Former India cricketer Salil Ankola opens up about alcohol addiction, mental health, losing his cricket career, and rebuilding his life.

In this deeply personal conversation with Dr. Aditi Govitrikar, Salil shares his journey from making his India debut alongside Sachin Tendulkar to being forced to leave cricket, moving into acting, struggling with alcoholism, going through rehab, and eventually returning to cricket as a selector.

He speaks candidly about how alcohol became a form of escape, the warning signs he ignored, blackouts, repeated attempts at recovery, and the role his wife Ria played in helping him rebuild his life. He also explains why addiction is often misunderstood, why denial is so powerful, and why recognising that you need help is the first major step toward recovery.

The episode also explores identity, failure, second chances, resilience, pressure in Indian cricket, his return as a selector, and his more recent mental health struggles.

In this episode:

• Salil Ankola’s India debut alongside Sachin Tendulkar
• Losing cricket and struggling with identity
• Alcohol addiction and rehab
• His recovery journey
• Returning to Indian cricket as a selector
• Mental health, anxiety and asking for help
• Lessons on resilience, pressure and second chances

Watch till the end for Salil Ankola’s message to anyone struggling with addiction, mental health or a difficult phase in life.

What does it take to turn a passion that was once dismissed as a hobby into a lasting career?

Dancer, choreographer and television personality Terence Lewis shares his journey from growing up as the youngest of eight children to becoming one of India’s most recognised names in dance.

He recalls cleaning a studio to earn dance lessons, accidentally becoming a teacher and watching his first dance-class business fail. He explains how fitness training, Evita, Lagaan, international training and Dance India Dance became unexpected turning points in his career.

Terence discusses why persistence often matters more than talent, why winning a reality show is only the beginning and what performers must do once the attention fades. He also shares why discipline, professionalism, business skills and the willingness to keep learning are essential for building a sustainable career.

He opens up about learning Hindi after facing criticism, maintaining his fitness at 51 and finally pursuing acting after putting that dream aside for years.

The conversation also explores relationships, solitude, self-reliance, faith and spirituality. Terence reflects on understanding his triggers, confronting his blind spots and becoming more curious about people instead of immediately judging them.

Watch till the end for an honest conversation about failure, reinvention and why there is no single blueprint for life.

What if your difficulty with reading is not about intelligence, but about how your attention has been trained?

Reading coach and author Reeta Gupta explains why reading can feel difficult in a world designed around endless scrolling, instant stimulation and passive content consumption. She compares reading to physical exercise, showing why the brain must be trained before books begin to feel calming, enjoyable and effortless.

The conversation explores how reading strengthens focus, imagination, emotional vocabulary and independent thinking. Reeta explains the difference between temporary information and lasting knowledge, how digital content can encourage passive consumption, and why fiction can help us become more comfortable with ambiguity and perspectives different from our own.

She also discusses whether physical books are better than audiobooks and e-readers, how to remember and apply what you read, when it is okay to leave a book unfinished, and why biographies can become a form of self-mentoring.

For parents, Reeta shares practical ways to raise readers without forcing children to read. She explains why books must be visible at home, why children should choose what interests them, and why parents must model the habits they want their children to develop.

Watch till the end for a practical conversation on rebuilding your reading habit, protecting your attention and using books to reconnect with parts of yourself that everyday life may have pushed aside.

What if the reason you keep repeating the same patterns has less to do with willpower and more to do with what your brain has learned over the years?

Coach Saloni Suri talks about why change feels so difficult even when we know exactly what we need to do. From childhood conditioning and negative self-talk to learned helplessness and emotional habits, she explores how our environment, experiences and inner voice can shape the way we think, behave and see ourselves.

The conversation covers neuroplasticity, rewiring your brain, affirmations and why they need action, manifestation, journaling, meditation, gratitude, self-confidence and building habits that create change. Saloni also discusses parenting, how parents can unknowingly pass fear and expectations onto children, why overparenting can weaken independence, and the importance of allowing children to make mistakes, experience boredom and discover who they are.

Watch till the end for a practical conversation on breaking old patterns, rebuilding self-worth, changing your inner story and why it is never too late to start a new chapter.

The conversation covers:

• Why your brain keeps repeating old patterns
• How childhood programming can influence adult behaviour
• Why affirmations alone may not create change
• How habits and routines can help you rewire your thinking
• What learned helplessness looks like
• How parenting can build or weaken independence
• Why children need space to make mistakes and experience boredom
• How to rebuild self-confidence and self-worth
• Why it is never too late to change direction or begin again
• If you have ever wondered why you keep doing things you know are not helping you, this episode offers a deeper look at the patterns underneath your behaviour and what it can take to start changing them.

What if your blood reports look “normal” but your body is already warning you that something is wrong?

Preventive medicine specialist Dr Vishakha talks about why chronic fatigue, poor sleep, unexplained hair fall, increasing belly fat and changing periods should not automatically be dismissed as stress, hormones or ageing. The key is not one abnormal report, but recognising patterns before they develop into bigger metabolic problems.

The conversation covers insulin resistance, blood sugar and HbA1c, diabetes prevention, perimenopause and menopause, caffeine and sleep, protein and muscle loss, strength training, supplements, intermittent fasting and the everyday habits that influence long-term health. Dr Vishakha also explains why annual health checkups are only a snapshot and why understanding your health trajectory matters more.

Watch till the end for a practical approach to preventive health, metabolic health and ageing better.

Can starting Botox at 21 make it stop working later? How young is too young for cosmetic treatments, and how can you improve your skin without getting influenced by every new skincare trend online?

In this episode of The Aditi Govitrikar Show, dermatologist Dr. Jaishree Sharad explains the science behind skincare, anti-ageing treatments and aesthetic procedures. She breaks down what Botox actually does, when someone may consider starting it, whether Botox resistance is real, and how an experienced doctor can soften lines without creating an unnatural or frozen face.

The conversation also clears up the widespread confusion between Botox and fillers. Dr. Jaishree explains why they serve different purposes, how fillers restore volume, what can cause an overfilled appearance, and why the quality of the product, correct placement and expertise of the practitioner matter as much as the treatment itself.

Beyond cosmetic procedures, this episode offers a practical guide to building a skincare routine according to your skin type rather than copying an influencer, celebrity or friend. Dr. Jaishree explains how to identify oily, dry, sensitive and combination skin, how long products need before showing results, and why constantly changing products can do more harm than good.

The conversation also covers:

• Skincare routines for different skin types and ages
• Sunscreen, retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
• Microneedling, lasers, HIFU and radiofrequency treatments
• PDRN, exosomes, skin boosters and red-light therapy
• Pigmentation, acne and treatment safety for Indian skin
• Why social-media skincare trends should not replace a dermatologist’s assessment

Shaan has spent decades giving voice to love, heartbreak, friendship and some of the most personal memories of an entire generation. In this candid conversation, the celebrated Bollywood playback singer opens up about the experiences, relationships and losses that shaped the warmth, optimism and unmistakable sense of hope in his music.

He reflects on what it means to become part of people’s private stories through songs used for proposals, breakups, celebrations and moments of longing. Shaan explains why he consciously avoids leaving listeners trapped in sadness, even when singing about heartbreak, and why he wants his voice to feel like comfort, reassurance and a warm embrace.

The conversation also explores how the music industry has changed. Shaan shares his perspective on younger audiences driving streaming trends, shorter song formats, why many recent Bollywood songs struggle to achieve lasting recall and whether AI-generated singers and virtual performers could reshape the future of music.

Beyond his career, Shaan speaks openly about losing his father at a young age, his father’s battle with depression, the resilience with which his mother supported the family and how those experiences shaped his positive outlook. He also reflects on his marriage to Radhika, supporting his sons as they build their own careers and the discipline that has kept his voice and body strong after 50.

Watch this conversation for a rare look at the man behind the songs that defined a generation.

In this conversation, Shaan shares:

• How he responded when playback singing opportunities began to decline

• Why artists must accept when the industry starts looking for a newer sound

• How daily riyaaz and vocal training became essential after 40

• Why fitness, breathing and consistency matter for vocal longevity

• What has changed between the Bollywood music of the 2000s and today

• How independent music is creating new opportunities for younger artists

• Why he chose reinvention over bitterness when his career entered a quieter phase

Indian bodies evolved to survive scarcity, but modern lifestyles are now creating a serious metabolic health crisis. In this conversation, Dr. Shashank Joshi explains why many Indians tend to store more fat, build less muscle, and develop diabetes, obesity, and hormonal disorders even when they do not appear visibly overweight.

For generations, the Indian body adapted to famine, hunger, and high levels of physical activity. Today, sedentary routines, fast food, poor sleep, excessive screen time, and low muscle activity have created the opposite environment. Our bodies continue to store energy, but we no longer use it through regular movement. This can lead to abdominal obesity, sarcopenia, insulin resistance, and harmful fat accumulating around vital organs.

Dr. Joshi also explains the progression from insulin resistance to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. He discusses why many people discover diabetes only after a serious complication, why waist size can reveal more than appearance, and why a family history of diabetes does not mean the condition is unavoidable.

In this detailed conversation, Dr. Joshi discusses:

• Why Indians store more fat and build less muscle
• Sarcopenia and the importance of preserving muscle
• Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes
• Obesity and diabetes remission
• Ozempic, semaglutide, and GLP-1 medicines
• Muscle loss, weight regain, and yo-yo dieting
• PCOS and women’s hormonal health
• Menopause and thyroid disorders
• Nutrition, supplements, and gut health

Dr. Joshi’s message is clear: Indians do not need extreme diets or quick fixes. Better metabolic health comes from regular movement, stronger muscles, adequate sleep, slower eating, natural food, and the right medical guidance.

Watch the full episode to understand how to protect your metabolism, prevent lifestyle diseases, and build a healthier body for the long term.