Episodes

  • What Every Artist Must Know: Ft. Adil Hussain on Inner Growth & Creativity | Sonia Choksi | Podcast
    Sep 29 2025

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    What is the true purpose of art—beyond applause, beyond fame?
    Can acting become a form of spiritual practice, a path to inner freedom?

    In this rare and soul-deep conversation, host Sonia Choksi sits down with the profoundly respected and beloved actor Adil Hussain Sir, an artist known not only for his powerful roles in Life of Pi, Delhi Crime, English Vinglish, and Parched, but for the emotional integrity, humility, and spiritual depth he brings to every frame.

    But Adil Sir is much more than an actor.
    He is a seeker. A teacher. A vessel for truth.

    Raised in Assam, shaped by the teachings of his mentor in Pondicherry, and rooted in silence and self-inquiry, Adil Sir views acting not merely as performance but as presence. For him, art is not a mirror of the world, but a bridge between souls, where empathy flows, masks fall, and beauty becomes revelation.

    In this conversation, you’ll hear:

    • How roles like Mephistopheles and Othello became tools for inner transformation

    • Why acting can become a meditative, even mystical, practice

    • The sacred link between stillness, suffering, and creative expressio

    • How cinema can heal both artist and audience

    • The journey from identity to essence, and the evolution of the soul


    💬 Reflecting on questions like:

    "Who am I beyond my roles, my name, my gender?"
    "Can art awaken a deeper truth within us all?"
    "Is silence the most honest form of expression?"

    Whether you're a filmmaker, a spiritual seeker, a creative soul, or simply someone trying to live more authentically, this episode will touch something deep within.

    It’s not just a conversation about acting.
    It’s a meditation on life itself.


    Watch till the end for timeless insights on empathy, creativity, soul-conscious storytelling, and the deeper calling of an artist.

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    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    31 mins
  • Delhi’s Untold Stories: Forgotten Queens, Djinns & Partition Trauma | Ft. Nitika Arora
    Sep 17 2025

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    Behind Delhi’s grand monuments lie forgotten women, silenced voices, and untold truths.

    In this episode, we uncover the hidden histories of India’s powerful women — from Mughal harems to queens like Raziya Sultan and Jahanara Begum.
    Through stories of Partition, refugee trauma, and Indira Gandhi’s formative years, we explore how emotional scars shape personal and political legacies.
    Nitika Arora, co-founder of Darwesh Heritage Walks, brings these stories alive through a feminist lens of storytelling and performance.
    We also delve into Delhi’s spiritual underworld — haunted havelis, jinns, and the unseen energies that still haunt the city.
    More than history, this is a journey of memory, identity, and reclaiming the voices we were never meant to hear.

    Featured Expert: Nitika Arora – Performing Artist, Historian, Researcher

    If you’re passionate about history, mental health, feminism, heritage walks, storytelling, and Indian identity, this is a must-watch.

    Don’t forget to like, share, comment your thoughts, and subscribe for more such powerful stories.

    Let’s rewrite history—one walk, one story at a time.


    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    34 mins
  • Listening to Parents vs Self: From Rejection to Love| Ft. Amit Behl | Sonia Choksi
    Sep 4 2025

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    In this episode, Amit Behl — actor, theatre voice, and industry leader — shares his journey from rejection to Shanti fame.

    He dives into:
    :: Why rejection can fuel growth
    :: Why method acting is overrated
    :: Lessons from Rishi Kapoor & Bobby Deol
    :: The power of education in cinema & theatre
    :: Mentorship, activism & guiding Gen Z

    More than acting, it’s about resilience, creativity & leadership. Perfect for anyone curious about cinema, arts & self-growth.

    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    31 mins
  • What’s the true cost of our comfort?
    Aug 26 2025

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    Sustainability leader Sriram Kuchimanchi (Founder, Smarter Dharma) joins Flirting With a Fish to unpack the uncomfortable truths about climate change, capitalism, and India’s new economic caste system. From shrinking his own carbon footprint to exposing how comfort turns into opulence, Sriram challenges us to rethink the way we live, spend, and empathize.

    A conversation about climate, capitalism, and conscious choices that might just change the way you see your world.



    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    29 mins
  • Power, Hindi & Krishna, a raw conversation India needs right now
    Aug 18 2025

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    There is a reason why actors and artists are seen as different — they often experience life and humanity at a depth most of us overlook. This truth shines in our powerful conversation with Prakash Belawadi — acclaimed actor, director, and thinker, known for his roles in Tashkent Files, Kashmir Files, Pathaan, and many more but definitely the incredible 10 hr + play - Parva

    In this episode, Prakash Belawadi ji talks about: Why the strong and wealthy must care for the poor, and what society loses when they don’t. The disturbing reality of Hindi being imposed as a “national” language, when it was only ever meant to be an official one under the Constitution. Why India cannot have one standard rule or authority for such a vast, diverse nation — and why diversity must be celebrated, not suppressed. His practical solution to India’s 50,000+ pending court cases and how systems can actually work better. The concept of the “Krishna Moment” — and what it truly means to be courageous. Why freedom is so difficult, yet impossible without rebuilding trust — everyone with everyone. This conversation is authentic, sharp, and deeply human. You’ll find reflections of your own life lessons in Prakash’s words — a reminder that wisdom often lies in seeing the world differently.

    Key Takeaways from this video: The untold struggles of professional theater in Bangalore Why language divides India’s access to knowledge How colonial legacies shaped our systems of governance The truth about India’s cultural identity and resilience Why theater is not just art, but voice This is not just a conversation, it’s a journey through India’s soul.



    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    55 mins
  • How Religion & Schooling Kill Critical Thinking | Ft. Dr. Awdhesh Singh| Sonia Choksi
    Aug 2 2025

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    India produces some of the brightest minds in the world, yet struggles with critical thinking.
    Why do our schools teach us WHAT to think, but never HOW to think?
    From ancient philosophies to modern classrooms, we uncover how rote learning is shaping our mindset and killing innovation.
    Watch till the end for 5 powerful solutions to transform India from memorizing answers to leading global innovation.
    What do you think is it a culture problem or an education failure?

    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • This Uber Driver Taught Me What Real Education Means| Ft. Mahesh Kumar| Sonia Choksi
    Jul 25 2025

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    Meet Mahesh Kumar.
    An Uber driver in Delhi… but his real identity is something the city often forgets to see
    A man of dignity. A soul shaped by struggle. A human just like you and me.
    Born into a farmer’s family, Mahesh didn’t come to Delhi with confidence or connections.
    He didn’t know how to drive. Didn’t even know how to survive in a city that moves fast, talks loud, and rarely stops to care.
    His brothers got jobs but Mahesh took the road outside the system, one filled with traffic, sweat, and silence.
    He says, “People don’t see us drivers as humans. They just see a rating.”
    And that broke something inside me.
    Because somewhere along the way, we started calling degrees “education”…
    But we were never taught to say “please” to a waiter, “thank you” to a driver, or “sorry” when we push past someone.
    We celebrate coding in 5 languages… but fail the test of basic human decency.
    We call ourselves “developed”… while throwing garbage from car windows and yelling at guards who are just doing their job.
    This is not what progress looks like.
    Progress is when we follow traffic rules, even when no one is watching.
    It’s when we treat the man cleaning our street the same way we treat the man signing our offer letter.
    India doesn’t just need engineers, doctors, or influencers.
    It needs better humans, with humility, awareness, and heart.
    Because real education is not what we score in school.
    Real education is how we behave when we think no one is looking.
    Until we learn to respect those who serve us…
    We will remain rich in tech, but poor in soul.
    And no nation can grow… if its people forget to grow up.


    #uberdriver #uber #realeducation #civicsense #respectmatters #unsungheroes #humanityfirst #lifelessons #DelhiStories #bekind #driver #progress #emotionalstory #inspiringindia #socialawareness #reallifehero #hearttouching #everydayheroes #changemindset #respectworkers #facts #podcast #explorepage #trending #reality #realtalk #spotify #buzzsprout

    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    49 mins
  • Petrodollar Exposed: How USA Controls the World | Nadeem Siraj | Sonia Choksi
    Jul 8 2025

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    Is the US still the world’s superpower or is its empire silently crumbling?

    In this unfiltered podcast with undercover journalist Nadeem Siraj, we uncover the hidden truth behind US imperialism, the petrodollar system, and global manipulation.
    From Iran’s silent resistance to India’s balancing act, this is a masterclass in how global politics and economy truly work.
    You’ll learn how the media shapes perception, how wars are orchestrated for power, and why oil is the new currency of control.
    We break down Bretton Woods, Nixon Shock, and 3500+ sanctions on Iran — all connecting the dots to today’s world conflicts.
    If you’ve ever doubted the mainstream narrative, this is your wake-up call — watch till the end.

    Support the show

    Follow Flirting With a Fish:
    Instagram: 📷 /flirting_with_a_fish
    Twitter: 🐦 /flirtingwa_fish
    YouTube: /FlirtingWithAFish

    About Flirting With a Fish:
    "Flirting With a Fish" is where unconventional stories meet unapologetic brilliance. This podcast celebrates individuals who dare to be different, remain committed, and redefine success in their unique ways. Expect candid humor, deep insights, and lessons that inspire change.

    Follow Sonia Swaroop Choksi on:
    Instagram: 📷 /sonia.swaroop.choksi
    Facebook: 🔵 /soniaswaroopchoksi
    LinkedIn: 🔗 /soniaswaroopchoksi




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    57 mins