Host Prashant Rao keeps his audience spellbound with his splendid sense of humour and wisecracks.
He has to his credit more than 1500 stage shows with the likes of Manna Dey, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Anuradha Paudwal, Abhijeet Sawant and has been an integral part of star events featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Govinda, Hrithik Roshan, Mahima Chaudhary, Lara Dutta, Hema Malini, Amisha Patel. He hosts music programmes, plays anchor on the small screen, presents corporate events and above all Prashant Rao evokes unremitting guffaws with his waggish one-liners and hilarious repartee. “ I take cues from day to day incidents and lace it with wisecracks. All this is possible because I am a keen observer “, divulges the young anchor, emcee, stand-up comedian, host all rolled-in-one, who has been brandishing the mike with aplomb for almost a decade now. Born in Shimoga, Karnataka, Prashant was drawn to the field of entertainment right from an early age. However, it was during his college years in Somaiya college that he got ample opportunities to perform in front of a live audience. “ I participated in elocution, debates and mimicry competitions in college and won awards. Everyone appreciated my efforts and that bolstered my confidence and urged me to go on “, reveals Prashant with a smile. After college Prashant dabbled as a medical representative with pharmaceutical companies but was not content with what he was doing. His heart was set in the field of entertainment and he was yearning to carve a niche for himself. “ During my medical career I would meet general practitioners every day and entertain them with funny shayari’s, anecdotes and jokes on current topics. They loved my company and started supporting me because of my unique marketing style. I did fabulous business and even got promotions. But I was not happy somehow I felt I was curbing my desires. So I decided to chuck my job and take a head long leap in the world of showbiz “, says Prashant, who has performed in Europe, USA, Canada, Africa, Egypt, Dubai, Muscut and Australia. He started doing local stage shows before graduating to corporate events and star nights and soon Prashant found a firm foothold as started entertaining the audience with his own style of humour interspersed with information. “ Many a times singers and musicians repeat the same set of songs but the anchor cant afford to do that. He has to be informative, interesting and at the same time keep the audience hooked on the programme. A sense of timing and presence of mind is very vital along with the play of words. Holding the audience interest for three hours is quite a herculean task “, he quips. Prashant hold his elder brother Srikant Rao, a well-known mimicry artiste and host, in high esteem and confesses that he has been his idol since childhood. “ My brother has been my biggest inspiration who instilled in me the importance of ‘play of words’ on stage. He has been a great influence “, adds Prashant who has had the privilege of performing for Mumbai Police and politicians like Vilasrao Deshmukh, R.R.Patil and Jagannathrao Hegde. He has also participated in the humour show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on star tv. “ It was a wonderful experience where I realised what I am lacking and what I should improve “, he says candidly. In the same breath he mentions that the biggest and most cherished compliment that he received was when Ameen Sayani lauded his hosting and paid rich compliments. “ It was one of the most precious moments of my life “, says he in his thrilled tone. As we wind up our conversation Prashant confides that his dream is to see his daughter Aishwarya grow up to become an extraordinarily talented anchor. For details contact : 9323790980
