Weekend Exclusive | Shibani Dandekar adds her charm on MEN2.0

After having a variety of shows which are targeted at the women folk, MEN 2.0 on AXN comes as a relief break for the opposite gender. MEN2.0 will focus on successful lifestyles of different men along with many exciting adventurous activities set in various locations. However this won't be all about men - Shibani Dandekar, the co-host of Men 2.0 along with Keith Sequiera will offer her perspective on the show. Having had experience working in New York, Shibani claims this to be the biggest channel that she has worked for.

In an exclusive interview, Adgully gets to know Dandekar as she speaks about the show and her experience working for the same, "It is such an amazing project. It is not your regular kind of hosting, you are involved with all the activities and the inventive sports and the places we travel to. This is a different kind of anchoring format. The concept of the show is great. It is different. I went for the audition and happen to get it. It is a very hands-on kind of experience. We will be travelling to different destinations and very involved adventurous sports. It is probably one of the best things I have done," she said.

"It is a show for men. It is about men. We are bringing new alternative gadgets, latest mode of transport and taking you to different locations. We are showing you how to live the good life. It is for the men out there who already have an idea and know about the latest styles in the market. We are just taking them to the next level. We feature successful men on the show, how far they have come, what they have done with their lives and what kind of lifestyle they have. It is for a show that is targeted for men and about men. It is a concept that really hasn't been pulled off before. It is a show with a very high caliber. I fit into it because I give a women's perspective and Keith Sequiera my co-host gives you a man's perspective. This is not done in a battle of sex's way, we work together," she further added.

According to Dandekar, Manhattan and Mumbai are similar in many ways, both being cosmopolitan cities. Her experience in Manhattan was amazing although now she is happy to be working in Mumbai. Having done various stints in modeling and essentially being a singer and dancer, Dandekar has her own fan following. However she says she doesn't like being a part of the herd and wants to make a statement of her own. "This is because when people follow fashion blindly, you just become one of the pack. If it doesn't look good on you and doesn't suit you, then don't wear it. The best thing to do is to find things you really like and make it work for you. It is all about feeling good. If you don't feel good, you are not going to look good," she explained.

Dandekar states that social media is crucial at this juncture for all of us. She goes on to explain how she makes use of the digital medium. "I am on twitter and am active on facebook. They are very important to me because it is a good way to interact and reach out to people who are interested in what's happening. We have been tweeting quite a bit about MEN2.0. We have got fabulous feedback. It is great to be able to connect with fans and people who are following are the show. It's a good way to keep in touch. It is at a personal level."

Speaking of her sister, Anusha Dnadekar, she says they have similar mannerism and are alike in many ways. "As far as hosting styles are concerned, we have certain aspects about hosting techniques that are same and some that are quite different. I guess it depends on the show which we are hosting and the channel we are working for. We both cater to different audiences," she further said.

Similar or not, Shibani Dandekar is already embarking on the ladder of success and is definitely creating her own aura. | By Janees Antoo [janees(at)adgully.com]