Rajiv Lakshman went from being a college dropout to becoming the mastermind behind India’s biggest reality television show. The MTV Roadies co-creator, along with his twin brother Raghu Ram, built a show that became a cultural phenomenon among Indian youth. But at the height of its success, Lakshman walked away from it all.
The story of Rajiv Lakshman is not just about television success. It is about failure, hustle, and knowing when to leave. Today, he runs his own content studio and continues to shape the media landscape in India.
From College Dropout to Television Intern
In 1995, Rajiv Lakshman made a decision that would change his life. He dropped out of college.
Lakshman later shared in a LinkedIn post that he had failed at education but was determined not to fail at life. He wrote: “In 1995 I dropped out of college (yes, that happened) and began working as an intern at TV18 in Delhi. I had failed at education and was NOT going to fail at life. So, I hustled”.
That internship became the starting point of an extraordinary journey. Lakshman started at the bottom, learning the television industry from the ground up.
His hard work paid off when seniors at TV18 moved him to MTV. The channel was looking for someone who could connect with India’s youth, and Lakshman had a vision. He came up with the idea for MTV-u, a show that explored campus culture across the country.
MTV-u did something remarkable. It helped launch the career of Cyrus Broacha, who went on to become one of India’s most loved television hosts.
Creating Roadies: The Show That Changed Reality TV
When Rajiv Lakshman and his twin brother Raghu Ram joined MTV Roadies, the show was originally conceived as a travel-based reality series. But the brothers had a different vision.
They completely changed the concept. What was once a feel-good travel show became an aggressive, confrontational reality television phenomenon. The twins introduced tasks that tested physical strength, mental toughness, and emotional resilience. They brought in a no-nonsense judging style that made the show stand out.
Lakshman initially worked behind the scenes, building the show from the ground up. But soon, he was brought in as a judge alongside his brother. Together, they became the faces of Roadies.
The show became iconic among Indian youth. It was not just entertainment. It was a cultural touchstone. Young people across the country watched contestants battle it out in intense physical challenges while dealing with the harsh criticism of the twin judges.
The brothers were known for their blunt, often abusive style. But they defended their approach. Raghu Ram later explained: “Only the abuses are remembered, but no one remembers why we were doing it. We talked about honour killings, dowry and live-in relationships. When we would see someone being judgmental about dark skin, or being homophobic, or someone who needed to be schooled, we did what was needed. I think we were the first unapologetic loud liberals”.
Rajiv added: “Tough love. That is what it was. We would create a hard, negative world and the test was, could you survive it?”
The brothers also created Splitsvilla, India’s first and longest-running romance reality show. They were building a television empire.
Quitting at the Peak of Success
After 11 seasons of MTV Roadies, Rajiv Lakshman and Raghu Ram made a surprising decision. They left the show at the peak of its success.
Lakshman admitted that he left the show “at the peak of success”. The brothers bid farewell to Roadies after Season 11.
The reasons behind their departure became clearer over time. Raghu Ram later revealed that the decision came due to excessive interference from the channel. They were pushed to adopt a more aggressive approach toward contestants, a style that was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for them.
Raghu spoke about the toll the show took on his personal life. He confessed that he quit the show at its peak because he was done and fed up with it. His marriage was suffering, and his mental health was affected. He said: “Personally, my life was going through a lot of upheaval because of Roadies and because of the surrounding craze. My marriage was suffering”.
In a podcast interview, Raghu said they were told to scream at people. The constant pressure and forced drama became too much.
The brothers also faced real-world consequences for their on-screen persona. They were called ‘bullies’ and faced unnecessary fights with people who could not separate the show from reality.
Life After Roadies: New Ventures and New Beginnings
After leaving Roadies, Rajiv Lakshman did not disappear from the media world. He continued to build his career in new directions.
In 2014, the brothers launched their own content studio called Monozygotic Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The company allowed them to create content on their own terms.
Lakshman also appeared in films. He starred alongside his brother in the 2010 film Tees Maar Khan and appeared in the acclaimed movie Dhanak in 2016.
In March 2025, Lakshman took on a significant new role. He joined Infinitum Network Solutions as group head of intellectual properties. The Hyderabad-based company is a rapidly expanding multi-channel network with a massive global footprint.
Lakshman announced the move on social media, saying: “I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined Infinitum Networks”.
His role involves creating cross-platform franchises that can travel globally while nurturing emerging talent from tier two and tier three cities. He said: “Infinitum’s innovative approach to content creation and distribution represents the future of Indian digital media on the global stage”.
Running His Own Company: BARD Studio
Today, Rajiv Lakshman is the founder of BARD, a content and branded entertainment studio based in Mumbai.
His LinkedIn profile describes the company as a studio that builds content intellectual property for D2C founders and brands. Lakshman writes about his current work: “20 years building IPs people actually care about. Now helping brands & founders do the same”.
The studio represents a shift from mass television to targeted content creation. Lakshman is using his decades of experience to help brands tell their stories in meaningful ways.
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The Legacy of Rajiv Lakshman
Rajiv Lakshman and his brother Raghu Ram left a lasting mark on Indian television. MTV Roadies completed over two decades on air. The show that started as a travel series became a cultural institution.
The brothers were not just television personalities. They were pioneers who understood what Indian youth wanted to watch. They took risks, pushed boundaries, and created content that people could not ignore.
Rajiv Lakshman’s journey from college dropout to television creator to business owner shows that success does not always follow a straight path. Sometimes, walking away from success is the bravest thing you can do.
Today, Lakshman continues to build new things. Whether it is through his studio BARD or his work at Infinitum, he remains a force in the media industry.
The man who once failed at education went on to create India’s biggest reality show. Then, at the peak of his career, he chose to leave. Now, he is building something new, on his own terms.
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