Bhuvan Bam is a name that is synonymous with the Indian internet. The man is arguably the first internet celebrity of our country, raking in hundreds of millions of views on his sketch and commentary videos on YouTube. He’s made us all laugh with his eccentric characters (Titu Mama supremacy) and relatable takes on pop culture events. But behind all his chaotic humour are layers of empathy, struggle and humility.

Nikhil Taneja masterfully uncovers this unseen side of Bam on his podcast Be A Man, Yaar. The content creator tells us all about growing up in a troubled household, how his father’s alcoholism affected him, his decades-long relationship and how he keeps himself grounded despite all his success. It’s a rare glimpse into India’s internet superstar. Here are some of our favourite takeaways from the episode.

His Music Inspirations

Growing up, Bam’s prized possession was his cassette player. Bam would listen to songs by Mohd Rafi and Kishore Kumar on loop. But surprisingly, he never really completed listening to any cassette because of the fluctuating electric supply at home. That didn’t stop him from falling in love with the art form. The song that sparked his interest in music was Kishore Kumar’s Chingari Koi Bhadke.

His Relationship with Alcohol

Bam’s outlook towards alcohol was coloured by his father’s relationship with the substance. “Aisi kya cheez hai jo without fail, roz pee jati hai,” he tells Taneja. As the years progressed Bam’s father relied on alcohol for every occasion—happy or sad—making Bam realise that he didn’t want to be a slave to any particular substance. His father struggled with his addiction until he suffered from a stroke two years before his passing. All the years of seeing his father battle with alcohol abuse made Bam swear off of any vices.

His Bond With His Older Brother

Bam has a brother who is four years older than him. During their early years, their dynamic was similar to most sibling relationships—the older one didn’t really pay attention to what the younger one had to say. Those things gradually changed after Bam’s older brother met with a motorcycle accident that put him on bed rest for a year. An aspiring pilot, he struggled to make his dreams come true only because of his physical condition. During these trying times, the two brothers became each others emotional support. Finally, after a lot of dedicated work, Bam’s brother cleared the test and became a pilot. His swearing in ceremony was on the same day his father suffered from a stroke.

His Love Story

Through the tumultuous family circumstances, one constant in Bam’s life was his partner. A school romance, the two have known each other since the fourth grade. “Koi aisa mahina nahi chhoda jab scooty pe na baith ke ghoome ho hum log,” he reminisces about their early years. She was also the one who pushed him to become a content creator. Thank god for that, right?

How He Deals With Rejection

“Rejection is a part of this thing we are in,” says Bam. He’s referring to the media industry—acting in shows, putting out content for the public and all the other facets of internet stardom. And his secret to surviving for all these years in the industry is coming to terms with the fact that everyone is replaceable. The executives are always looking to get the biggest stars and it is extremely important for creators to know that there will always be a bigger fish that they are seeking. Which is why deals can fall through, roles can be handed to someone else, views can drop. It’s all part and parcel of the game.

How He Keeps His Ego In Check

With all the success that Bam has achieved, it’s easy to be self-important and have an inflated ego. But he keeps himself in check by constantly putting himself in uncomfortable positions. He says he could have continued making videos in within the four walls of his room and get all the validation from his adoring fans. “Bahut miss karta hoon main,” he says about making videos for YouTube. But he wanted to level up. He wanted to do bigger things. And in the process, he meets people who humble him. And Bam is happy to be humbled. He’s just looking to learn.