Podcast
The xMonks Drive
Hosted by Gaurav Arora · HI
What if wisdom had a voice and it sounded like this
Welcome to The xMonks Drive with Gaurav Arora, where soulful conversations meet real-world insight. Hosted by Master Certified Coach and founder of xMonks Gaurav Arora, this weekly podcast brings together a rare mix of CEOs, monks, psychologists, spiritual masters, doctors, and changemakers.
Together, they explore what it truly means to lead with purpose, live with clarity, and grow from the inside out.
From mindfulness and emotional mastery to conscious leadership, healing, entrepreneurship, and legacy, these episodes are more than interviews. They are invitations to shift your perspective and awaken your potential.
If you are done with surface-level talk and crave depth, truth, and transformation, you are in the right place.
New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify along with short, powerful clips to fuel your daily journey.
Come curious. Leave clearer.
38episodes
Episodes
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Detective Reveals India's Most Disturbing Family Secret | Baldev Puri
6d ago00:50:46Tap to summarizeIn this shocking episode of the Gaurav Arora Podcast, we sit down with Baldev Puri, the founder of AMX Detectives, to uncover the hidden, dark secrets of rich families, politicians, and the hidden underbelly of society. Moving far past standard marital disputes, this discussion exposes the real-life dark secret of Bollywood circles and high-society networks operating in major metros.Baldev Puri breaks down some of his most unsettling cases, from a high-profile wife swapping case exposed by an unsuspecting daughter to the terrifying reality of the Sugar Mommy trap destroying young Indian men. We dive deep into how wealth modifies human morality, uncovering instances of extreme family betrayal, corporate espionage, and honey trap scams.Whether it is the necessity of pre-employment vetting for multi-million dollar corporations or the extreme measures elite individuals take for covert surveillance, this episode serves as an eye-opening look into a world completely hidden from the public eye.If you want to understand the true psychology behind true investigative cases India rarely talks about, watch this full episode.00:00 - Introduction & The Dark Realities of Elite Indian Families01:35 - The High-Society Wife Swapping Case04:10 - A Dark Family Secret Exposed07:18 - High-Profile Escort Scams11:10 - Sugar Mommy Trap Destroying Young Men16:06 - How Celebrities and Politicians Hire Detectives22:44 - Why Pre-Employment Vetting is Crucial for Businesses28:50 - A Bizarre Story of Marital Betrayal34:30 - Female Detectives Six Sense40:00 - Outro & Final Message on Maintaining Personal Relationships#GauravArora #BaldevPuri #AMXDetectives #Podcast #DarkSecrets #Investigation🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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Bijay Anand: Bollywood Actor Turned Yogi on The Spiritual Science of Success
2w ago00:23:10Tap to summarizeWhat does real success look like? Bollywood actor Bijay J Anand rejected 22 Bollywood film offers at the peak of his career to pursue Kundalini Yoga and spirituality — and in this conversation with Gaurav Arora on the xMonks Drive Podcast, he explains exactly why, and what he found on the other side.Bijay J Anand is one of India's most extraordinary voices on spirituality, wellness, and conscious living. A working Bollywood actor, international Kundalini Yoga teacher, author, art consultant, and founder of Anahata Retreats Mumbai, Bijay has taught Kundalini Yoga and chakra healing across more than 30 countries, headlined international yoga festivals worldwide, and trained under legendary Kundalini Yoga teacher Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa in Los Angeles. He is the author of The Prosperity Code: The Spiritual Science of Wealth, Success and Power.In this episode Bijay reveals why he knows people worth $8 billion who have attempted to end their lives multiple times — and what that tells us about the real meaning of prosperity, success, and happiness. He breaks down the four stages of enlightenment, why the Anahata chakra is the easiest and most important chakra to open, what most people get completely wrong about Kundalini awakening and tapasya, and why going after Saraswati is the only real path to Lakshmi.He also shares his personal journey — from selling soaps on Mumbai local trains to becoming a Bollywood actor, a globally recognised Kundalini Yoga guru, and the author of The Prosperity Code — and why he believes you don't need a guru, a temple, a mosque, or a church to find God. Aham Brahmasmi. The divinity already exists within you.Released on International Yoga Day, this episode is one of the most honest and thought-provoking conversations on Kundalini Yoga, Indian spirituality, chakra healing, karma, Vedanta, and what it truly means to live a prosperous, awakened, and fulfilling life.---⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Chasing Wisdom Not Wealth00:21 Leaving Bollywood Behind02:41 Returning as King Janak04:14 Redefining Prosperity06:54 Anahata and Love09:22 Goals Versus Flow12:06 Warrior Sage Balance14:32 Self Work Attracts Lakshmi18:41 Kundalini and Miracles19:36 Be Honest Be Humble21:12 Rich Happy Blissful Enlightened21:41 You Are Your Own Guru22:44 Closing Gratitude---🎙️ Guest: Bijay J Anand — Bollywood Actor | International Kundalini Yoga Teacher | Author of The Prosperity Code | Founder Anahata Retreats Mumbai🎙️ Host: Gaurav Arora — Founder xMonks📖 The Prosperity Code: The Spiritual Science of Wealth, Success and Power — Bijay J Anand🔔 Subscribe to xMonks Drive for conversations on leadership, consciousness, spirituality, and human potential.---TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:Kundalini Yoga | Kundalini Awakening | Kundalini Yoga India | Chakra Healing | Chakra Balancing | Anahata Chakra | Heart Chakra | Ajna Chakra | Sahasrara Chakra | Spiritual Awakening | Indian Spirituality | Vedanta | Aham Brahmasmi | Karma | Law of Attraction | Meditation | Mindfulness | Yoga Philosophy | The Prosperity Code | Wealth and Spirituality | Money and Happiness | Real Success | Personal Growth | Life Transformation | Self Realisation | Ayurveda | Naturopathy | Bollywood Actor | Bijay J Anand | Bijay Anand | Gaurav Arora | xMonks | xMonks Drive | xMonks Drive Podcast | Indian Podcast | Spirituality Podcast | Yoga Podcast | Wellness Podcast | Hindi Podcast | International Yoga Day | Yoga Day 2026 | Anahata Retreats | Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa | Siya Ke Ram | Bollywood Spirituality | Celebrity Yoga Teacher | Prosperity Code Book | Mumbai Wellness | Tapasya | Saraswati Lakshmi | Yoga Guru India🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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Tailor, Theatre, Then Filmfare | Bollywood's Favourite Dad Gajraj Rao Breaks It Down
3w ago00:38:47Tap to summarizeGajraj Rao — the actor who waited 25 years for Bollywood to notice him — sits down with Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for his most honest interview yet. Best known for his National Award and Filmfare Award-winning role as Jeetendra Kaushik in Badhaai Ho, Gajraj Rao opens up about his journey from a railway colony in Rajasthan to Delhi theatre to becoming one of Hindi cinema's most loved character actors.In this episode, Gajraj Rao talks about his early struggles before fame — working as a tailor, writing for newspapers for a few hundred rupees, and getting rejected at hundreds of auditions alongside actors who are now household names. He shares rare, personal stories from the set of Bandit Queen with Shekhar Kapur, his 40-year friendship with Manoj Bajpayee, and an unforgettable backstage memory from their theatre days together. He also opens up about his father, the quiet lessons he learned at home, and how that shaped the man and actor he became.Gajraj Rao reflects on his chemistry with Neena Gupta in Badhaai Ho, the hardest scene he ever shot, his preparation process as an actor, and his sharp, unfiltered opinion on what it really means to be a "character actor" versus a star in Hindi cinema. He also speaks about his decades-long career in advertising filmmaking that quietly supported him through his most uncertain years, and the one principle he says he never compromised on — his self-respect.This conversation covers his most celebrated films and shows — Badhaai Ho, Talvar, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Maidaan, Dabba Cartel, Dupahiya — and the people who shaped his career, including Manoj Bajpayee, Ashish Vidyarthi, Neena Gupta, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Ajay Devgn.Whether you know him as the dad from TVF's Tech Conversations with Dad, Kaushik Saab from Badhaai Ho, or one of Bollywood's most respected character actors, this episode of xMonks Drive gives you the most complete, honest, and personal conversation with Gajraj Rao yet.🎙️ Watch the full episode for stories on Bollywood, struggle, fame, friendship, and self-respect — straight from one of Hindi cinema's most underrated actors.▶️ Subscribe to xMonks Drive for more honest, in-depth conversations with India's most interesting minds.CHAPTERS:00:00 Green Room Dedication00:19 Building Onscreen Chemistry00:33 Feeling Like a Servant01:06 Badhaai Ho Breakthrough02:57 Gratitude For The Team04:01 Luck And Casting Journey05:23 Where Characters Live07:40 Hardest Scene To Play09:17 Bandit Queen Set Lessons13:21 Preparing For A Role16:21 Staying Present On Set17:38 Stars Versus Character Actors20:14 Manoj Bajpayee Stories23:42 Childhood Values And Equality30:43 Choosing Theatre At 1732:39 Early Career Humiliations36:38 Pride Mentors And No Compromise38:35 Closing Thanks#GajrajRao #xMonksDrive #BadhaaiHo #BollywoodPodcast #GauravArora #ManojBajpayee #IndianPodcast #HindiPodcast #BollywoodInterview #CharacterActor🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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Was Osho Actually Right? India's Top Yogi Finally Answers | Prof.(Dr.) Rajesh Kumar
4w ago00:52:11Tap to summarizeOn the occasion of International Yoga Day, xMonks Drive sits down with one of India's most extraordinary minds — Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar, Sanyasi Bhargava Ph.D. — Professor of Happiness & Wellbeing, Kundalini Yogi, Tantric Master, Applied Psychologist and S*xologist with over 22 years of experience across India and Europe.In this conversation, Gaurav Arora and Prof. Rajesh Kumar explore the hidden secrets of Kundalini awakening, the real meaning of Tantra, the science of human consciousness, and why ancient Indian wisdom holds the answers to modern mental health and happiness.This is the knowledge they never taught you in school.What we cover:Kundalini explained | Chakras and the body's energy system | Ida, Pingala and Sushumna | The shadow side of Kundalini awakening | Why a guru is essential | Hidden secrets of Kundalini | What Tantra really is | Left-hand vs right-hand Tantra | Why Tantra was suppressed | Desire, consciousness and enlightenment | Can you reach enlightenment through physical intimacy | Shame, guilt and physical illness | Why spiritual gurus fall | Osho — Gyani Yogi or controversial master | Carl Jung and Kundalini | The five states of consciousness | AUM decoded | Om chanting and brainwaves | Ancient healing mantras | Depression through yogic science | How to begin your Kundalini practice | Appo Deepo BhavaChapters:00:00 Can We Enlighten00:35 Brainwaves And Samadhi01:15 Osho And Guru Scandals01:29 Becoming A Yoga Professor04:24 What Is Kundalini05:43 Chakras And Energy Path09:57 Heart Chakra Awakening15:24 Fake Awakening Claims15:46 Meditation Cleanses Mind21:12 Celibacy And Tradition22:56 Shame Guilt And Trauma24:16 Emotions And Illness28:08 Nadis And Hidden Secrets30:01 Yoga Beyond Healing31:08 Shakti Three Gunas31:50 Tamasik Awakening Path32:37 Durga to Saraswati Shift33:58 Tantra vs Yoga Explained35:01 Left Hand Right Hand Tantra36:40 Sex and Moksha Link40:01 Science of Prana Vitality41:28 Carl Jung Consciousness Map44:27 Om and Brainwave States46:29 Healing Mantras Routine48:54 Discipline and Self Love51:40 Closing Thanks FarewellAbout the Guest:Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar — Sanyasi Bhargava Ph.D. Professor of Practice, Manav Rachna International University. Ph.D. in Yogic Science. Master's in Applied Psychology, Applied Yogic Sciences from Bihar Yoga Bharati — the world's first yoga university — and S*xology and Psychos*xual Counselling. Author of Kundalini: Secret of All Secrets and Happiness and Well-being.About xMonks Drive:Deep, unhurried conversations on consciousness, happiness, leadership and the human experience. Founded by Gaurav Arora. Subscribe for new episodes every week.Keywords: Kundalini awakening, Kundalini yoga, what is Kundalini, Kundalini awakening explained, Tantra explained, what is Tantra, left hand Tantra, right hand Tantra, hidden secrets of Kundalini, science of yoga, yoga and neuroscience, chakras explained, Muladhara chakra, Ida Pingala Sushumna, Om chanting brainwaves, alpha waves meditation, delta waves samadhi, Gayatri mantra, Mahamrityunjaya mantra, AUM meaning, five states of consciousness, turiya state, Shiva consciousness, Carl Jung and yoga, science of happiness, professor of happiness, ancient Indian wisdom, Bihar Yoga Bharati, Kundalini tantra enlightenment, how to awaken Kundalini, Kundalini dangers, yoga for happiness, yoga for depression, yoga for anxiety, ancient Indian secrets, hidden secrets yoga, tantra and consciousness, human consciousness explained, self realization yoga, Patanjali yoga sutras, Bihar School of Yoga, happiness professor India, International Yoga Day 2026, Yoga Day special, Indian podcast, xMonks Drive, Gaurav Arora podcast, Prof Rajesh Kumar, Sanyasi Bhargava#KundaliniAwakening #Tantra #Yoga #KundaliniYoga #YogaDay #InternationalYogaDay #YogaDay2026 #Happiness #Wellbeing #Consciousness #AncientWisdom #IndianPhilosophy #Meditation #Chakras #Spirituality #SpiritualAwakening #xMonksDrive #GauravArora #ProfRajeshKumar #SanyasiBhargava #HiddenSecrets #Enlightenment #MentalHealth #Depression #YogaScience #Neuroscience #Om #AUM #GayatriMantra #CarlJung #Osho #BiharYogaBharati #IndianPodcast #podcastindia 🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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The Silent Killer Hiding in Every Young Indian's Body | Dr. Avinash Verma
Jun 1000:59:15Tap to summarizeWhy are young Indians dying of cardiac arrest? Why are fit, healthy people in their 30s and 40s suddenly collapsing at the gym, at weddings, on stage, in their sleep — with no warning?In this episode of xMonks Drive, host Gaurav Arora sits down with Dr. Avinash Verma, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, for one of the most important conversations about heart health in India.Dr. Avinash Verma is one of India's leading cardiac electrophysiologists with over 15 years of experience, 2,400+ device implantations, and 1,300+ radiofrequency ablations. He is the only doctor in North India trained in laser-assisted lead extraction. In this episode, he explains why Indians get heart disease 10 years earlier than Western populations, what the difference is between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest, and why India's out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate is just 2-3% compared to 50-60% in the world's best out-of-hospital cardiac arrest programs.Dr. Verma shares real patient stories including a 36-year-old woman who passed away from sudden cardiac death after refusing a life-saving device, a cardiology colleague who collapsed outside his own home just 1 kilometre from the hospital and could not be revived, and a 19-year-old whose brother had passed away at 17 from a genetic heart condition — who is now thriving after treatment. He also discusses the cases of Sidharth Shukla, Shefali Jariwala, KK, and Prateek Yadav, and explains what actually happens during these sudden cardiac events.Topics covered in this episode include sudden cardiac death in young Indians, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, inherited heart conditions, genetic screening for heart disease, cardiac arrest vs heart attack, how CPR works and why it must be taught in Indian schools, pacemakers and ICDs, the danger of steroids and unregulated gym supplements, why vaping is illegal in India and what it does to the heart, why sugar may be as harmful as smoking, the link between sleep deprivation and heart disease, chronic stress and the heart's electrical system, sedentary lifestyle and cardiac risk, binge drinking and arrhythmia, the role of COVID and vaccines in myocarditis, the truth about pharma conspiracy theories, Ayurveda and evidence-based medicine, whether smartwatch ECG data is medically reliable, the genetic risk of same-community marriage, organ donation and heart transplant in India, and why selling miracle cures is illegal in India.If you or someone you love has a family history of cardiac arrest, heart disease, or sudden unexplained loss — this episode could save a life. Dr. Verma explains exactly what tests to get, what warning signs to watch for, and what to do if someone collapses near you.🫀 CHAPTERS 00:00 Pharma Mafia Claims00:28 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Fears00:44 Supplements Vaping Myths01:45 Why Indians Get Heart Disease Early02:25 Genes SNPs Multi Hit Risk05:28 Metabolic Syndrome Indian Profile06:35 Cholesterol FH Explained08:03 ICDs Ablation Saving Lives09:38 What Cardiac Arrest Really Is12:13 CPR AEDs Survival Gap16:58 Gym Collapses Real Causes17:57 Steroids Caffeine Substance Abuse20:54 COVID Vaccines Heart Risks22:48 Mental Stress Patient Stories30:27 Screening Before Sports31:55 ECG Screening For Sports32:33 Family History Sudden Death Steps34:54 Indian Lipid Pattern Fixes35:52 Heart Attack Vs Cardiac Arrest40:46 Sleep Stress And Binge Drinking43:03 Sugar Fatty Liver And NASH47:08 Primordial Prevention Checklist50:43 Vaping Myths And Harms52:26 Ayurveda Evidence And RCTs54:49 Pharma Conspiracies And Anecdotes56:46 Smartwatch Accuracy Reality Check59:12 Final Wrap And Thanks 🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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Climbers Are Being Poisoned On Everest. The Reason Will SHOCK You! | Kaamya Karthikeyan
Jun 300:58:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode of xMonks Drive, host Gaurav Arora sits down with Kaamya Karthikeyan — India's youngest female Everester, world record holder, and one of the most extraordinary young athletes in the world — for a rare long-form conversation about what it really takes to push past the limits of human endurance, again and again, from the time she was seven years old.Kaamya Karthikeyan became the youngest female in the world to complete the Seven Summits — climbing the highest mountain on every continent — at the age of 17. She has summited Mount Everest, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Mount Denali in North America, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. She has also skied 111 kilometres to the Geographic South Pole as part of the Last Degree expedition, becoming the youngest Indian and one of the youngest women in the world to do so. She is currently 18 years old and studying engineering at Shiv Nadar University. She is also a competitive ski mountaineer who has represented India at the Asian Championships and the Youth World Cup, and won medals at the Khelo India Winter Games and the National Championships. Ski mountaineering recently became an Olympic sport at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.In this episode Kaamya talks about her Everest summit push — starting from Camp 4 in the middle of the night after 250 climbers had turned back, navigating whiteout conditions on the Lhotse Face, losing her expedition mitten at 8000 metres above sea level, and what her Sherpa did in that moment that she will never forget. She talks about skiing alone to the South Pole for 10 days with no landmarks, getting frostbite, being told by doctors to go home, and walking 8 hours with no guarantee she would be allowed to continue. She talks about the avalanche on Mount Trishul in Uttarakhand in 2021 that took the lives of six people she was close to, and how she processed that loss and went back to the mountains seven months later for the Denali expedition. She talks about the controversy around evacuation practices currently affecting the Himalayan climbing community and what it is doing to the relationship between climbers and the Sherpa community.This episode is essential viewing for anyone interested in mountaineering, Everest, high altitude climbing, the Seven Summits, the Explorers Grand Slam, polar expeditions, the South Pole, ski mountaineering, adventure sports in India, mental strength, resilience, overcoming fear, dealing with loss, and the human capacity to keep going when everything says stop.Kaamya Karthikeyan's story is one of the most remarkable sporting and human stories to come out of India in recent years. She started trekking at age 7 in Uttarakhand, summited her first 6000 metre peak at age 9 on Stok Kangri in Ladakh, trekked to Everest Base Camp at age 9, summited Kilimanjaro at age 10, Elbrus at age 11, Aconcagua at age 12 becoming the youngest girl in the world at the time, Denali at age 14, Everest at age 16 becoming the youngest Indian and one of the youngest women in the world to summit from the Nepal side, Vinson Massif in Antarctica at age 17 completing the Seven Summits, and skied to the South Pole at age 17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about her on Mann Ki Baat when she was 12 years old. She has won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. She has been supported by the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and the Reliance Foundation. Only the North Pole expedition remains before she completes the full Explorers Grand Slam.🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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First the Censor Board. Then the Government. She Didn't Cut a Single Scene | Alankrita Shrivastava
May 2700:54:35Tap to summarizeAlankrita Shrivastava — the writer, director, and creator behind Lipstick Under My Burkha, Bombay Begums, and Made in Heaven — sits down with Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for one of her most in-depth conversations ever.Alankrita Shrivastava is one of India's most fearless and acclaimed filmmakers. Her debut film Lipstick Under My Burkha was banned by the CBFC censor board before fighting its way to a theatrical release and winning awards at over 80 international film festivals including Tokyo International Film Festival and Créteil International Women's Film Festival. Her Netflix series Bombay Begums, which she created, wrote, and directed, was targeted by the NCPCR. Her Amazon Prime Video series Made in Heaven, co-created with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, received an International Emmy nomination.In this episode, Alankrita Shrivastava opens up about the real story behind Lipstick Under My Burkha, what it felt like when the censor board called her film obscene and refused certification, and how she fought to get it released in India. She talks about working with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti in the Made in Heaven writers room, why she cast Pooja Bhatt in Bombay Begums, and why Konkona Sen Sharma is the only actor she would make every film with for the rest of her life. She also speaks candidly about the challenges facing women directors in Indian cinema, why only 6% of Indian films are directed by women, what OTT platforms like Netflix India are afraid of, and why Bollywood's business model is structurally rigged against independent filmmakers and women's stories.Alankrita also reflects on her years as assistant director under Prakash Jha on films like Raajneeti, Gangaajal, and Apaharan, the personal challenges she faced during the release of Lipstick Under My Burkha, her upcoming film on Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch and the circumstances of her death, and what she wants every woman watching her films to feel.This is an unmissable conversation about Indian cinema, women's stories, creative freedom, censorship in India, OTT platforms, Bollywood, filmmaking, and the fight to tell the stories that matter.Timestamps00:00 Lipstick Trailer Impact00:23 Creative Room Debates01:24 Censorship Release Battle05:19 Personal Loss And Faith06:00 First Big Set Experience07:40 Tough Love Mentorship08:56 Writing Turning 3012:16 Director Versus Actor14:48 Female Gaze Origins18:54 Made In Heaven Writers Room22:35 Women Behind Camera Gap23:18 Casting Pooja Bhatt25:14 Showrunner Stress Points26:51 Films vs Series Space27:23 OTT Boom for Actors28:11 Prithvi Theatre Struggle Days30:14 Why Konkona Works32:20 Pappu Character Spotlight34:09 Laapataa Ladies35:14 Theatrical vs Streaming Debate38:36 Staying True to Craft41:01 Writing Complex Women43:48 Themes Agency and Class45:09 What Keeps Her Going49:52 Impact on Small Town Girls52:01 Advice for New Filmmakers54:15 Closing Thanks Topics covered: Lipstick Under My Burkha | Bombay Begums | Made in Heaven | Zoya Akhtar | Reema Kagti | Konkona Sen Sharma | Pooja Bhatt | Prakash Jha | Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare | Kiran Rao | Laapataa Ladies | CBFC censor board India | Netflix India | Amazon Prime Video India | women directors India | feminist filmmaking | Indian independent cinema | OTT platforms India | Bollywood filmmaking | Qandeel Baloch | NCPCR | International Emmy India | Tokyo Film Festival | female gaze | women in Bollywood | Indian web series | best Indian films | Indian female director | women empowerment India | bold Indian storytelling | Indian podcast | Hindi cinema | streaming wars India | creative freedom India | xMonks Drive | Gaurav Arora🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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The Honest Warning Every Working Indian Needs to Hear in 2026 | Prashant Puri
May 2000:49:39Tap to summarizeAI is already replacing jobs. Most people are completely unprepared.In this episode, Gaurav Arora sits down with Prashant Puri — Founder and CEO of AdLift, one of India's leading digital marketing and AI agencies — for the most important career conversation of 2026.Prashant has run SEO, digital marketing, and AI strategy for PayPal, HP, Myntra, and some of the world's biggest brands. He built AdLift from 5 people to 200 and exited for ₹50 crore. He is also the creator of Tesseract, an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform that is changing how brands think about search in the AI era.In this episode he names the AI tools beyond ChatGPT that are already replacing jobs, explains why knowing only ChatGPT in 2026 is not enough, and gives a step by step breakdown of what to learn right now to stay ahead.He also explains why Google is losing — 60% of searches now end without a single click — what the zero click era means for your career and business, why India has 180 million AI users but not a single homegrown AI company, and why most learn AI and earn lakhs courses are Ponzi schemes.What You Will Learn:- Which jobs AI will replace first in 2026- The best AI tools to learn beyond ChatGPT — Runway, Kimi, Claude, N8N, MidJourney and more- How to use AI agents to automate your work and run tasks 24/7- Why Google is dying and what is replacing it- How to start learning AI from scratch as a complete beginner- Why India is the biggest AI user in the world but hasn't monetized it- The difference between someone AI replaces and someone AI makes unstoppable- How Prashant Puri built a ₹50 crore company from a 2 out of 5 performance reviewChapters:00:00 Will AI Take Your Job00:20 Meet Prashant Puri01:35 AI Tools Beyond ChatGPT02:40 Ocean Of AI Use Cases03:47 Marketing Creatives And Automation06:33 AI For Learning And Email08:44 Jobs And The New Marketer10:31 Why Degrees Still Matter12:29 Making Money With AI16:17 Avoiding AI Course Scams19:00 First Steps For Beginners20:13 Brand Visibility And SEO Basics21:45 AdLift PayPal Pitch Story24:04 Can AI Identify Problems25:19 Stop Being Lazy With AI25:33 Google vs LLM Search Shift26:59 GEO and Consideration Funnel28:58 From Searching to Asking29:39 Zero Click Era Explained30:56 Expertise Beats Fake AI33:12 Start Small and Compound34:32 AI as an Equalizer37:56 Tracking LLM Visibility Tool41:57 Tech Convenience vs Connection43:55 India Monetization and Ads45:54 Building Indian AI Models48:07 One Truth About AI FutureAbout Prashant Puri: Prashant Puri is the Founder and CEO of AdLift, one of India's leading digital marketing and AI agencies. With over 15 years of experience in SEO, paid media, and AI-driven marketing, he has worked with global brands including PayPal, HP, and Myntra. He is also the creator of Tesseract, an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform built for the zero click era.About Gaurav Arora: Gaurav Arora is one of India's most respected podcast hosts, known for deep and honest conversations with leading voices in business, entrepreneurship, technology, and personal growth.🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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No One Has Life Figured Out. Your Brain Was Never Designed To | Dr. Sid Warrier
May 1300:41:49Tap to summarizeNobody actually knows what they're doing. Not your boss. Not your parents. Not the most successful person in your office.This is not a self-help video. This is the science of why you are the way you are.Dr. Siddharth Warrier, neurologist, author, and one of India's most important voices on the science of the brain, joins Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for a conversation that will change the way you understand yourself, your relationships, your habits, and your mind.We cover why your brain never actually grew up, what cheap dopamine is silently doing to your focus and your mood, why social media is the most perfectly engineered addiction in human history, why movement is the most underrated mental health tool available to you, how the brains of high performers and wealthy people actually work, why Indian men shut down emotionally and what that costs them, why your childhood is still making decisions for you, and why the one thing every human being on earth is secretly doing (faking it) is not a character flaw. It is just neuroscience.If you have ever felt anxious for no clear reason, addicted to your phone, stuck in patterns you can't explain, disconnected from the people you love, or quietly convinced that everyone else has figured out something you haven't, this episode is for you.They haven't. And Dr. Sid Warrier explains exactly why.---What you will learn in this episode:— Why the adult brain is still fundamentally a child's brain and what that means for your daily life— The neuroscience of cheap dopamine and why your brain will always choose the easiest reward— Why social media is the most addictive substance ever created and what it is doing to an entire generation— How movement and physical activity directly regulate emotion, anxiety, and decision-making— Why knowledge and wealth compound the same way and what that means for high performance— The real reason Indian men struggle to express emotion and how that shapes their relationships— Why your childhood environment is still running your adult nervous system— How to use awareness to break the automatic cycle between emotion and reaction— What the brains of the most successful people in the world actually have in common---Timestamps:00:00 Adults Are Scared Too01:42 Talk Therapy Basics03:03 Name It To Tame It04:12 Movement Regulates Emotions06:07 Dopamine And Decisions06:52 Samay Raina And Authenticity09:43 Comedy As A Symphony10:55 Brain Floors And Responses14:38 Gamification And Problem Solving16:22 Gamification Mindset16:31 Male Female Brain Differences17:15 Hormones Emotions Reality Check19:50 Father Son Chemistry21:28 Why Alpha Movies Sell24:33 Art Versus Real Life26:44 Raising Kids Safely28:28 Safety And Curiosity Plan29:43 Rich Brain Myth32:04 Social Media Cheap Dopamine35:05 Men And Therapy Stigma37:03 Building Emotional Awareness39:55 Expressing Anger Lessons41:29 Closing Thanks---About Dr. Siddharth Warrier:Dr. Siddharth Warrier is a neurologist, author, and one of India's leading communicators on brain science and mental health. Known for making complex neuroscience accessible and relevant to everyday life, he has spoken to millions across platforms about the brain, behaviour, emotional regulation, and the science of the mind. Follow him on Instagram @thesidwarrier.🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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How Black Money is Destroying India's Schools, Roads & Economy | Abhishek Bali
May 600:59:01Tap to summarizeWhat if 45% of India's entire economy is black money? The ED has filed nearly 6,000 money laundering cases in 10 years and secured just 15 convictions. Digital arrest scams have stolen over ₹120 crore from ordinary Indians. And elections may be the single largest consumer of black money in this country.In this episode of xMonks Drive, Gaurav Arora sits down with Abhishek Bali — CEO & Co-Founder of ZIGRAM and one of India's foremost experts on financial crime, money laundering, and regulatory technology — for one of the most wide-ranging and honest conversations ever had on this subject on an Indian podcast.From the Nirav Modi PNB scandal to Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher collapse, from hawala networks to digital arrest scams targeting your parents — Abhishek breaks down exactly how black money moves, who it hurts, and what is being built to stop it.What we cover in this episode:🔴 How Nirav Modi fooled a nationalized bank for years using a single branch in Mumbai🔴 Why Vijay Mallya's money is sitting in London and will never come back to India🔴 How the three stages of money laundering — placement, layering, integration — work in real life🔴 Why 45% of India's GDP may be black money — and what that really means for you🔴 How money laundering is destroying India's schools, roads, and public services🔴 Why elections are the single largest consumer of black money in India — and how it moves🔴 How NGOs are used as fronts for terror financing and money laundering🔴 The fake currency that flowed into Kashmir and how it funded ground-level violence🔴 Why online gaming apps became money laundering vehicles before India banned them🔴 How the 'Ghar Baithe Hazaaron Kamao' WhatsApp scam is actually a money laundering operation🔴 Why digital arrest scams always target older, vulnerable people — and the chilling logic behind it🔴 What Aadhaar, GST, and demonetisation actually did to black money🔴 How ZIGRAM's technology screens millions of transactions every day to catch financial crime🔴 Is India winning or losing the fight against money laundering?About Abhishek BaliAbhishek Bali is the CEO & Co-Founder of ZIGRAM, India's leading RegTech company building financial crime compliance technology for banks, fintechs, and financial institutions across India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.🌐 zigram.tech🔗 linkedin.com/in/abhishekbali85Chapters:00:00 Nirav Modi Scam Intro01:40 SWIFT Loophole Explained02:58 LOUs And Inside Collusion04:16 How The Fraud Was Caught05:35 Vijay Mallya Comparison08:51 Money Stuck Overseas11:11 Three Stages Of Laundering14:08 Everyday Laundering Examples15:24 How Big Is Black Economy17:27 Victims And Elections Link20:27 Election Spending Reality23:35 Donations And Legal Loopholes27:32 NGOs Trusts And FCRA Risks32:09 Terror Funding Cash Flows33:17 Fake Cash to White Money33:45 Inflation and Currency Damage34:44 Gaming Apps Laundering Loopholes38:26 Bans Push Ops Offshore39:24 Mule Accounts Explained42:09 Digital Arrest Scam Tactics47:42 Aadhaar GST Demonetization Impact51:37 Demonetization Pros and Cons53:35 How ZIGRAM Fights AML57:10 Is India Winning58:16 Balancing Control and Freedom58:39 Closing Thanks and TakeawaysDisclaimer: All views expressed in this episode are personal opinions based on publicly available information and professional experience. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal or financial advice.🔗 Connect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrvInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrvSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334Website: https://xmonks.com
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