In an exclusive conversation, Anchor, presenter and actor Kashyata Bhatia, known for her work in Channel V’s Mastaangi and TV Asia’s Style Setter, opened up about her journey, her challenges and the milestones that shaped her into one of the most recognised voices on the event circuit today.
Kashyata said, “I come from a very conservative family, but the fire to do something on my own instead of relying on family support was always in my mind.”
Determined to stand on her own feet, she started working at the age of sixteen in the BPO industry across Mumbai and Pune, moving between companies and learning the nuances of communication and customer service. She later worked as an air hostess with SpiceJet and IndiGo, further refining her people skills and stage presence.
Speaking about how anchoring happened, Kashyata shared, “The event industry was introduced to me by a friend and by fluke. I started from a small role of working as an usher at events.” It was during one of these events that she first noticed the power and presence of an anchor. “I saw anchors on stage with a mic in their hand and respect across the room. Maybe the path was carved long back for me to try my hands at hosting events.”
From mall activities to corporate shows and from concerts to movie promotions, her rise was steady and unstoppable. Her first major concert was with Pune Times for Sukhwinder Singh, and she later became a TV presenter for TV Asia.
Despite her achievements, Kashyata never enrolled in a formal anchoring course. She explained, “I haven’t taken any formal course, but sometimes I am a visiting faculty in a few institutes to teach anchoring and communication skills.”
Among her many high-profile projects, Kashyata fondly recalls hosting a prominent event featuring the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during the airport launch in Shirdi. Over the years, she has also associated with Economic Times, government events, major launch ceremonies, and ITA with Anu Ranjan and Shashi Ranjan. More recently, she collaborated with the Dubai Government for New Year celebrations.
Transitioning into acting came naturally. “As an anchor every event I host comes with a deep thought of a character I have to play. For a formal event I consider myself a professor. For award nights I take up the role of an entertainer. And hence acting was taking place silently.” Her acting journey began with Channel V’s daily soap Mastaangi, followed by Style Setter on TV Asia. She also had the honour of sharing the stage with Manish Paul as a co-host.
When asked about her career goals, Kashyata stated, “My goal is to host shows on television and interview more celebrities.” On the possibility of joining a reality show like Bigg Boss, she smiled and replied, “Why not? It is a mandate to not make mistakes in a live event while putting up drama at the same time. I am absolutely up for it on camera.”
Reflecting on other career paths she might have taken, Kashyata answered, “I would have continued being an air hostess.”
