For live events its very tough to be prepared- mostly you will have to shift gears as per the audience feedback, which is real-time & instant.
What each of these teaches me is that to be real and relatable is the most important of it all – especially when you are hosting and acting. What rules is humility that you are a medium to entertain and interact, so KISS- keep it simple & sweet!
Fame often shows the highlight, not the effort. What part of your work do people rarely see or understand?
All the prep that goes into doing an interview to the Daily Show, consistently showing up day after day & keeping informed about the city so that we can ask the civic authorities the right questions & get our listeners the much-needed answers they deserve.
Our everyday routines are at par with journalists & the stars all at once.
Now with digital being sucha huge part of what we do- we shoot, we interview, we make reels, we keep updated-and at the same time we make sure we speak to our listeners to keep it all real and connected.
During 26/7 we were live reporting from our radio station.
During 26/11 we were live reporting from Radio City.
We have outside the purview of entertaining, fixed footpaths, filled potholes, painted speed breakers, raised our voice to save Aarey, taught to be well mannered around women, delivered water tankers in Ahmednagar, to the farmers there since there was a drought.
So much contrary to what people may assume, our jobs are not just sitting in the radio station air conditioning environs & talking into the microphone, it involves a whole lot more.
You have interviewed many big names. Has any conversation quietly stayed with you long after it ended?
So many leave a mark, starting from Jaggu dada back in 2004, talking about environmental crisis, so he was taking his “kids” tiger & krishna to a movie day after tomorrow, saying “whats the point of al we do if there is no water or environment left for us” to life lessons by Akshay kumar, about how to take your parents blessings to seeing the sunrise is the secret to his success.
The most amazing conversationalist is Rekha Bharadhwaj ji. She reads a lot, so has been inspiring Vishal ji as well for plots in his movies. Saleem ji (Salman’s father) loves radio and sharing stories & anecdotes because he knows how beautiful a storytelling medium radio is.
Met Marjorie Orr (an astro guru) from Scotland, whose daily horosscope in the midday was my favvv. And meeting her and indulging in whose her favourite zodiac sign, wow.
Lata Mangeshkar ji – Her razor-sharp memory & the way she recollected each and every detail from her recordings, life and times, was mesmerising for us who forget what we wore, ate and did last night.
Sonu Nigam ji- For his love for music, life, food & travel to human intrigue he holds so close to himself. What a fabulous conversation list.
Working for so long in a fast industry can change a person. In what ways have you changed over the years?
SM SM SM To stay relevant, one has to understand what the mass language these days, and it’s mostly the social media viral videos, the stand-up comedians, the gigs, the innumerable influencers that rule people’s hearts.
Getting on X, Insta, snap… a lot of places to stay connected help us reach out to as many people as possible to know what gets them ticking.
Also, to stay in the discussion of what can move a society towards its better. So TEDx, college discussion panel chats to attending various forums, to keep cinema, social cause to civic dialogue on.
When work becomes routine, how do you bring honesty and freshness back into your performance?
The best way is to stay inspired. For me its a great conversation with our guests, who in most ways are inspiring.A song that blows your mind, a challenge that keeps you on your toes. The best way is to live a more wholesome life. Meet your extended family, talk to your helper about their life, the watchman, what are his challenges, expose yourself to newer groups of people & travel. Adding perspective makes life more beautiful and so much more lively.
You also lend your voice to social causes. When did purpose start mattering as much as popularity for you?
From a very early age. Existing in an empathetic family helps. Whether it was giving opportunity to those who didn’t have access to aiding anyone who needed it, being useful, helpful in possible way is the best way to exist.
I was in my 10th grade when I saw a municipal cleaner in the manhole cleaning the gutter without any protective gear & I was furious with him… and volunteered many times for street cleanups to beach cleanups, when they were not a thing back in the day.
Public life can be loud. Where do you find silence or balance when you need it?
I avoid being overcommitted. Whether it’s music launch events, concerts, or other invites that can be avoided to keep the work-life balance just right.
Saying no is a super power to protect health, mental well being & personal space that will make you a better professional/human being like we will never know. Kk the singer a case in example.
What personal values guide your choices when opportunities come your way?
So much of what we do is mostly guided by how excited it makes us.
Whether it’s a social cause or an endorsement for a product. Like recently was asked to shoot a video for a car, and gladly did it, because the car stood for so many things, legacy, eco-friendly, global relevance & sporty. Since it defines who I am, was an easy fit.
But sometimes something could be tough to fit in, like maybe it came in the way of your family function/celebration, which is not something one would like to compromise on … sometimes personal choices over professional gains.
I prefer to be a naturopath, so medication or too many unnatural things for the body or mind is something I would steer away from.
What kind of legacy do you hope your voice leaves behind?
She was kind, fun & full of life- for life itself And……… she cared while she moved through It all.
