MUMBAI: The second edition of the Yuvaa Conclave transformed Mumbai’s Mukesh Patel Auditorium into a vibrant hub of ideas, emotions, and powerful intergenerational conversations on 4th October 2025 . The event, which was free to attend for young people, saw over 1300+ registrations and 750+ attendees throughout the day, marking a compelling return of India’s most heartfelt youth-driven gathering - designed to ignite empathy, identity, and purpose. As India’s first conclave of, for, and by the youth, this 2.0 version was a bigger, bolder celebration of voice and vulnerability.
The day began with an electrifying performance by Saniya MQ , whose energy lit up the stage and set the tone for the transformative conversations that followed. Kevin Lee, CEO of Yuvaa , then welcomed the audience with an opening address that reminded everyone why spaces like these matter - where young people aren’t just heard, but truly seen.
The first session of the day, ‘Discord Democracy: GenZ and Politics’ , brought together NCP spokesperson Anish Gawande , activist and author Gurmehar Kaur , and BJP activist Pradeep Bhandari , moderated by Kevin Lee . A fiery and thoughtful exchange about civic engagement and the emotional intelligence required to engage in democracy today, it included strong and honest insights from the honest panel. “We are all agitated, we feel our issue is not being heard enough. In a country this large, we need to figure out how to…talk to each other,” noted Gawande . Gurmehar Kaur , in a bold take, observed - “For our nation, we have dreams for it, we want to speak for it. We should be allowed to express love for our country and also criticism for it.”
In the next session “Apna Sapna Money Money” , empowered by Axis Max Life Insurance, a unique blend of voices took the stage - creator Yuvraj Dua , actor Nakuul Mehta , and journalist Sonia Shenoy - bringing diverse perspectives to how young people perceive and engage with money. There was laughter, reflection, and real talk about financial anxiety, ambition, and generational change. “Millennials relate money to a lot of negative emotions like fear, stress, anxiety. When you earn money, you don’t chase, you just attract,” noted Shenoy .
One of the day’s most awaited moments was the conversation between Vicky Kaushal and Nikhil Taneja , titled ‘Vicky-Pedia: 10 Years of Vicky Kaushal’ . A session filled with laughter, introspection, and truth bombs, it offered a rare glimpse into the actor’s journey, values, and vision. “Sabse zyaada gossip kiske saath hoti hai? Ranbir Kapoor,” Vicky laughed. Reflecting on the values instilled by his family and the importance of integrity over stardom, he shared, “Ek cheez parents ne sikhaayi hai…ki chahe tum actor kaise bhi ho, 5/10, 7/10 or 10/10, you should be a good person.” Vicky added, “It’s all how you made the people around you feel, when you were there, that’s all they remember you for,” before leaving the crowd inspired with, “I’m not here for small wins, I’m here to create a legacy.”
For those seeking comic relief, the ever-hilarious Ankur Tangade delivered a powerful and hilarious stand-up performance rooted in her struggles as a queer woman from the DBA community, reminding everyone that humor too is a form of healing.
Later in the day, the session ‘From Reels to Deals: Decoding the Creator-Preneur Playbook’ brought together digital powerhouses Parul Gulati, Rhea Chakraborty, Saloni Kukreja, Samdish Bhatia , in conversation with Anusha Shetty . The conversation dug deep into the creator economy - its promises, pressures, and personal costs. “Maine socha apna Chapter 2 mai khud likhti hoon. Sabko apna narrative likhneka mauka milna chahiye,” observed Rhea Chakraborty , drawing applause. Samdish Bhatia , in due course, added his own signature wit to the topic: “People ask ‘What is your cost per reel?’. Maine koi ration ki dukaan toh nahi kholi hai. I need to know what I am selling.”
“We are getting news in very fragmented ways. We should filter what we want to consume,” noted Anurag Minus Verma , in another riveting session, with Nidhi Suresh, Dr. Medusa, Ria Nagpal , moderated by Neha Mathews titled ‘ Is Everything as F**ed as The Media Is Telling Us? ’. Tackling the realities of information overload, disillusionment, and the power of truth-telling in an era of chaos, *Nidhi Suresh* reflected - “I think there is value in slow stories -this gives me hope in journalism.”
The audience also witnessed a wide-ranging, deeply resonant conversation between Tanmay Bhat and Kevin Lee titled ‘ AI, Brainrot and The Future of Creativity ’. “Comedy industry ka mai mama hoon,” with characteristic candor, Tanmay laughed. He touched a nerve with the crowd as he reflected on how far he has come within the comedy industry. The conversation underscored the tension between tech, burnout, and the pursuit of meaningful creative work, with a line Bhat left the audience with - “Copy it till you make it. You don’t have to reinvent your own wheel.”
One of the most unexpectedly emotional sessions came from Raghav Juyal , whose conversation with Nikhil Taneja , titled ‘Akkha Bollywood Ek Taraf’ , offered moving side notes from his usual comic and dance persona. “Fun is the ultimate spirituality,” observed Juyal , reminding everyone of the layers between an entertainer and a complex human being striving for connection and meaning. However, the session had its own gems of Juyal’s humorous takes - “Jab producer mujhe nahi lete the, main unpe taras khaa ke aata tha ki better luck next time!”
Throughout the day, the auditorium echoed with laughter, joy, and thunderous applause - proof that these were not just sessions, they were shared human experiences. Attendees engaged in live Q&As and most importantly, listened to one another with open hearts. The Yuvaa Conclave 2025 , supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies , was more than a conference, it was a mirror to the times and a window into the future. The event was held in collaboration with Axis Max Life Insurance (Associate Sponsor), Pinq Polka (Gifting Partner), Social Ketchup (Content Partner), Fuji Instax (Photobooth Partner), Multiphase Digital (Media Partner), and MUBI India (Creative Partner), whose support helped bring the experience to life.
The discussions illuminated pressing topics essential to the growth and well-being of young people, ranging from finances and politics to mental health, media, and identity. Above all, it reminded everyone present that vulnerability is strength, storytelling is activism, and that the most powerful revolutions begin not with noise, but with honest, human conversations.
About Yuvaa : Yuvaa is India's first Gen-Z-driven youth media, insights, and impact organisation. Yuvaa believes in making important things interesting for young people, and works with the world’s leading brands and non-profits like Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, IBM, Tinder, YouTube, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children, and more, across verticals of research, content, social media, college activations and events. Yuvaa creates meaningful content online and starts meaningful conversations offline on urgent youth issues like mental health, gender, sexuality, misinformation, and many more.
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