An Evening with Irfan: Where Guftagoo Came Alive

Today’s session at Akshara Theatre, Delhi turned into a deeply fulfilling and memorable experience - something my team and I poured our hearts into, to live up to every promise and expectation. This interactive masterclass was all about sharing The Art and Soul of Guftagoo - a space for long, heartfelt, real conversations filled with inspiring and often unpredictable life stories.

Over the years, Guftagoo has touched many lives and inspired a new generation of conversationalists to value meaningful dialogue. The format of deep, long-form conversations is no longer unfamiliar. As a public service broadcaster, I stayed committed to it - testing, refining, and helping it gain wider acceptance. This journey continues only because of your deep trust and unconditional love. In Guftagoo, we don’t just feature popular celebrities - we also bring forward emerging voices whose stories are still unfolding. Thousands of people from across India and beyond - well-known, lesser-known, and unknown - have shared their journeys with me over decades.

Today, I tried to share that entire process and experience with all of you. The audience was a beautiful mix of young, mature, and elderly listeners - fully engaged, laughing, astonished, and asking thoughtful questions. Many stories were shared for the first time in front of such attentive ears. I’m truly grateful to each one of you who travelled from different parts of the country and Delhi NCR to be there. Your presence gave me immense satisfaction and a renewed sense of responsibility. Dialogue is the need of our time, and Guftagoo continues to offer something immersive, deep, and real - for longtime admirers and new audience alike. A big heartfelt thank you to my amazing team, to all the attendees, and also to those who wanted to come but couldn’t make it.

Grateful beyond words.

- Syed Mohd Irfan, in his own words after the evening at Akshara Theatre

On 11th April, something special unfolded at Akshara Theatre. It was not just an event. It felt like stepping into the very world that Guftagoo has quietly built over the years.

Titled The Art and Soul of Guftagoo, the evening brought together people from all walks of life. The theatre was filled to capacity, yet the atmosphere remained intimate. It had the same warmth and ease that defines every conversation on Guftgoo. There were young listeners, long-time followers, and even those who had simply come out of curiosity to see what the experience would be like.

The session began with introductions. One by one, people shared how they knew Syed Mohd Irfan. Some spoke about watching him since the early days on Rajya Sabha TV. Others mentioned that they had not missed a single episode. A few were discovering him for the first time. This mix of voices set the tone for the evening.

Rahul from Irfan’s team opened the session. He spoke about what goes on behind the scenes of Guftagoo. He shared stories about managing guest lineups, the challenges that come with it, and the lessons learned over time. His interaction with the audience was honest and engaging, and it offered a glimpse into the effort that supports every conversation we see on screen.

Then came Irfan.

With his familiar words, “Namaskar. Adaab. Main hoon Irfan,” he brought the room together instantly. There was no rush in his presence, no attempt to perform. He spoke the way he always does, with care and thought.

He reminded the audience early on that not everything can be said in one sitting. “Aaj is manch pe bahut si baatein hongi, aur kuch baatein reh bhi jayengi.” It set a quiet expectation for the evening.

What followed was not a speech, but a series of stories. Stories about how Guftagoo began, the patience it demanded, and the belief it required to stay true to its format in a fast-paced media landscape. At a time when interviews were becoming shorter and more predictable, Guftagoo chose to slow down.

Irfan spoke about trust. About how it is earned over time. About how guests opened up because they felt heard. These were not just professional insights, but reflections shaped by years of consistent work.

The audience listened closely. The room felt deeply engaged and present. People were not just hearing him, they were taking it in.

The journey he described has now led to more than 600 episodes of Guftagoo. Each one carrying the same intent of meaningful conversation.

The evening closed with a question and answer session. People asked what they had been holding on to. Irfan responded with the same honesty and calm that marked the rest of the event.

As the event came to an end, it did not feel like a conclusion. It felt like a continuation of a dialogue that has been ongoing for years.

For those present, it was more than just attending a live session. It was experiencing Guftagoo in its most direct and human form. But the evening had one last offering. Chai. With it came conversations that lingered a little longer, unhurried and easy. People gathered around Irfan, speaking freely, asking more, listening more. It turned into the kind of Guftagoo that does not need a stage at all.