'Love Guru' completes five years, says anonymity is his USP

New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Even after completing five years of serving as agony uncle on late night radio and addressing listeners' relationship concerns, Radio City 91.1 FM's mystery host RJ 'Love Guru' is in no mood to spill the beans about his identity.

'On a personal level, I do sometimes feel people should know about my real identity but then when I know my anonymity is the USP of the show and works well for the show, I don't feel like publicising myself. It's better if it remains a secret,' RJ Love Guru told IANS by telephone from Mumbai.

'I guess people feel comfortable in sharing their pains and problems with me so openly only because I am anonymous to them,' he added.

By profession, RJ Love Guru is a medical practitioner and also a radio veteran with over 13 years of experience. In 2007, he even bagged the Promax 'RJ of the Year' (Hindi) award at the India Radio Forum.

Knowing how to balance both his jobs is something that has come to him 'purely by experience', he said.

'I have been doing it since years now. I devote my days entirely to my medical practise and at night, I become Love Guru. Not many of my colleagues are aware that I play Love Guru,' he quipped.

'Love Guru', that airs every Monday-Saturday from 12:00-1.30 a.m., is one of the longest running show with the same host on private FM across India.

It is broadcast simultaneously in 16 cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Vadodara, Surat, Sholapur, Nagpur, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Akola, Nanded and Jalgaon.

As the mystery host, RJ Love Guru handles queries on love and sex that can be as vague as - 'Love Guru, I have fallen in love with my cousin sister. I can't tell her. What should I do?'

Such queries and issues that come from all these cities through phone, SMS and e-mail at love@myradiocity.com, are sometimes repetitive but the host says he never feels bogged down.

'I have never found it hard to answer my listeners' queries. At times people ask similar questions and share similar problems, but then that's part and parcel of the show. It is for the listeners to vent out their pains. I don't feel burdened at all,' he said.

His trick to comfort his listeners is a mix of 'sensible talk, conversational and colloquial language, the right tone and soothing music'.

Though Love Guru triggered off a trend of shows like 'Dr.Love' on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM and 'Between The Sheets' on Meow 104.8 FM, the host says competition does not bother him.

'Each to his own. Competition has not deterred me from doing my best and connecting well with people. Our show has been consistent since five years and the listenership has only increased every year. We have a loyal listenership and we are happy about that,' he said.

The host added that the show would go on as long as people 'keep appreciating it'.

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