What happens when a corporate leader with 13 years of experience at Google and YouTube Music takes a year-long sabbatical? For Saransh Kharbanda, that “reset” year sparked a complete transformation. Trading boardroom strategies for kitchen recipes, he discovered that the best way to connect with the music community wasn’t through a screen, but over a shared meal.
Pak Pak Pakao is the heart of a channel born from this personal pivot, blending Saransh’s culinary passion with the vibrant pulse of the Indian music scene.The name itself is a cheeky nod to his own personality. As Saransh puts it, ” My curiosity has been a real annoyance for many people in my close circles, leading them to call me Pakao’ (annoying). The same curiosity helps me have deep, layered conversations with my guests, and with meals cooked by me – ‘Pakao’ has a double meaning here. ‘Pak Pak’ came from Bak Bak (yapping). Put it all together and we have Pak Pak Pakao!”
The podcast is designed to be the ultimate dinner table for Indian music. The concept is built around the kind of raw, open, and honest conversations that only happen when people are sharing a meal. Unlike traditional media, Saransh’s approach involves no polished PR briefs, no agendas, and no rigid structures.
By mixing home-cooked food with deep-dive stories, the show creates a space where the music community feels truly at home. Saransh believes the act of cooking is what actually lowers the “PR shields” of industry veterans. “I think it really helps that I’m putting myself out there!” he says, claiming that he isn’t a professional chef by any stretch. He adds,“I’m constantly learning and challenging myself, and I guess my guests see that effort. We’re doing it with an honest intent to ensure our guests have a great time at this house party. A stomach full of good food only helps!”
The journey has already seen six episodes featuring a diverse lineup of artists like Lifafa, OAFF, Abdon Mech, Temsu Clover, Parvaaz to Industry insiders encompassing artist managers and the pioneers keeping the vinyl scene alive.
When looking back at the highlights of these sessions, Saransh notes that the “Golden Moments” often happen when the work officially ends and the cameras are tucked away.
“If I’m honest, the golden moments really happen once the lights and cameras are turned off post the shoot! Almost all our guests stay back for many hours to share more intimate stories,” he shares. That said, the immediate gratification of the meal remains a highlight. “For me the golden moment is always the reaction after the first bite! That’s what I do this for! Rohan & Sange’s reaction to my chips & Donne Biryani, OAFF rating my attempt at my Mom’s Chole recipe a 9/10, Suryakant’s (LIFAFA) reaction to my Goan Fish Curry and the boys from Parvaaz enjoying my Patty Melt. You’ll have to wait and check out Raman Negi’s reaction in my next episode, coming soon,” he adds.
With upcoming guests ranging from mainstream icons to underground subculture front-runners, the table is only getting bigger.
While the main podcast focuses on the guests, the upcoming series Off The Menu offers a more personal vantage point. Launching soon, this will serve as a solo platform for Saransh’s own observations and opinions. It is expected to be a space for sharp insights from a professional who has seen the scene from both the corporate heights of YouTube Music and the grassroots kitchen.
Reflecting on his years at Google and YouTube, Saransh feels his past and present are more connected than they appear. “I’ve had the immense pleasure of working across global teams, partnering with bureaucrats, politicians, entrepreneurs, and industrialists, engaging regularly with folks across organisation layers and most importantly, being the human face of a large platform for Indian artists at the cusp of the “non-film” music revolution,” he reflects, and goes on to say, “I’m glad that with that experience, I never really had to unlearn anything except, now I don’t have to circle back or grab any low hanging fruits!”
Ultimately, Pak Pak Pakao is about more than just music or food. It’s about the connection that happens when the cameras stop being a barrier and start being a witness to human-level interaction. Saransh views the growth of an artist much like the preparation of a nutritious meal—it requires substance over speed.
“The most important thing is nutrition!” he says. “If what you’re creating is satiating your artistic soul, keep doing it. And every now & then if you feel like having a snack like instant noodles or a deep fried treat, go for it! Your entire diet cannot be fast food or instant noodles, you know what i mean? In my opinion, artists need to create music that they enjoy creating and that’s when the audience will get with it as well! Much like my approach to cooking – you will never find me cooking Karela!” he adds.
In a world of fast-paced content, Saransh invites the audience to slow down, pull up a chair, and listen to the stories that define the Indian music community. It’s about life, art, and everything in between that makes us human.
Watch the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@saransh.kharbanda/podcasts
