Rithvik Dhanjani was on his way “to find a good phuchka place” when t2 caught up with him for a chat. The 29-year-old TV heart-throb, popular for his gift of the gab, has signed on to host India’s Got Talent this season and was in Calcutta for the auditions of the Colors show. Having made his mark on the small screen, Rithvik has moved on to the digital space, is a favourite to anchor stage shows and has won many a reality format — Nach Baliye to I Can Do That. A chat.

We know you are very strict with your diet. So how come phuchka?!

I am very strict. I usually don’t eat junk like this. But because I am in Calcutta and this is such a haven for food lovers, I decided I might as well have a cheat day (laughs). And phuchka is love!

You’ve just signed up to host India’s Got Talent. What are you looking forward to the most?

The show has such a rich pool of talent from all over the country. It’s an eye-opener to be on the show. I’ve really liked the show and this is the first time I am hosting it. I am hoping to bring in some fresh energy. The spectrum of IGT is so wide and varied, it’s not only about singing and dancing. And the best thing is that you get to go to the roots of every city. So today, in Calcutta, I am hoping to get some great talent from the city.

You are such a natural at hosting. What is it about being a TV host that you like the most?

That it lets me be me. I like that freedom on stage. Since school, I have been performing on stage. It’s a platform where I am in total control and I can do whatever the hell I want. I love being the mad me that I am. So, in a way, hosting brings out the best version of me.

Have words ever failed you on stage or screen?

So many times! There have been times when I have been completely out of words, and that’s mostly happened after I’ve watched an act that’s left me open-mouthed. So the camera also makes it a point to focus on me because they feel that me, of all people, being speechless will make for a good TV moment. They zoom the camera on me further and have fun!

You’ve shifted sights to the web space now, with both Galti Se Mistech and Family coming in for their share of praise. What’s great about the medium?

The world is changing. The stuff people like in terms of formats and stories is changing. And I am someone who likes to go with the change. The scripts that are being offered to me and the work that I am doing on the web is something that I’m enjoying. I do my best work when I am enjoying it, and that’s something I’ve always been clear about. I never take up a project when I have even a minute chance that I am not going to be enjoying it.

Where does that leave TV work because that’s what’s given you your popularity?

Oh, I am not leaving anything anywhere. I’m not saying that TV doesn’t have interesting content… it does have it, but in bits. That one good show on TV happens every few years. For example, I absolutely loved Jenny’s (Jennifer Winget) show Beyhadh as well as Ashish’s (Chowdhry) show called Dev… but such shows come only once in a while. The day I come across a daily soap that resonates with me, I will do it. The medium will never make me decide whether I want to do a show or not. It will always be the script.

Honestly, the lines are getting blurred. Just like in the West, the time has already come when people don’t look at you as a TV actor or a film actor. People now look at us as just actors.

Would a fantasy show like Nagin resonate with you?

(Laughs) It’s a show for the masses. Whatever bits and pieces I have seen, I think it’s a very difficult show to pull off, man! It doesn’t matter whether I want to do it or not, I wonder whether I will be able to do it. I think it’s a tough job to make the audience believe that kind of a world even exists. We live in the cities and highrises, but for the masses, you have to do things that resonate with them once in a while.

‘Curious Little Kid’ says your Twitter bio. What are you most curious about?

I am a curious little kid, ya! I’m curious about work and the world in general… I’m curious about what people say and what they don’t say. Social media is such a wonderful medium to keep the curious kid in you alive. I think it’s a great medium to connect with people, share thoughts and make the world a better place. I don’t look at social media as a negative medium at all. My social media handles are a reflection of the interests I have beyond my work. It’s a great creative getaway for me.

You have been in a relationship with your Pavitra Rishta co-star Asha Negi for a few years now. Is it tough to be in a relationship where there is public attention?

You got to be yourself. We have never really thought about what others think of us or our relationship. For me and Asha, the attention has never really affected us. We were and we continue to be in a happy place.

We have to talk about your ‘bromance’ with actor Karan Wahi…

(Laughs) I think what makes our friendship tick is that we connect on so many levels. He’s a great guy and we are ‘bros’ when we are together. We also have common interests, we like talking about the same things and… we love each other! (Laughs)

You recently delivered a TED Talk on motivation. What was that like?

Well, I was quite nervous in the beginning. I’ve never really given a talk on serious stuff and that kind of pressured me. But then I decided to be myself and what I spoke about is actually my journey. So I basically shared my story… and that was fun.

Where’s Rithvik Dhanjani going to be in five years?

I know where I am going to be five years from now, but I take it one step at a time. I am not one to usually put my intentions into words, but there’s a visualisation in place. But to reach that goal, I need to take present as the first step.