RJ Naved has joined Radio City India with a new prank-based show, ‘Prank You’. The move marks a fresh chapter for the radio jockey, who spent years entertaining listeners with his comic characters and prank calls. Radio City has promoted the programme as an exclusive show. But Naved’s story began far from the radio studio. He grew up in Bugrasi, a village in Uttar Pradesh, and took on different jobs before finding his way into broadcasting. Over the years, he built a career around humour, mimicry and his ability to turn everyday situations into entertainment. Today, he works across radio and digital platforms, with an Instagram account with 12.4 million followers and a YouTube account with 6.6 million subscribers.
Growing up in Bugrasi
Naved spent much of his childhood in Bugrasi, Uttar Pradesh, where he grew up in a farming family. His childhood revolved around village life, friends and outdoor activities. In 2026, Naved took a trip back to Bugrasi, the village where he grew up, for an episode of Curly Tales’ Tere Gully Mein. He revisited the places that remain part of his childhood memories, from his old home and the mango orchards to the spot where he used to swim.
The visit also brought a family moment, as Naved introduced Anjali to his grandmother, who was nearly 100 years old at the time of filming. As he walked through the village, he spoke about climbing trees, swimming and spending time with friends. The stories offered a glimpse into the mischief and everyday adventures that filled his early years, beyond the pranks audiences know him for today.
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The odd jobs before radio
Naved did not enter the entertainment industry through a conventional route. After completing his education, he worked various jobs to make ends meet. He worked at an Airtel call centre, handling customer service calls. He also took on other work, including installing rods in homes and selling vegetables. Those experiences helped shape his understanding of people and conversations. At the call centre, he experimented with different voices while speaking to customers. That ability later became a defining feature of his radio performances.
The RJ hunt that opened the door
Naved’s radio career began after he took part in an RJ hunt organised by Radio Mirchi. Accounts of the event differ on the year and the number of participants. Some published profiles place the competition in 2000 and say he competed against around 30,000 people. But Naved recalled an RJ hunt in 2003, with 35,000 participants. He described progressing through several rounds before reaching the final in Mumbai.
The Radio Mirchi shows that shaped his career.
Naved became associated with several programmes at Radio Mirchi. Each gave him a different way to connect with listeners.
‘Dr. Love’ focused on relationships and invited listeners to discuss personal concerns. ‘Total Filmy’ explored films, while ‘Sunset Samosa’ brought comedy and games to the evening drive-time slot. He also worked on shows and characters such as ‘Bumper to Bumper’, ‘Dilli Ka Don’, ‘Mirchi Munda’ and ‘Phatto’.
These programmes helped Naved develop a varied on-air style. He moved between storytelling, character comedy, listener interactions and improvised humour.
‘Mirchi Murga’: The prank segment that made him famous
‘Mirchi Murga’ became Naved’s signature feature and one of the most recognisable prank-call segments in Indian radio. The format involved calling unsuspecting people while adopting different characters and voices.
Naved might pose as an official, a service provider or another fictional character. He would then build an unexpected situation through conversation. The humour often came from the other person’s confusion, disbelief or reaction.
His voice modulation and quick improvisation helped make each call feel distinct. The segment also spread beyond radio, as clips circulated across social media and video platforms.
The pranks were not always limited to comedy. Naved has also used the format to address social issues. In a 2014 interview with Radioandmusic.com, he discussed a ‘Mirchi Murga’ clip about communal harmony that gained attention online. The interview described his effort to challenge divisive messages through the prank format.
The prankster beyond the microphone
Naved has revealed in multiple interviews that mischief comes naturally to him. He often thinks of pranks even when meeting someone for the first time. He also recalled a childhood trick involving a neighbour’s door. Naved and his friends tied a thread between door latches and pulled it from a distance, making the door rattle. They would then hide and watch the neighbour come outside to investigate.
In another story, he described a wedding-night prank in which he and his friends hid dozens of alarm clocks around a room. They set them to ring at intervals, leaving the groom to search for the source of the noise.
These memories connect his childhood mischief with the character-driven comedy that later became his profession.
Taking a break and exploring television
Naved also stepped away from radio to explore television. In 2017, he took a break from his radio show and joined The Kapil Sharma Show. He also appeared on Discovery India’s Best Jobs.
The television stint gave him another platform for his comic timing and character work. It also formed part of a career that has moved between different entertainment formats.
From radio to digital content
Naved’s prank-based comedy has expanded to digital platforms, where videos reached audiences beyond traditional radio listeners. His online work includes prank formats such as lift pranks and police pranks, built around characters, unexpected situations and reactions.
His digital presence has grown alongside his radio identity. His Instagram profile, @rjnaved, identifies him as a radio jockey, content creator and entrepreneur.
In March 2025, Naved won the Jury Choice award for Best Comedy Influencer at the Impact Digital Influencer Awards. The recognition marked his work in the digital creator space as well as his long-running association with radio comedy.
A Road to Radio City
RJ Naved moved to Radio City India, where he is launching ‘Prank You’. Radio City’s promotional posts describe him as the “OG Prankster” and present the programme as an exclusive show.
What comes next for RJ Naved?
Naved’s career has taken him from village life in Bugrasi to radio studios, television sets and digital platforms. His early jobs and call-centre experience helped develop his voice skills, while ‘Mirchi Murga’ established his reputation for prank-call comedy.
His new show, ‘Prank You’, might bring the familiar format to Radio City. As he continues to create content across platforms, his career remains closely linked to the humour, mimicry and everyday observations that audiences have come to associate with him.