Siddhartha Sahai Srivastava, popularly known as RJ Sidhu of Fever FM’s show ‘Nanachi Tang,’ is a jovial, emotional, kind and an extremely talented person. While he has labelled himself as “technically challenged” in this world full of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, he tries his best to be socially active since his job demands the same.

He is also a poet at heart, who writes at midnight when the clock strikes 12. With his ‘Fever Mission Shiksha,’ he attempts to get notebooks for underprivileged kids. Being a Mumma’s boy, he would do anything to make her happy… even if it means wearing a few extra stones on his fingers just to see her smile.

In conversation with Radioandmusic.com, RJ Sidhu opens up like never before.

Read on for excerpts:

Tell us a bit about your back story.

I was an outstanding kid in school… as in… always out of class! I wasn’t good at academics but I would always secure 60-62 per cent. But, after a month in college I felt like I was being tied down and that I should do something. During the same time, my elder brother was studying engineering from Kolkata and all his demands use to be fulfilled by my father. However, in my case I was asked to earn on my own to cater to my needs. There were times when my father would say, ‘You don’t know how difficult it is to earn.’ So then I wanted to know how difficult it really was to earn. I took up a job as a customer care executive to find out. I used to attend college during the day and at nights I would work. Usually the customers who call were not so happy with the service and hence I used to end up being a victim of their dissatisfaction with the company. There were times when people even abused me. After three months of doing that, I realised that I wasn’t cut out for it. After sometime I took up a job at McDonald’s and there were times when I had to sweep the floor. While I did not find the job demeaning, the way people look at you, doesn’t feel very good, especially if the mop touches their feet accidentally. So, I moved out in 15 days. 

What came next?

After my last job, I realised that no matter what job you take up, you have to be passionate about it. I was neither passionate about being a customer care executive or being at McDonald’s. So, I couldn’t have just taken up another job. I remembered an event manager telling me during my customer executive days that I had a very good voice. He had also told me that I should do something about it. I contacted him and he offered me an anchoring job. But since I wasn’t experienced, I decided to learn about events first. Hence I stayed with them for a month just understanding the entire process of event management. Later I told him that I had understood the process and was ready to go on stage. I earned Rs 51 for my first stage show, which went on to become Rs 51,000 by the end of 365 days.

How did you get into radio?

In 2006, a lot of private FM stations started entering Jaipur and I felt like trying my luck as an RJ. I started giving auditions and got rejected a couple of times. However, I managed to clear three rounds at one radio station, only to get rejected in the fourth. I got really disappointed and decided to focus only on anchoring. However, after a couple of days I got a call from the same FM station and I went to audition again. They did not like my voice again and found it too heavy. But, after another 15 days I was called again. This time I was kept on hold and asked to audition again after two months, only to get rejected again. In fact, the lady who auditioned me every time said that my voice was not meant for radio. Her statement almost shattered me. So, I decided that I would never get back to that radio station, no matter what.

The story is getting interesting...

Yes, it is. Then I got back to stage shows. There was this huge intercollegiate festival in which 11,000 students were participating. I was to host it and coincidently the radio partner for this festival was the station that I had been repetitively rejected by. At the end of the event, a person from the station walked up to me and offered me a job as a radio jockey. Since I had been rejected four times earlier, I found it necessary to inform him about the same. Their next question was ‘Who rejected you?’ I told them about the lady and got to know that they had fired her. So, that’s how I was offered an afternoon show called ‘Masti Ki Pathshala.’ I was offered that job on 14 February, 2007 and since then radio became my valentine. On 15 February I got the offer letter and I learnt the technicalities on that very day. They next day, I was on-air from 2 - 5 pm.

They put you on-air directly?

Well they wanted me to record my show and not go live but, I was very clear about going on-air live. Since, I had been a stage artist, I just wouldn’t have been comfortable recording the show. So on 16 February, 2007 I went on-air and from then till date, I am the only RJ who is doing live shows in the country.

How was your first day as an RJ?

Usually RJs sit and run their shows but since I had always anchored standing on the stage, I just couldn’t sit. So, I pulled the mike above and started talking. I was so nervous then. I have never been that nervous in my life. At the end of the show, I couldn’t feel my legs. But, the show went well and I called my parents to inform them about becoming an RJ.

When did you move to Fever?

I stayed at the Jaipur station for a two good years and did all the shows there. I do not know if it was my luck or just God’s grace but every show that I did, became number one. I was in the middle of doing my morning show when I received a call from the programming head of Fever. He said he was in Jaipur and happened to hear my show. That’s when he offered me a job at Fever. Before that, I had to mail him a few of my show links. I did that but no one from Fever got back to me for almost fifteen days. I finally received a call and was asked to come down to their Delhi office to have a video conference with their CEO, programming head and national programming head. The interview went well and I was on board. On 15February I had to collect my offer letter and was slated to join at a later date but I ended up running a show as their RJ was unwell. So, I started working for Fever from that day on.

Does a local RJ do a better job that the others?

I don’t think that’s the case but it’s true that one must know things about the city and most importantly know the people, understand what they would like to hear and play the same for them. Most of the RJs in Mumbai are not locals but they understand people staying here and that is why they are their favourites.

What difficulties do RJs of small cities face?

I don’t see difficulties but I believe they are more hardworking and always eager to learn. I started my career in Jaipur so I know how it works. I used to sit and work on the entire show from songs to content. If I wanted people’s bytes, I would take my recorder and go interview people. I used to edit and prepare it for my show. But, today I come two hours before my show, which wasn’t the case in Jaipur. I use to reach office at 9 am for a 2 pm show there because I had to work on all the details. So, I feel that RJs in smaller cities are more aspiring but the major challenge is faced by RJs in bigger cities. If the people don’t like their show, the advertisers start pulling funds back and the station does not find a reason good enough to retain the RJ.

What’s next for you?

As a kid, I was a theatre artist and I used to enact Indian adaptations of Walt Disney plays. Hence I still aspire to be an actor. I want to act in films and I want to host TV shows. I will do whatever comes my way in films be it a lead or a character role but the character that I play should be strong. I hosted ‘TV Ka Pehla Radio Show’ on Sony Mix. At present I am auditioning. In fact, I have given a couple of auditions and have got some real funny comments like ‘you are too thin to be on-screen’ and ‘too tall for the camera’ - 6ft 5.3 inches – I wonder how Mr. Bachchan would react to something like this. I feel if you’re passionate, you must keep trying and that is exactly why I am trying.

How important is RAM?

For a metro cities, RAM is extremely important. In fact every Thursday our office is as silent as Rampur village of ‘Sholay’ where Gabbar is about to enter. None of the RJs jump around the place on that day (laughs). But, it’s important because you wouldn’t know where you’re standing, if not for it.

Tell us about an interesting gossip that you’ve heard?

Well I’ve heard some interesting gossip about me from other station RJs. Most of the people believe that I am an egoistic radio jockey, who is completely self- centred, arrogant and rude. They also feel that I am high on drugs but there is no truth to it. I believe music and Mumbaikars are my drugs as they keep me high, all the time.