Veteran VJ and Roadies Rebirth gang leader Nikhil Chinapa has shared a nostalgia-drenched throwback to his late 1990s days at MTV India, revealing how he regularly wore sarongs — even to night parties — after a transformative trip to Bali in 1998–99. The post, shared on social media with the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday, offers a rare window into how the channel's VJs helped shape India's pop culture landscape at the turn of the millennium.

The Sarong Story and Bali's Influence

Chinapa, who joined MTV India in September 1997, wrote in his caption: '#ThrowbackThursday to when I wore sarongs regularly, in public and often to parties at night as well. This was the late 90s, before the millennium and @mtvindia and all the VJs pretty much did what they wanted with pop culture and we all were regularly splashed across the front pages of every national newspaper.'

He traced the sarong habit directly to his Bali travels: 'I travelled to Bali in '98/99 and had been heavily influenced by their culture. The sarongs came from there.' The phase, however, came to an abrupt end — and with an unexpectedly Bollywood twist.

The Salman Khan Moment That Changed Everything

Chinapa revealed a surprisingly self-aware reason for abandoning the look: 'Then one day MTV started playing a music video from some movie, where Salman Khan was wearing a sarong (can't remember which one). Shortly after, I stopped wearing them.' The anecdote underscores the complex interplay between Bollywood and youth fashion in that era — once mainstream cinema adopted a subculture signifier, the VJs who had pioneered it quietly moved on.

Three Decades at MTV India

Notably, Chinapa's throwback also carried a milestone: next year will mark three decades of his association with MTV India. He described having 'a ring-side seat to the evolution of youth culture in India' — a claim few in Indian television can match. The late-1990s MTV cohort was among the first generation of on-screen personalities who blurred the line between broadcasters and lifestyle influencers, long before the term existed.

Fitness at 53 and the Biohacking Journey

Beyond the nostalgia, the post doubled as a glimpse into Chinapa's current wellness focus. At 53, he is pursuing what he describes as a holistic approach to health, covering longevity, cognitive health, nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle optimisation. He has shared gym photographs — including workout sessions with fellow Roadies alumnus Rannvijay — as part of his ongoing biohacking protocols. Chinapa credited his guides for helping him navigate the various health practices he has adopted.

The Legacy: EDM and Youth Television

Chinapa is widely credited with popularising electronic dance music (EDM) among Indian youth. Beyond his MTV tenure, he has remained a fixture in pop culture through long-running shows including Roadies and Splitsvilla. His career arc — from sarong-sporting VJ to wellness advocate — mirrors the broader evolution of India's entertainment industry over three decades.