Raghav Juyal on DID Stories, Partying with Salman Khan, Bakchodi | Untriggered w/ AminJaz #115

Episode Overview

• Actor and dancer Raghav Juyal shares humorous anecdotes from his career, including working with Salman Khan and his early days on the reality show Dance India Dance.
• The conversation delves into serious topics, with Raghav passionately advocating for animal welfare and speaking out against the use of steroids for film roles.
• Raghav showcases his deep knowledge and love for world cinema, recommending several international films and discussing their cultural themes.
• The discussion covers a wide range of subjects, from comical stories about spiritual tourism in Rishikesh to critiques of North American culture and the role of AI in art.

Key Concepts

• Working with Salman Khan: The experience is described as a non-stop "party" with a relaxed atmosphere, taking place at his farmhouse equipped with dirt bikes and other recreational vehicles.
• Career Origins & Persona: Raghav's famous nickname, "Crockroaxz," originated from his time on Dance India Dance, and his comedic style was developed as a defense mechanism to cope with on-stage nervousness.
• Strong Stance on Health and Ethics: Raghav vocally opposes actors using steroids for body transformations, arguing that health should never be sacrificed for a film role. He also expresses strong views against animal cruelty, particularly the use of mules for pilgrimages like Kedarnath.
• Passion for World Cinema: He discusses his appreciation for international films, citing Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Belgian film "Close," the works of Hong Kong's Wong Kar-wai, and the classism themes in Korean cinema.
• Cultural Commentary: The conversation includes humorous observations on foreigners seeking "nirvana" in Rishikesh and a critique of North American culture, which is contrasted with the deep-rooted traditions of India.
• Future Aspirations: Raghav names Shoojit Sircar, Anurag Kashyap, and Imtiaz Ali as the top Indian directors he is eager to work with.
• Art vs. Technology: A belief is expressed that artificial intelligence, despite its advancements, can never replace the essential human intuition and emotion that are core to creating genuine art.

Quotes

• At 0:09 - "Seedha Grand Salute." - Raghav Juyal humorously describes how Mithun Chakraborty, after dozing off during a dull dance performance, woke up and immediately gave his iconic "Grand Salute."
• At 0:29 - "It's a party." - Raghav describes the atmosphere of being on a Salman Khan movie set, explaining that you can leave all your stress behind and just enjoy the experience.
• At 1:37 - "I thought the world forgot." - Raghav's amused reaction to the hosts remembering his old nickname, "Crockroaxz," from his reality show beginnings.
• At 23:37 - "Aur unke paas a alag alag tarah ki dirt bikes hain, you know? He has some different kinds of, this battery ones and this most powerful ones and this and that." - Raghav Juyal excitedly describes the variety of vehicles at Salman Khan's farmhouse.
• At 24:26 - "Agar aapko Kedarnath ya kahin par woh chadhna hai toh apni aukaat se chado. Jaanwar ko pareshan mat karo." - Raghav expresses his firm belief that people should not use animals for difficult pilgrimages if they are not physically capable themselves.
• At 26:59 - "What do you want? Ah, spirituality... Why are you here? Ah, nirvana." - Raghav humorously imitates foreigners who visit Rishikesh in search of spiritual enlightenment.
• At 29:34 - "'Oh my god, this is nirvana!'" - Raghav hilariously recounts the reaction of an Israeli tourist after being tricked into smoking goat droppings that he was sold as a spiritual substance.
• At 33:13 - "No culture at all... I am so sorry for all the Americans. No culture. Pizza, burger... Burger bhi unka nahi hai, saala Germany ka hai." - Raghav opines on the perceived lack of original culture in North America compared to the deep-rooted traditions of other places.
• At 53:24 - "Masculinity aur jo patriarchy hai usse kaise affect hota hai do ladko ki dosti." - Raghav explains the central theme of the film "Close," discussing its exploration of how societal pressures and toxic masculinity impact male friendships.
• At 54:03 - "Hum bohot relate karte hai un filmo se, Koreans, isliye kyunki waha par bohot... classism hai waha bohot." - Raghav explains why he finds Korean cinema relatable due to its strong themes of classism, as seen in films like Parasite.
• At 55:32 - "I think Shoojit Sircar... Anurag Kashyap... and Imtiaz Ali." - When asked which Indian directors he is excited to work with, Raghav lists these three filmmakers.
• At 58:59 - "Maa ki... aisi ki taisi movie ki... Movie is just a part of your life, it is not your whole life." - Raghav passionately objects to using steroids for film roles, emphasizing that an actor's health is more important than any single project.
• At 1:01:28 - "This is the best talk show I have ever been to... in my 13 years of... career." - Raghav genuinely compliments the podcast for its candid and enjoyable format.
• At 1:01:48 - "It's so organic, it is so intimate... You are talking about yourself, you are talking, you are listening to each other." - Raghav elaborates on why he loves the podcast format, highlighting its natural and conversational style.

Takeaways

• Prioritize long-term health over short-term professional gains; a single project is not worth compromising your well-being.
• Be an ethical and responsible tourist by considering the impact of your actions on local communities and animal welfare.
• Vulnerabilities like nervousness can be transformed into unique strengths, such as a signature comedic style.
• Expand your cultural and emotional understanding by exploring international cinema beyond mainstream Hollywood productions.
• A relaxed and fun work environment can foster creativity and reduce the professional pressures that hinder performance.
• In creative pursuits, value and trust human intuition, as it brings a depth and emotion that technology cannot replicate.
• Authentic, unfiltered conversations often lead to more meaningful and insightful exchanges than heavily structured interviews.
• Question surface-level spiritual trends and seek genuine experiences rather than curated or commercialized versions of enlightenment.