Priya Jethani is based in Dubai.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Priya Jethani is a popular Indian television anchor, emcee, actor and model, who is based out of Dubai. She currently works with Zee TV Middle East as a TV presenter, hosting the ongoing lifestyle show Zee Connect.

As an emcee, she hosts corporate, private, and public events in the Emirates and overseas. The corporate and celebrity events she has hosted include Malabar Gold & Diamond, Al Naboodah Group, T10 Cricket League, Bajaj Allianz Insurance, Atlas Group of Institutions, Landmark Group, Yas Movies, GSK, and many more. She is also a model and actor doing photoshoots and TVCs and has worked for brands such as Danube Home, Zulekha Hospital, Pepsi Co., besides others. For a change, Gulf Today hosts Priya Jethani 

As an artist, what kind of subjects do you paint?

I am more of an artiste than an artist. But I do enjoy doing painting sessions from time to time. It is therapeutic and allows me to unwind and take time off work.

As an actor, what kind of roles do you like to play?

I have done various commercials and played roles from a happy housewife to a jealous friend, to an abandoned lover.

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As an anchor, what are the important shows you have been in?

I have had the honour of hosting for some of the biggest brands and celebrities. Here are a few: Malabar Gold and Diamond store inauguration with Indian movie star Anil Kapoor; Ranveer Singh with Yas Island and Make My Trip in Ferrari World, Warner Bros and Yas Mall; Danube property launch with Karan Kundra and Tejaswi; Aldo collection and brand ambassador Janhvi Kapoor launch event; ICAI event with Shark Tanks Aman Gupta and Ashneer Grover and author Chetan Bhagat; Arijit Singh live in concert; ICC Men’s cricket world cup 2021 and IPL 2022.

As a digital creator, how do you see traditional ways of making art vis-à-vis fashioning it digitally?

My work is more about physically being on a stage or in front of a camera; but a large part of the population is watching my work on social media - so I make it a point to put it out on every trending platform for potential clients to see.  I became a content creator as well, because brands wanted to collaborate with me seeing that people follow my lifestyle choices and recommendations. I try to create fun, entertaining reels with celebrities and by myself too. It is important to find new ways of keeping your audience engaged.

  Priya Jethani broadcasting directly from the cricket stadium.

As a Zee TV presenter, what have been the challenges you have faced?

Being a Zee TV presenter was my first move to being an anchor. I learned pretty much everything on the job. I was clueless on the right way of hosting a TV show, camera angles, talking and interviewing celebrities, and carrying myself at big events.  I learned one interview, one event at a time. Later, I started being approached to host live shows - weddings, corporate events, roadshows. I saw these events as an extension of my role as an anchor. I am pretty much of a one woman army even today where I talk directly to my clients for business enquiries, negotiate on commercials, sort my outfits, my makeup, manage my shoots and event calendar, do client briefings, prep my script and finally go on to execute it on stage at the event.

As a wedding emcee, what aspects of the occasion do you look into before going on stage?

Weddings are my most favourite events to host. My role is to engage with the guests making sure they are entertained, along with ensuring the sequence of events flow in the way they have been planned.

I strongly believe in bringing a personal connection to the event; so the guests get comfortable rather than seeing you as a professional emcee. This is why I try to gather as much information about the bride, groom and the home beforehand to be able to look like someone from the family, when I host the wedding.

As a social activist, what are the causes you are involved in?

I work with a Mumbai based NGO called Earth Angels Foundation, where from time to time I promote their fund-raising activities and campaigns for villages. Public figures like us have the power to reach more people through our social platforms and I do my bit to spread the word whenever I can.

As a social media celebrity, what is the contribution you have made to make life better?

Being a person with a decent following on social media has given me the power to reach people in huge numbers. So I make sure I am very careful about how I put myself out on social media and pass on the right messages. 

As a cricket commentator, what were your best moments?

ICC World Cup 2021 - where I got to host some of the biggest cricket matches (Ind vs Pak, Aus vs NZ Finals) and be part of that amazing vibe … a few of my reels from the stadium went viral with more than 2M views. IPL 2022 - where I hosted a panel for pre and post-match shows with some of the biggest cricket experts. T10 cricket league - I got to be part of the newest format of cricket which began in the UAE. My interviews with players and coaches on the field were broadcast on television.