Siddhaarth Aalambayan Interview
“The higher people go, the lonelier and more uncertain it often becomes—and that’s a side of success we rarely talk about.”
1. For readers meeting you for the first time — who is Siddhaarth Aalambayan, and how did this whole “podcast on wheels” journey begin?
I consider myself a storyteller first—and I’ve been one for as long as I can remember. It started when I was just six years old, on the sets of Hari Bhari in 1998, directed by Shyam Benegal. That instinct stayed with me as I went on to direct projects like Vada Pav Inc., host shows such as The Bombay Journey and The Male Feminist, and build narrative-led IPs professionally.
I genuinely enjoy people and listening to their stories, and I feel incredibly grateful that so many trust me with theirs. That probably explains why I go by @TheStoryTellerIndia.
The Bombay Journey actually began as a pitch back in 2016 during my time at Firstpost, where I was building and producing IPs. The original idea revolved around a high-pressure format—an entrepreneur or writer pitching their idea to an industry leader while commuting across Mumbai, say from Parel to Lower Parel or Andheri East to West. While a few brands showed interest, the concept didn’t fully materialize at the time.
In 2019, after moving to Fork Media Group, I revisited the idea with Jonathan Immanuel, who was then the channel head, along with Harman Narula from Famefox, who managed celebrity alliances. The excitement was immediate. Initially, we planned to shoot in a vintage Premier Padmini or Ambassador, but that idea fell through quickly—mainly because I couldn’t manage a stick shift with a steering-mounted gear lever.
When we presented the concept to our Group CEO, Sammar Verma, he encouraged us to think beyond just conversations in a car. He suggested incorporating visits to the guests’ formative spaces—their tapris, struggle spots, and meaningful locations. That shift completely transformed the format. Later, Jay Mehta, the current channel head, helped shape the final edit and narrative structure. That blend of movement, memory, and conversation is what truly gave birth to The Bombay Journey.
2. Your concept of driving celebrities while podcasting is quite original. What made you choose a car as your studio?
I love driving, and I love Mumbai. Some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had have been while in transit—stuck in traffic, watching the city unfold outside. My partner, Reema, often says that what impressed her early on was the “Mumbai darshan” I’d give her during our drives. Those moments carried a lot of emotional weight.
At some point, it clicked—the car creates a unique intimacy. You’re seated side by side, not across from each other, and the city becomes an unspoken third participant in the conversation. It felt like the most honest and natural studio I could have—one that aligns seamlessly with both my personality and my relationships.
3. How does being in a moving car change how guests open up compared to a traditional studio setup?
A moving car introduces a third layer to the conversation—the act of driving itself. I’ve noticed that when people aren’t entirely focused on answering questions, their subconscious tends to take over.
In our format, the car, the road, and the city collectively create that space. It lowers guards, reduces performance pressure, and allows stories to emerge more organically—stories we might never hear in a structured studio setting.
4. What are some behind-the-scenes challenges of shooting content on the road that viewers don’t usually think about?
While technology has certainly made things easier with compact cameras and improved rigs, shooting on the road still comes with its challenges. GoPros can overheat, wide-angle lenses sometimes distort framing, and cities like Mumbai are constantly moving and unpredictable.
We strictly follow traffic rules, which often means compromising on certain shots for safety. The monsoon season adds another layer of complexity—Mumbai experiences heavy rains for nearly half the year, and potholes can physically jolt the car, sometimes shifting guests in and out of frame during serious conversations.
All of this directly affects the viewing experience. That’s why I’m incredibly grateful to our camera teams, led by our head DP, Sumeet Mane. They consistently manage to capture both the intimacy inside the car and the visual appeal of the Hyundai vehicles from the outside, despite these constraints.
5. What have these conversations taught you personally about people, success, and life?
These conversations have made me far less judgmental. Whether someone is a celebrity or not, people are fundamentally just people. Listening to their journeys has shown me the immense resilience it takes not only to reach success but to sustain it.
It has also quietly dismantled the glamour we often associate with success. The higher people go, the lonelier and more uncertain it can become—even as ambition continues to push them forward.
Their quirks are also a reminder of how seriously we tend to take ourselves, often at the cost of what truly matters—family, friendships, emotional honesty, and simply acknowledging how we feel.
Through Mashable Mornings, which I shaped alongside Debroop Chakravarty from our Brand Solutions team, I’ve also spoken to entrepreneurs and business leaders across industries. Those conversations reinforced a simple truth: corporate hierarchies don’t change fundamental human values. Honesty, perseverance, focus, and consistency remain universal—regardless of scale or title.
6. If someone wants to start a podcast today, what’s the one thing they should focus on first?
My honest advice would be to pause and ask yourself—what are you bringing that’s genuinely different?
Podcasts are everywhere today, and most don’t fail because they’re bad—they fail because sustaining them is incredibly demanding. Unless you have a distinct voice, a strong point of view, or a unique format—whether hyperlocal or experiential—it becomes difficult to stay consistent.
And consistency, more than the launch, is the real test of whether a podcast will survive.
Bio:
Siddhaarth Aalambayan is a storyteller, director, and host known for creating narrative-driven content across digital platforms. With roots tracing back to his early exposure to cinema on the sets of Hari Bhari, he has gone on to helm projects like Vada Pav Inc. and host popular shows such as The Bombay Journey and The Male Feminist. Widely recognized for his unique “podcast on wheels” format, Siddhaarth blends conversation, movement, and memory to craft deeply human stories. Through his work, he continues to explore people, perspectives, and the emotional layers behind success.
Interviewed by: Tanya Rawat
Edited by: Shantanu Singh
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