People don’t have the bandwidth to sit through very long content: Samir Kochhar

“I had no idea yogasana had been a recognised sport for so many years. I didn’t realise there were so many athletes—not just practitioners, but competitors—participating in yogasana,” says Samir Kochhar, who was in Ahmedabad for the inaugural World Yogasana Sports Championship.

The actor-TV presenter, who is a frequent visitor to Ahmedabad, adds, “Every time I come here, there are new buildings and the city looks more evolved. So many hotels have come up, and the food is spectacular. My wife is half Gujarati, and she is very envious of how often I get to indulge in the local cuisine. I shot a film here, Hide and Seek, with Apoorva Lakhia. We were here for a month and a half, shooting in a mall, which was great fun. We come here every year to play celebrity cricket matches; it’s always a fun experience.”

‘Keeping audiences engaged is tough now’

Having worked across television and OTT, the Sacred Games actor believes audience preferences and viewing habits have constantly evolved. He shares, “People today don’t have the bandwidth to sit through very long content. We’re always on our phones, constantly swiping from one reel to the next, so keeping audiences engaged has become more challenging. When I came to Mumbai in 2000 and started working around 2004–05, the options were television, films, ad films, VJing or anchoring. Then serials boomed, followed by OTT, and now people are creating their own digital content. My son, for instance, follows creators like MrBeast, KSI and Logan Paul. They’re making very interesting content, but good fiction will always endure. If we create something compelling, people will watch it.”



‘I do get typecast at times’

Is he selective about roles? Samir says, “I’m not being choosy or selective; I’m simply looking for good work. The last six or seven months have been relatively quiet, though before that I was juggling acting projects, sports hosting and other commitments. I’ve received offers for micro-dramas and limited-series web shows, but I’m still figuring things out because I haven’t yet found roles that truly showcase my range. Right now, I’m keen to prove myself as an actor. I’ve also just wrapped up a film, Reporting Live, which will be released soon.”


He adds, “Hosting sports brings my childhood passion alive. It feels like reliving those school days when I played sports, only now from the best seat in the house. Since I love both playing and watching sports, it brings me immense joy. Sports remains an integral part of my life.”

Does his urbane, polished image come with its own baggage? He laughs. “You could say that. Most of the roles I’m offered are of wealthy, sophisticated men or people in positions of authority. I tried to break that mould by playing a thief in Moonwalk, but these things take time. Because I host sports on television in a suit and tie, people often assume that’s my real personality, when it’s really just a host persona. Balancing live sports broadcasting and acting is challenging because they’re completely different worlds. I do get typecast at times, but the goal is to keep pushing boundaries, show my range and attract more varied roles.”

‘I don’t want the burden of an image’

Samir has spent over two decades in the public eye as a sports presenter and actor, but says, “I have never taken my public image too seriously. If you do, the pressure to be seen at the right places, make appearances, and constantly manage social media becomes overwhelming. People often ask how I’ve been around for 20 years and am still working. The answer is simple: whatever job I get—acting, anchoring, anything else—I give it my best because I genuinely love being on camera.”

While acknowledging that “visibility and social media are crucial today”, he refuses to let them dictate his life. “I’m learning, but I don’t see it as pressure. I’m a simple chap from Delhi living in Mumbai, and when I’m not shooting, I’m a full-time father to my kids. Keeping life normal works for me because I don’t want the burden of carrying an image around—it becomes a full-time job in itself.”

‘Yogasana is a powerful cultural export’

Samir shares, “Attending the World Yogasana Championship has been a huge learning experience. I arrived thinking yoga was purely a personal practice but seeing it as a competitive sport—with separate men’s and women’s categories and more than 300 challenging asanas—has been truly impressive. It is a remarkable initiative and a powerful cultural export. This is only the beginning. With plans for a league, ambitions for the Commonwealth Games, and the ultimate goal of inclusion in the 2036 Olympics, the sport is clearly on the right path.”

‘No better stress reliever than breaking a sweat’
Speaking about the importance of fitness, Samir says, “Looking after your body is more important than ever today. You need to stay active—whether through walking, weight training, yoga, or sport. Keeping your body moving is essential. We are surrounded by stress and constant digital pressure, and I sometimes get caught up in it too. But a good run, workout, or game helps centre you, and there’s no better stress reliever than breaking a sweat.”