In this deeply honest conversation, Vamsee Chaganti opens up about his journey from engineering and IT jobs to cinema, theatre, and choosing creative freedom over comfort. Known to audiences from Happy Days, he reflects on how early success shaped his personal and professional life in Telugu cinema.Hosted on Kaushik & Co, this episode goes beyond fame and formulas. Through the experiences and perspectives of Vamsee Chaganti, the discussion explores filmmaking realities, middle-class expectations, industry myths, and why choosing meaningful roles often comes with uncertainty.From cricket conversations to artistic integrity, from theatre struggles to life lessons after Happy Days, this episode is a raw look at what success really means beyond money, fame, and visibility.🔑 Key Discussion PointsImpact of Happy Days and being typecast for yearsTransition from an engineering & IT job to full-time actingPassion vs practicality: quitting a stable career for cinemaChoosing to be an actor over chasing a “hero” imageMoney, success, and creative satisfaction in the film industryReality of filmmaking, failures, and industry risksVision behind Tollywood Pro League (TPL) and artist welfare🎯 What You Will Learn From This EpisodeHow to take bold life decisions without living with regretWhy passion often looks like “madness” to othersThe real meaning of success beyond money and fameWhat aspiring actors should realistically expect from cinemaHow to stay mentally strong through uncertainty and rejection Timestamps 00:01 - Intro 01:52 - About happy days 03:04 - Happy days character of him 04:00 - Middle-class journey from IT to cinema06:37 - Were you always passionate about movies?07:27 - What was the first movie you watched?08:21 - About the show 08:57 - Why did you take such a long gap after Happy Days movie ? 10:46 - Did your parents ask why you’re doing fewer films?11:44 - Did you face relatives questioning what you’re doing?13:11 - Advice for the people who are willing to get into movies 15:38 - What is your relationship with money?18:44 - Our upbringing impacts everything23:41 - Was your engineering life like Happy Days engineering? 24:07 - How was your Cognizant/IT life?28:24 - How do you define success?30:29 - Banks don’t treat the film industry as an industry 31:27 - Have you faced any fearful situations? 33:16 - Is it true that there are no real friends in the film industry?34:17 - Finding good producers is tough, even with a strong script 36:19 - Story vs star power - what makes a movie successful? 42:57 - Why is Rajamouli so successful? 45:56 - What is the process of making a film?51:34 - How to get on-set film experience? 54:56 - Is a Happy Days sequel being planned?57:46 - I’ll act if Pawan Kalyan directs me58:49 - How was working with Vishwanath sir?1:02:03 - Recommendations of k . vishwanath garu movies 1:06:28 - What makes him stand out ? 1:09:11 - Any directors you dream of working with?1:11:40 - How is RGV as a director?1:16:02 - Loves performing on stage1:17:26 - Male emotions 1:21:09 - How important are male friendships? 1:23:09 - Men show emotions through sports 1:25:07 - What is your association with cricket? 1:27:37 - Tollywood pro League start will stun people 1:37:55 - What is the structure of the league 1:42:13 - Registrations of players 1:47:44 - How much influence did Dil Raju garu have on you? NC Kaushik ( Host ) - instagram.com/KaushikncKaushik&co - instagram.com/Kaushikandcoshow Kathanika Media - instagram.com/kathanikamedia Presented by : Kathanika Media Co-Presented by : Rojo Elephant Entertainment Venue Partner : Columbus coffee - The Cozy Eatery#kaushikandco #cinema #tollywood #movieindustry #pawankalyan #maheshbabu #happydays #cricket #passion #engineeringlife #sekharkammula #podcast #telugupodcast

Why You Pay ₹149 for a ₹99 MilkshakeThe Dark Reality of Food Delivery | MOM x Kaushik & CoIn this episode of Kaushik & Co, we sit down with Rahul, founder of Makers of Milkshakes (MOM), to break down the real business truth behind food delivery pricing, margins, and survival in India’s F&B ecosystem.From studying Computer Science and pursuing an MBA in London to building one of Hyderabad’s most recognisable milkshake brands, Rahul shares a journey shaped by grit, first-principles thinking, and a deeply rooted middle-class mindset.This is not a motivational story.This is a ground-level business reality check.Key Discussion PointsThe ₹149 Milkshake TruthWhy a ₹99 milkshake becomes ₹149 on delivery apps. Commissions, packaging, discounts, and hidden costs nobody talks about.Idea Validation at ScaleHow MOM was validated by giving away 1,700 free milkshakes and what real customer behaviour revealed.Word of Mouth Over Paid AdsWhy MOM avoids heavy ad spends and focuses on organic brand trust.Chef-Independent ModelHow SOP-driven systems allow MOM to train staff in just one week, without relying on star chefs.COVID RealityThe toughest phase — selling personal property to pay salaries, clear dues, and keep the business alive.What You’ll Get From This Episode• A raw breakdown of food delivery economics• How middle-class thinking shaped business decisions• Scaling without compromising ethics• Hiring, training, and SOP systems explained simply• Founder stress, risk, and responsibility behind the scenes• A fun segment comparing milkshake flavours to Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rohit SharmaThis Episode Is For You If You Are• An aspiring entrepreneur• Running or planning an F&B brand• Curious about Swiggy and Zomato economics• Interested in system-driven scaling• Someone who believes values matter while building profitWatch till the end. This conversation will change how you look at food delivery.Chapters00:00 – Intro14:08 – First stall & early risks19:09 – COVID & survival27:01 – Stubbornness in business41:46 – Evaluating business ideas57:24 – Favourite MOM milkshake1:00:12 – Franchising decision1:18:20 – Walk-ins vs delivery apps1:27:02 – Digital presence & marketing1:33:25 – Fun segment1:47:04 – Costly business mistake2:05:16 – Personal side & family2:26:44 – LegacyHashtags#makersofmilkshakes #podcast #mom #kaushikandco #foodbusinessindia #startupreality #fooddeliverytruth #hyderabadstartups #indianstartups #businesspodcastindiaSearch Keywordswhy food delivery is expensive₹149 milkshake realitymakers of milkshakes founder interviewfood delivery commission indiaswiggy zomato margins explainedrestaurant business india reality

In this inspiring episode of Kaushik & Co, Charan Lakkaraju shares deep insights on how Gen Z is redefining success, career growth, and leadership in 2026. From the truth behind ₹1 Crore salary packages to the rise of startup culture, this episode explores what really matters for students and professionals today.We discuss how the Rich Dad Poor Dad mindset applies to modern parenting, why “proof of work” matters more than degrees, and how Gen Z can turn chaos into opportunity.If you are a student, parent, or young professional navigating today’s rapidly changing world, this conversation will provide you with the clarity and motivation you need.💬 Key Discussion Points • Gen Z’s Advantage: Why Charan calls them the “Golden Generation” despite the criticism • Cool Dad vs Rich Dad: How upbringing shapes financial and career mindset • The Salary Myth: Understanding the reality behind viral ₹1 Crore package stories • Future Skills: Why implementation matters more than just having knowledge • Startup Chaos: How starting your career in unstructured environments accelerates growth🎓 What You Will Learn • Proof of Work vs Degrees: Why tangible projects matter more than paper qualifications • Networking Hacks: How to get into the right rooms and connect with mentors • Women in Leadership: The strengths women bring to modern workplaces • Soft Skills Mastery: The art of reading people and building emotional intelligence • Career Strategy: Choosing between startups and corporate jobs the smart wayTime stamps 00:00 - Kaushik's intro 00:45 - Intro 02:09 - Introduction of the show 02:56 - Charan Lakkaraju gifted his father a ₹6,000 shirt 04:07 - Is your relationship with money shaped by your father’s views on money?05:50 - Was there a rich dad while you are growing up 11:34 - What dos and don’ts did you learn from your father?13:57 - Dos and values for future generations17:36 - Free will of the newer generations20:43 - Changes observed in today’s student generation24:19 - Present generation students are not chasing marks anymore29:34 - Are we equipping students with enough financial knowledge?35:17 - Game 40:00 - What was your first investment?43:14 - Do you see gender bias in the hiring process?46:36 - Are women employees undermined at the workplace?49:56 - Difference between men leaders and women leaders54:01 - Are women in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities more focused on their careers? 56:09 - Are men and women equally unequipped for household work?59:03 - Not everyone gets a high-paying job1:00:02 - Difference between CTC and in-hand salary1:03:33 - Do you support structureless organizations?1:07:15 - What should a student look for before joining a startup?1:15:49 - Is there anything that makes you angry?1:17:08 - Have you learned something from Gen Z?1:20:06 - Is there anything you’d like to talk about? 1:23:00 - What did you read in this room 1:24:22 - Advice for fresh graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs #genzcareer #genz #charanlakkaraju #kaushikandco #richdadpoordad #proofofwork #womenleaders #startupindia #careeradvice #networking #corporatelife #startup NC Kaushik ( Host ) - instagram.com/KaushikncKaushik&co - instagram.com/Kaushikandcoshow Kathanika Media - instagram.com/kathanikamedia Presented by : Kathanika Media Venue Partner : Columbus coffee - The Cozy Eatery