Then and now

Then it was more about the serious, intelligent, well-mannered and dressed in the mandatory suit kind of TV host. It was much later that hosting was redefined and got its current avatar. Now it is all about the Hinglish speaking, hip, yo, irreverent young guy. Being able to think on your feet and adding your own brand of cerebral content to a show is co-incidental.

Hosting as a profession is still in its nascent stage in India. Celeb shows, reality shows, cookery shows, talk shows. The need for hosts is on an all-time high. So what is hosting all about? A pretty face, designer threads, a good bod, spiked hair? Or is it all this and dollops of talent and intelligence? What is the art of good hosting?

As no corporate house or institution has yet thought of launching a course in hosting all our hosts are self-taught. "One should have a good education and be well-read. This should be a pre-requisite," believes Mini Mathur one of the most popular hosts on TV today.

Cyrus Broacha, Sajid Khan, Mini Mathur, Cyrus Sahukar, Mona Singh, Karan Johar, Roshan Abbas are also in the current top bracket. Not to mention the veejays on different music channels who sport fake accents, crack juvenile jokes and the female veejays dressed in almost nothing. And not to mention that all read from a script written by an equally amateur writer.