When Devarshi Patel heard a random radio announcement about Roadies auditions in Ahmedabad, he had no idea it would shape the next 16 years of his life. With no preparation, and not even the knowledge that a Group Discussion existed, he joined a line of nearly 10,000 hopefuls, carrying nothing but a water bottle and raw confidence.
Eight hours later, during the GD on relationships, Devarshi stood out when he called out a contestant for using abusive language. Instead of waiting for results, he went to sleep, only to wake up to a phone call from Ayushmann Khurrana, then hosting the auditions. “Boss, you are selected,” Ayushmann told him. Devarshi instantly knew his life had changed.
Inside the audition room, his honesty stood out as he openly wrote on his form that he Googled an answer. And then came the moment fans still remember: his energetic rendition of “Rock On”. He had no idea it would become a cultural memory, revived even 16 years later.
For Devarshi, Roadies was real and unscripted. Facing Raghu and Rajiv was a dream, and their pressure tests only strengthened him. One line from the episode became legendary: “If someone asks me for a pen, he’ll never forget me.” Even today, he gets messages asking him to return pens.
After Roadies, he acted in ads and short films before completing an MBA, and moving into marketing and recruitment. Today, he also runs a digital marketing agency and calls himself an “inspirational comedian,” combining humour and positivity to uplift people.
