’Pata nahi kaisa jaayega’: PM Narendra Modi makes podcast debut at Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s ‘People by WTF’

Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha and host of the popular podcast ‘People by WTF’, has generated buzz online with a two-minute trailer of his upcoming episode – the guest (correctly guessed!!) is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi | Ep 6 Trailer”, Kamath captioned his tweet.

This appearance marks PM Modi’s debut in the podcast format, having previously hosted “Mann Ki Baat” and participated in various television interviews.

In a light banter, Nikhil Kamath and PM Narendra Modi talked about their excitement. “I am sitting here in front of you and talking, I feel nervous. It’s a tough conversation for me,” Kamath says in the video in Hindi.

“This is my first podcast. Pata nahi kaisa jaayega (I don’t know how it’ll go with your audience),” the prime minister responded, as the two shared a laugh.

In a teaser clip shared on January 8, 2025, Nikhil Kamath reminisces about a past encounter with a prominent figure, hinting at their previous meeting during a startup conference in Bengaluru.

The distinctive laughter heard at the end of the promo has led many to believe that the guest is none other than PM Modi, creating excitement among listeners eager for this potential first-ever podcast appearance by the prime minister.

Nikhil Kamath and PM Narendra Modi in ‘People by WTF’

The Zerodha co-founder shared his vision for the sixth episode of the podcast, saying that he wanted to draw parallels between politics and entrepreneurship during his conversation with PM Modi.

Nikhil Kamath also asked PM Modi to excuse his “bad Hindi”.

“Hum dono ki aise hi chalegi,” the prime minister reassured him.

ON YOUNGSTERS JOINING POLITICS: PM Modi was asked to advise young people looking to join politics, and he emphasised that good people should become politicians. “They should come with a mission, not just ambition,” PM Modi summarised.

ON MODI, THE CM OF GUJARAT: During the candid chat, Nikhil Kamath also talked about one of PM Modi’s old speeches when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. “I said something in an insensitive way. Mistakes happen. Manushya hu, devata thodi hoon (I am human, not a God),” he said.

The two also discussed wars around the world. “Aaj puri duniya war ki taraf chal rahi hain (Today the world is moving towards war). Should we be worried about what is happening in the world?” Kamath asked PM Modi.

To this, the PM replied: “Crisis ke samay humnein lagataar kahan hain ki hum neutral nahin hain. Main shanti k paksh mein hoon”. (During the crisis we have maintained that we are not neutral. I am in favour of peace)

ON MODI’S 1st AND 2nd TERM AS PM OF INDIA: Nikhil Kamath, in the short trailer, also asked PM Modi how his first term was different from his second stint as the Prime Minister of India.

To this, PM Modi quipped, “Pehli term mein toh log mujhe bhi samajhne ki koshish karte the, aur main bhi Delhi ko samajhne ki koshish karta tha.” (During my first term, Indian people were trying to understand me, and I was trying to understand Delhi)

ON SOCIAL PERCEPTION OF POLITICS: Nikhil Kamath put forth a question to PM Modi that is socially poignant. The Zerodha co-founder asked, “As somebody who grew up in a South Indian middle-class family, bachpan se ye kahan gaya tha politics is a dirty place. Ye itna ingrain ho gaya humare psyche mein ki isko badalna bohot mushkil hain. To hum jaise logon k liyein aap kya kahenge?”

To this PM Modi replied, “Agar aap jo keh rahein the wahi hotein to aaj aap yahan nahin hotein’(If what you were saying had happened, then today you would not be where you are)