Television host Raghu Ram recently shed light on his decision, along with twin brother Rajiv Lakshman, to leave the iconic reality show Roadies after 11 years. Speaking on the podcast Untriggered with AminJaz, Raghu revealed that growing interference from the channel and increasing pressure to adopt a more aggressive on-screen demeanor were key factors behind their departure.
Known for their intense and confrontational style, Raghu and Rajiv often pushed contestants to their limits, a trademark approach that became synonymous with the show. However, the demand to escalate this aggression made them uncomfortable, prompting them to step away.
“In those times, I behaved in a manner that some might have an issue with,” Raghu admitted during the interview. “But I was doing a job. Is it right? Is it wrong? I don’t know. If you hate me for what I did, then guilty as charged. I am not apologetic about it.”
Reflecting on their exit, Raghu explained how success brought its own challenges. “As you grow bigger, you feel the pressure to cater. I felt it; that’s why I left Roadies. Rajiv and I walked off because there was too much interference. We were told to scream at people. It’s either that, or you dance to their tune. You are no longer you; you belong to them.”
Raghu also expressed dissatisfaction with the direction the show has taken since their departure. “What Roadies is today is exactly what the makers want it to be. It’s not what I wanted to make,” he remarked.
The former anchor further revealed that his on-screen persona during the show was deeply influenced by personal struggles and societal rage. “I was going through a messed-up time, and that guy [the on-screen Raghu] was an extreme expression of my rage—my relationship with society, with God, and with the lies I felt I’d been told. It connected because it was honest. Maybe you don’t connect with it now because it’s not honest anymore.”
Raghu’s candid reflections provide insight into the pressures of reality television and the personal cost of sustaining a public persona. Roadies, which remains a cultural phenomenon, has since moved forward without the duo, adapting to the vision of its current creators.