Dia Mirza, Kunal Kemmu, Tanya Maniktala and more spark conversations on critical issues such as climate change, gender equality, and the evolving role of Gen Z at the Yuvaa conclave.
The first-ever Conclave, hosted by the Gen-Z-led media platform Yuvaa, brought together a vibrant mix of young voices, industry leaders, and creative minds for a day of meaningful conversations and performances at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Coinciding with International Youth Day, the event was themed “From Hope to Action,” and focused on empowering young people to transform their aspirations into tangible change.
Setting the tone for the conclave, Kevin Lee (CEO of Yuvaa) acknowledged the rapid changes the world has experienced since the pandemic, emphasising the need for youth to actively engage in shaping the future. Following was a powerful spoken word performance by Nayab Midha, who performed her popular piece “Muskurao,” earning heavy applause from the audience.
The Conclave captivated attendees with a series of engaging and insightful sessions. In the opening fireside chat, Vinay Shukla, in conversation with Nikhil Taneja (Media Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Yuvaa), shared his experiences from filming ‘While We Watched’ and emphasised the importance of humour and hope in overcoming challenges. He also reflected on his own privilege and the support from his family.
The Creators Panel, moderated by Anusha Shetty, featured Dharna Durga, Harshita Gupta, Shivesh Bhatia, and Ella D’Verma, who discussed the viability of content creation as a career. The Gender Panel, sponsored by Udaan Collaborative and led by Maanvi, explored topics like burnout, dating norms, and sexual health with Sanjana Sanghi, Dr. Tanaya Narendran, Sejal Kumar, and Shivani Garg. An AI Panel, featuring Vrinda Bhandari, Anurag Minus Verma, Apar Gupta, and Supriya Paul, explored online safety in an AI-driven world, discussing both the potential benefits and risks of AI.
Kevin Lee led a News Panel that examined how to engage Gen Z with news in a digital age, featuring insights from Abhinandan Sekhri, Meena Kotwal, Divyanshi Sumrav, and Arun Singh Jhumroo. The Climate Panel, moderated by Kevin Lee, addressed climate change, with Dia Mirza and others highlighting the need for both individual and collective action.
The day concluded with Kunal Kemmu’s closing chat with Nikhil Taneja where the actor shared his views on social media, mental health, and the challenges of intellectual property rights,“I really want to do Go Goa Gone 2, but IP ek aisi cheez hai jo mere haath mein nahi hain’ he said teasing the audience with remarks about a potential “Go Goa Gone” sequel.
Interactive sessions included a Gen Z-facing activation with Nona Uppal and Ria Chopra, a music performance by Sejal Kumar, and an AMA session with Tanya Maniktala, who shared personal insights and encouraged the young audience to embrace life’s “firsts.”
The Yuvaa Conclave saw a full house throughout the day where the young audience engaged deeply with the discussions, posing thoughtful questions and maintaining high energy. Despite addressing serious topics like online safety and climate change, the event remained focused on fostering hope and inspiring change.
