The India Story

Amitabh Kant, the visionary behind the iconic 'Incredible India' and 'God’s Own Country' campaigns speaks to Vikram Chandra on his blueprint for building Brand India. He highlights key strategies to position India as a global leader in tourism, business, and innovation. Don’t miss this deep dive into India’s brand-building journey, on this episode of The India Story.

From RRR's international popularity to SRK's global charm, from cricket reaching the US to Chris Martin taking a dip at the Mahakumbh - does Indian culture impact India's global presence? Tune in to this episode of The India Story Podcast with Vikram Chandra, where author Amish Tripathi talks about how Indian culture shapes the global Indian identity, how Indian films, books, sports, and yoga are a major part of India's soft power, and what are some things India could teach the west!

India’s road network is expanding at an unprecedented pace, but what does the future of our highways look like? Tune in to this episode of The India Story Podcast with Vikram Chandra, where Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, lays down the roadmap of the expanding Indian highway network and about making it safer. He also reveals his plans on how cleaner, greener energy can help contribute to reducing pollution in Delhi and beyond.

India once ruled the seas, but can it do so again? In this episode of The India Story Podcast with Vikram Chandra, Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council takes a closer look at India’s forgotten maritime history and its critical role in shaping the future. From the Cholas and Harappans to today’s geopolitical race with China, the episode dives deep into how India lost its oceanic focus, and what can be done to reclaim it.

As artificial intelligence races ahead, are we heading toward a future of unimaginable prosperity, or irreversible dangers? In this episode of The India Story Podcast, Vikram Chandra speaks with Professor Nick Bostrom, philosopher and founding director of Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, and the author of 'Superintelligence'. Bostrom weighs in on how close we are to human-level AI, why the leap to superintelligence could come faster than expected, and what’s at stake if we get it wrong.

India is rich in culture, heritage, and natural beauty, but why does it attract so few foreign tourists? In this episode of The India Story Podcast with Vikram Chandra, Deep Kalra, founder of MakeMyTrip discusses the unrealized potential of India’s tourism sector. The episode takes a closer look at the booming domestic tourism, as well as attempts to provide solutions for increasing inbound tourism. He also reflects on how technology, AI, and changing mindsets are reshaping how Indians travel.

Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), offers expert insights on Indo-Pakistani tensions and the recent developments surrounding Operation Sindoor. With over 20 years of experience in U.S. foreign policy and national security, Curtis discusses how U.S. diplomacy can play a crucial role in de-escalating the situation between nuclear-armed neighbors, India and Pakistan.

In this conversation with Vikram Chandra for The India Story, Shashi Tharoor speaks candidly about India's strategic decisions in the face of escalating tensions with Pakistan. He addresses the latest actions taken by India in response to cross-border terrorism and the government's firm stance on zero tolerance. Tharoor critiques U.S. foreign policy, especially President Trump's tweet suggesting a potential mediation on Kashmir, and the implications of this on India's sovereignty.

Host Vikram Chandra brings together three of India’s most influential strategic minds—Indrani Bagchi (Geopolitical Analyst), Prof. Happymon Jacob (JNU), and Dr. C. Raja Mohan (Observer Research Foundation)—for a hard-hitting, 90-minute masterclass on the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India’s military-diplomatic playbook, and the road ahead.

In this episode of The India Story Podcast with Vikram Chandra, Mukul Rohatgi (senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India, former Attorney General of India) talks about why the Indian judicial system needs big-bang reforms and the problems that plague the Indian courts! He also shares his vision on how the Indian legal system can reduce case pendency.

India’s startup legend Sanjeev Bikhchandani joins Vikram Chandra for a powerful conversation on The India Story. From building Info Edge and launching Naukri.com to backing unicorns like Zomato and PolicyBazaar — Sanjeev shares hard-won lessons on entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and India's digital future.

Vikram Chandra sits down with India’s Minister for the Development of the Northeast and Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia. They discuss the rapid economic transformation of the Northeast region, highlighting its growth rates that significantly outpace national and global averages. Scindia sheds light on the massive infrastructure developments — from highways and waterways to civil aviation and railways — that are shaping the Northeast into a new growth engine for India.

“AI will enable the defender to win.” In a powerful conversation with Vikram Chandra, Google’s VP of Security Engineering Heather Adkins breaks down how individuals, companies, and governments can stay safe in the digital era. From AI-generated scam calls to quantum threats, this episode of The India Story takes you deep inside the evolving world of cybersecurity.

In this episode of The India Story Podcast with Vikram Chandra, India's hardware pioneer Ajai Chowdhry, the co-founder of HCL, lays down the roadmap for India's future in the semiconductor space. Tune in to listen to his views on Quantum Computing, India's progress in the semiconductor industry so far and what the future here looks like.

In this episode of The India Story Podcast, Dr Ambrish Mithal, the Chairman and Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Max Healthcare, talks to host Vikram Chandra about weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. They discuss the benefits and side effects of these drugs, as well as who is it really meant for. Tune in to listen to a riveting conversation about the future of healthcare.

In this episode of The India Story Podcast, Nilesh Shah, MD - Kotak Mutual Funds, speaks with Vikram Chandra about trading and investing in India and what drives the Indian markets. He also predicts a bold future for Mutual Funds in India. Tune in to this episode to find out about the sectors which Nilesh is particularly optimistic about, how he views the current state of the Indian stock market, and where he thinks it is heading.

In this episode of The India Story podcast, legendary screenwriter and poet, Javed Akhtar talks to Vikram Chandra about some of his most iconic works, about writing in Bollywood, and about standing up against all forms of fundamentalist elements in India. Also tune in to this episode to listen to some rare stories from one of the most celebrated films in the history of India - Sholay, which turns 50 this year!

In this episode of The India Story Podcast, Raamdeo Agrawal, Chairman & Co-Founder of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd speaks to Vikram Chandra about the state of the Indian stock market, and about the risk vs reward of trading and investing. Do tune in to listen to him talk about his 'QGLP' Mantra and to see where he thinks the Indian markets are headed.

In this episode of The India Story, we sit down with the legendary Boman Irani — actor, mentor, storyteller, and late bloomer who stole the show. From selling chips at a wafer shop to becoming Dr. Asthana in Munna Bhai MBBS, Lucky Singh in Khosla Ka Ghosla, and the unforgettable Virus in 3 Idiots — Boman Irani’s story is inspiring, hilarious, and deeply human. 🎭 In this episode: Why he debuted in films at the age of 44 The making of his most iconic roles with Rajkumar Hirani Losing 30 kilos to play Gandhi on stage Turning down Vicky Donor His deep love for the Parsi legacy And why he’s training writers through Spiral Bound

Why has India never had its own successful late-night comedy show like Kimmel, Conan, or Colbert? In this candid and hilarious episode of The India Story, Cyrus Broacha — the man behind MTV Bakra and The Week That Wasn’t — breaks down India’s tricky relationship with political satire, cancel culture, and comedy that punches up. If you grew up watching MTV Bakra, loved The Week That Wasn’t, or are curious about the future of comedy and podcasting in India — this episode is a must-watch.

In this powerful episode of The India Story, former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan Lokur joins Vikram Chandra to discuss the urgent battle between state power and individual rights in India. From the principle of “Bail, Not Jail” to the misuse of special laws, and the chilling effect of judicial delays — Justice Lokur shares candid insights on why fundamental freedoms are non-negotiable. 📌 This conversation is not just about law — it’s about the future of freedom in India.

India is racing to become the world’s electronics hub, but can it really challenge China and Vietnam? In this episode of The India Story, Dixon Technologies Chairman Sunil Vachani shares his journey from starting with ₹15 lakhs to building India’s largest electronics manufacturer, now ranked among the top 15 globally. From PLI schemes to China+1 strategy to Dixon’s bold vision of making India the world’s factory, this conversation reveals the roadmap for India’s manufacturing future.

In this gripping conversation, Devdutt Pattanaik and Vikram Chandra unpack how Ramayan and Mahabharat actually work, why we overrate the Gita (a modern phenomenon), and how rebirth reframes justice, success, parenting, and power. You’ll hear why “Lakshman Rekha” was a boundary for Ravan, not Sita, what dharma truly demands, how Indian festivals map to the monsoon, and why contentment is a technique, not a destination—without it, no leader can build a truly prosperous, peaceful society.