Rannvijay’s wild learning curve

“The idea was not to zipline a rainforest and high-five bear cubs, but to respect the ecosystem and learn about the people involved in conservation,” says host and actor Rannvijay Singh of his new show. Safari India, The eight-episode series on Zee Zest attempts to uncover the hidden stories in the seven national parks of India.

In the first episode, Rannvijay takes viewers to the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, where the rescued Asiatic bear cubs are rehabilitated at the Bear Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre. Getting into this arena is not easy and Rannvijay is conscious of the opportunity presented to him: “After hosting shows that are high on adventure, the crew I work with usually obey me. Because they trust that I know what works. This time around, I found myself learning something new in each national park.”

Reflecting on his hike through the dense vegetation of Pakka, he observed, “In Ranthambore, the deciduous and shrubby vegetation is such that you get a clear view. But for sure, you won’t know if an animal came to you from a few feet away. We see animals in the zoo. But in the wild, we are being watched. ,

filming for Safari India After the intermittent lockdown, he admits, was breaking free: “I was itching to step out. From time to time I was filming in the Safe Bio Bubble (for web series and shows), but the freedom to be in and out was missing. At times, it was liberating to stop the vehicle and gaze at the dense forests. ,

The series also includes stories from Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand), Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan), Gir National Park (Gujarat), Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary (Goa) and Dubare Elephant Camp (Karnataka). .

“We wanted to go beyond the regular safaris to learn about the lives of forest officials, rangers and tribesmen,” says Rannvijay. “For example, Pakke also taught me how members of the Nyashi tribe who formerly hunted hornbills and used their beaks to make the tribe’s traditional hat, now make fiberglass headgear. They now hunt hornbills. It is fascinating to know that a tribe has changed its traditional practice to protect the birds.” There were also unexpectedly rewarding moments, such as being hugged by a bear cub and seeing dolphins up close in Goa.

In Gir, he remembers meeting women officers who patrol the forest on their bikes and track down lions. He says the lesser known story of Gir is about the high-tech methods used to track and study birds and animals.

Learning continued for him through the series, says Rannvijay. He talks about how he learned that the Brahmaputra flood is a mode of natural selection and calls for survival of the fittest, even as rangers rescue trapped animals, and that floods destroy wetland vegetation for the entire year. helps. “Poaching has come down in Kaziranga due to the proactive initiatives of the government and forest officials. I learned wildlife photography tricks in Jim Corbett National Park. Back at the elephant camp, I saw how mahouts from local tribes reintroduce elephants into the wild or take care of them for life, and how the pristine waters of the Cauvery are conducive to mahseer fish.”

This learning curve, says the actor-host, is a key factor for him in taking on any project: “I don’t measure my career growth in terms of finances; I need to enjoy my work. I also want to be a part of people’s stories,” he says, explaining why he hosted it shark tank india: “Since 2014, I’ve been investing in new companies, which is probably one of the reasons the team chose me.”

While Rannvijay is recognized more as a host than as an actor, he claims he is equally open to the latter: “The acting takes place in a more controlled environment where I see what someone else has written.” He has to feel. I’m enjoying that aspect with my recent show Sumer Singh Case Files (voot), mismatch (Netflix) etc. I learn something new about myself in acting and I intend to do more acting projects. ,

He has acted in a few Hindi films in the past, but says the opening up of the digital space has paved the way for better opportunities. Looking at his foray with cinema, he says, “Since I was busy as a host, I didn’t have to choose cinema for bread and butter, so my projects have been sporadic. I m. love a movie likeodee wooHere’s what I learned from Nagesh Kukunoor and Ilahe Hiptula even though it did well at the box office.”

Before we end, the conversation falls apart with him mtv roadies 18 Years Later: “MTV Is Home And I Will Definitely Miss Being A Part Of It” roadies, The schedules changed because of the ohmron wave. We tried to solve it but the dates don’t match. That is the only reason and there is no masala story in me for not hosting the new season.”

,Safari India Mondays, at 8 pm, Zee Zest airs on SD and HD with ZeeZest.com)