Rahul Makin Interview
Q. Can you tell us how your journey as an RJ began?
My journey began in the most organic way possible — with curiosity. As a child only I used to sit right in front of the tape recorder/radio just to see how such a small machine delivers voices.I grew up in the foothills of the Himalayas in Jammu & Kashmir, and while I was a science student who topped in physics, my heart always leaned toward storytelling and poetry.
In 2002, while I was still studying, I got an opportunity to work part-time with All India Radio. The moment I spoke behind the mic, something clicked. It didn’t feel like work — it felt like home.
My first full-time job started in 2006 at Big FM, and those years shaped me completely. I even pursued a broadcasting course from MICA Ahmedabad, alongside, because I wanted to learn everything I could about this craft.
From Big FM to Ishq FM and finally to Fever FM — the journey has been a mix of passion, consistency, and a lot of late nights, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Q. In an era dominated by reels and podcasts, what makes radio still magical for you?
Reels are visual. Podcasts are structured. But radio — radio is intimate.
Radio is the only medium where two strangers connect without ever seeing each other, yet they form the deepest bonds. It’s raw, live, unfiltered and you cannot “retake” emotion on the radio. Whatever you say becomes a shared moment forever.
This question is exactly like asking if theatre is still magical in this era of OTT.
Also, the radio is companionship. People listen to me during their loneliest hours, while driving, studying, healing, or even crying. That kind of trust is rare today.
For me, the magic of radio is simple: It’s the sound of a human heart talking to another human heart.
Q. What’s something about the life of an RJ that people often romanticise, but in reality is much tougher than it seems?
People see the glamour — the voice, the popularity, the followers, the awards.But what they don’t see is the discipline. The emotional labour. The responsibility of being someone’s comfort voice every night.
We walk into the studio no matter what’s happening in our personal lives. Even on days when we are broken, we have to sound like sunshine for someone else.
Sleep cycles get sacrificed, social life shrinks, and the pressure to constantly stay creative can be intense. Being an RJ is beautiful, but it’s not effortless.
It takes heart work more than hard work.
Q. What’s the most memorable or emotional call you’ve ever received from a listener?
There are many, but one will always stay with me.A guy once called me on Love, X, Dhoka and told me he had been on the verge of making a very dark decision about his life. He said he would listen to my show every night because it made her feel less alone, and that one conversation gave him the courage to step back, breathe, and choose life again.
He was gay and was not ready to open up. Conditions were such that his dad was coming to his town to make him meet a girl for marriage for him. I called his dad and convinced him finally.
I still remember the silence after he spoke — I had goosebumps. That day I realised that the radio isn’t just entertainment.
Sometimes, without even knowing, we become someone’s support system, their friend, their voice of hope. Moments like these remind me why I do what I do.
Q. And finally, if your life had a radio show title, what would it be and why?
I think it would be: “Dil, Dimaag aur Dastaan”
Because my life has been exactly that — a mix of:
• Dil: passion for storytelling, love, and connection
• Dimaag: the discipline, learning, reading, and the science student in me
• Dastaan: the unexpected twists, journeys across cities, late-night studios, awards, heartbreak stories, growth, and everything in between. It reflects not just my profession, but the entire philosophy behind my existence.
Bio
Rahul Makin is an award-winning RJ with roots in the foothills of the Himalayas. A science student who topped in physics, he felt an early calling towards storytelling, poetry, and radio — beginning his journey part-time at All India Radio while still in school.Today, Rahul is known for his heartfelt late-night conversations, emotional depth, and natural ability to build genuine connections with listeners across India.
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