Serving It Up with Sania Mirza, created by IVM Podcasts, is far from a typical interview show. Each episode kicks off on a pickleball court, featuring volleys, banter, missed shots, and laughter, then flows into a candid conversation that feels more like a relaxed post-game chat than a formal interview.
“Over the years, my most genuine, fun, and vulnerable discussions occurred off-camera with friends on a couch or post-practice, and I aimed to capture that vibe in a format people could genuinely experience with me,” Mirza explains.
She believes that movement helps drop defenses. “When you’re active with someone, you relax a bit. A rally, a laugh, a missed shot can break the ice, enabling the real person to shine through, rather than the polished media version you see at red carpets or press events,” she elaborates.
Thus, pickleball was a conscious choice. “Pickleball beautifully bridges the gap between elite athletes and total novices, embodying the essence of this show,” Mirza notes. “It’s fast, fun, and inclusive, appealing to various ages and backgrounds without intimidation, creating a playful atmosphere from the moment a guest steps onto the court.”
For Mirza, it allows her to remain tied to competition without diving back into the intensity of professional tennis. “For me, pickleball keeps that competitive spirit alive without the pressure of pro tennis. Starting with a pickleball rally reveals a different side of both my guests and me—less formal, more mischievous, and very authentic.”
Behind the scenes, the format was closely crafted with IVM Podcasts. “From the very beginning, we played a crucial role in shaping both the tone and structure of Serving It Up with Sania,” states Kavita Rajwade, Co-Founder of IVM Podcasts – Pratilipi. “Our aim was never to create a standard interview format… The objective was to build something that felt premium yet accessible, competitive yet warm, where movement seamlessly transitions into meaningful conversations.”
While hosting differs from competing, Mirza identifies familiar parallels. “Hosting is quite distinct from entering the court to win, but it harnesses similar skills—reading people, staying present, and reacting on the fly,” she mentions.
However, the pressure takes on a different form. “The tension of playing a Grand Slam is very immediate; the score is visible, and everyone knows if you win or lose. In hosting, the pressure is subtler but still very real,” she explains. “On the court, stress is short-lived; with a show, the responsibility feels ongoing since that episode exists online for years.”
Often, the most revealing moments surface before any dialogue starts. “People’s demeanor changes when they come off the court, heart racing and paddle in hand,” Mirza observes. “You witness their competitive nature, their reactions to mistakes, whether they can laugh at themselves, and how they acknowledge small victories—all of this unveils character before the conversation even begins.”
After the paddles are set down, the narratives tend to align. “Once they sit after playing, the themes of pressure, self-doubt, resilience, and happiness resonate remarkably alike, just framed in different contexts.”
According to Amit Doshi, Head of IVM Podcasts – Pratilipi, achieving this balance posed one of the main challenges. “Creatively, the biggest hurdle was merging sport and conversation without either appearing contrived… These challenges, however, contributed to the show’s uniqueness.”
The podcast’s visually-driven, socially-engaged identity is tailored to resonate across platforms and generations. “Younger audiences gravitate less towards legacy and more towards authenticity, energy, and relatability,” Rajwade points out. “Even if viewers aren’t well-versed in Sania’s tennis journey, they encounter her here as playful, insightful, curious, and genuine.”
For Mirza, the goal is straightforward. “If the podcast encourages someone to grab a paddle, join a community match, or simply see sport as a joyful experience rather than something daunting, that’s a success.”
Having navigated various roles—athlete, mentor, mother, entrepreneur—she perceives hosting as a connective thread. “Being a podcast host symbolizes the thread that unites many of those identities because it revolves around listening, sharing, and creating space for authentic stories,” she reflects.
As for future guests, her criteria are clear. “As long as they’re open to picking up a paddle, chuckling at their missteps, and discussing the messy, human aspects of success, they’re a perfect fit for Serving It Up.“
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