The Romesh Ranganathan Show Shanthi's Acting Skills, Genie Wishes & Expensive Taste
Jan 22, 2026
Shanthi Ranganathan, Romesh's mother and a former actress trained in India, brings her wit and humor to the conversation. They dive into hilarious improvised scenes, including a playful Bond spoof and a whimsical genie wish list. Shanthi shares her thoughts on the value of luxury perfumes, creating laughter with Romesh as they brainstorm memorable fragrance names. Their candid exchanges and comedic chemistry make for an entertaining and delightful experience filled with family stories and spontaneous fun.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Acting Training Cut Short
- Shanthi describes her youthful training in India for dancing, singing and acting but stopped after marrying at 19 and focusing on family.
- She later acts on the show and enjoys improvisation when directed by Romesh and the team.
Lila And Sylvester Date Improv
- Romesh and Shanthi improvise a dating scene where Shanthi's character Lila seeks a handsome man and refuses to sleep with him on the first date.
- The scene blends humor and candid lines, revealing Shanthi's playful, unfiltered persona on air.
Shanthi's Bond Meets Aqua King
- Shanthi performs as a new James Bond facing a villain called Aqua King and suggests stopping him via 'the irrigation'.
- The scene is playful and shows Shanthi committing enthusiastically to the character despite surreal lines.
