Darkroom Ft Nikhil Chinapa

To say that Nikhil Chinapa has donned many an avatar during his career, is like saying it snows in Alaska; a bit of an understatement. He morphs from DJ to VJ to MC to Music Promoter to Festival Director —some of his best known avatars — with amazing fluidity.

He studied Architecture and graduated with a Thesis in Hospital Design. A year later and for reasons that scientists are still trying to understand, Nikhil joined MTV. He said, "I think it'll be fun." For once, he was right.

At MTV, Nikhil has hosted almost every show the channel has aired. From MTV Select - MTV's longest running show, (it aired continuously for 10 years) to being the host of Splitsvilla, a judge on Roadies as well as Rock On and now host of MTV Mashups. 

Nikhil's Mom still thinks he's an idiot though and should get a real job.

As a popular VJ, Nikhil got to spend a lot of time around his first love, music. In 2001, a conversation between friends resulted in the launch of Submerge — India's first, and now largest Indian Electronic Dance Music (EDM) company in India.

By now, Nikhil had begun to DJ professionally and plays, well... whatever he feels like. His sets are moody, varied, often erratic but usually fun. Most of his sets feature frantic foot-stomping and the random flailing of arms - sometimes by him. They also feature music - the kind that has a repetitive monotonous beat and is best enjoyed at dangerous decibel levels.


Nikhil was also the co-founder of Sunburn. He is now the Festival Curator and partner of Vh1 Supersonic, Goa's brand new beach music festival.