Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has turned celebrity talk show host with Dhawan Karenge. Streaming on JioCinema, the show has the blistering southpaw striking shots of a different kind as he gets up and close with some famous names, chief among them being actors Akshay Kumar and Taapsee Pannu and fellow cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Rishabh Pant. t2 chatted with Dhawan — known as 'Gabbar' in Team India — to find out more about his new innings.

What is the idea behind Dhawan Karenge and what made you want to be a part of it?

The idea is to bring celebrities to a platform jahan pe gupshup karenge, hasi mazaak karenge (smiles).

I know that there are a lot of chat shows and the first question I had was: 'Why another chat show with a celebrity as guest?' That was a big question on my mind. But my team convinced me that this kind of a show fits my personality very well. I joke around a lot... main bahut hasi-mazaak karne waala insaan hoon. I am also very spontaneous.

I decided to do it because I realised that people know me as a cricketer but they don't know me as a person. I wanted all the characteristics that I have as a person to be revealed to the audience. On Instagram, I entertain and make people laugh with my reels. So when this opportunity came to me, I thought it would be a good first step into the entertainment industry. All these factors helped me make the decision to be a part of Dhawan Karenge.

On shows like this, the idea is that more or less the same questions are asked... banda kitna hatke sawaal karein? That is also something I asked my team... that how do I make it look, sound and feel different? What I realised, however, is that every person is unique... sabki energy lag hoti hain. I have a certain kind of energy that accompanies me everywhere, whether I am on the cricket ground or anywhere else.

The way the scriptwriter has framed the questions is in sync with my energy and personality. I was very happy when I read them for the first time and I realised how a good scriptwriter can change things around. That kind of helped me get over all the doubts that I had as to whether I should be doing the show or not.

In what ways is the show different from others in the genre?

What will be different is my energy, as I mentioned earlier. Also, Dhawan Karenge will not be only fun and laughter... we will have serious, soulful conversations. We will also have games. The show has been mounted on a very diverse structure. I aim to create a world and a bond with the guests in each episode which will be uniquely my own. You wouldn't have seen that before.

On the field, you have always given the impression of being a serious personality who makes his bat do all the talking. How does that part of who you are make its way to the show?

I like to be quiet... that is also very much a part of my personality. But when I am with like-minded people who I am comfortable with, I love fooling around and having fun conversations. When I shot the first episode of Dhawan Karenge, I spoke so much that I didn't want to speak to anyone after that! (Laughs) I was sapped off all energy, but I was also glad that I was doing something that demanded so much of my energy. Actually, in life, I like talking about deep, meaningful stuff.

What have been the highlights of the Dhawan Karenge experience so far?

What I have enjoyed the most is that mujhe bahut stylish kapde pehen ne ko miley! (Laughs) Apart from that, I liked getting to meet people from different fields and forging new friendships with many of them. Most of all, I enjoyed being myself on the show. The tagline of Dhawan Karenge is that yeh host nahin dost hain. And that is what I have tried to be. On this show, you will get the feel that two friends are talking.

I am 38 but I have tried to show the childlike side of my personality on Dhawan Karenge, and that is also something that I have encouraged the guests in each episode to also do. I always believe that insaan jitna bhi bada ho jaaye, bachpana usmein rehna chahiye. For me, it is important to retain my childlike innocence and my liveliness. That is a very big part of me. Seriousness jahan honi chahiye main serious hoon, lekin I also believe in the lightness of being. That is what keeps me going.

What were the challenges?

Initially, I would keep forgetting my lines! (Laughs) It happened a lot in the episode with Bhuvan Bam (actor and Internet personality). But he was very sweet and he supported me. He was very patient with me. Akshay paaji (Akshay Kumar) ke saath dil dhak dhak kar raha tha (laughs). The episode with Taapsee (Pannu) was a lot of fun.

Who has been the most fun person on the show so far?

Akshay paaji ke saath bahut mazaa aaya. Bhajju paaji (Harbhajan Singh) was a lot of fun... we connected on a different level. Doing the games section has been fun with all my guests. Even when I think back now about the fun we had, I start laughing spontaneously. All those who have come on my show have got in touch with their childlike side. It has been both a pleasure and a challenge to bring all of that on screen, retaining its genuine and authentic vibe. It has been a beautiful experience for me. Through this show, I have tried to make everyone laugh. In today's times, it is important to make people laugh.

The title seems to be a riff on 'dhamaal karenge'. What constitutes dhamaal in Shikhar Dhawan's book?

For me, dhamaal means haazir jawabi (quick-wittedness). It is about knowing life deeply and also having the ability to laugh at it.

If you could call three players from Team India and three others from other teams on Dhawan Karenge, who would you pick?

Rohit (Sharma) aur Virat (Kohli) toh zaroor rahenge. I love Ricky Ponting, AB De Villiers and Brian Lara... they inspire me. Rabada (Kagiso Rabada, South African cricketer) is a lot of fun.

What do you do to unwind?

I love playing cards, especially a game called Seep. I play it almost every day. I love listening to music and I am also taking singing lessons. I love training and I do that twice a day. My days are pretty packed, on an average. Main generally mazey mein rehta hoon. I try and maintain a good balance between my work life and my personal time.