Educational
Experience
Rather traumatic but anyway. Till the seventh
standard, I was in Delhi. Later on, I was
in the International School of Paris for three
years.
I
did my 12th from Delhi Public School, my Bachelors
in French from Jawaharlal Nehru University
in Delhi and finally I did my Mass Communications
from Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai. Couldn't
bear it post that!
Professional
Experience
I have done various summer jobs and spent
most of my later schooling years working through
vacations. My dad is an army man and enforces
his rules not just on his subordinates but
also on me.
I
worked for Prahlad Kakkar's Genesis Film Production
for a year where I grew as a nocturnal being
with insane shoot schedules and also grew
hard of hearing with 'Papa Pancho' screaming
at the top of his lungs (anyone who knows
him will relate to this!!). Jokes apart, what
I have learnt from him was primarily the art
of detailing, which I haven't forgotten till
date.
I
have been with Star Plus for almost three
years now and have worked on all sorts of
software-format shows from Kaun Banega
Crorepati, which was at the start of my
career, to Kahani Kismet Ki; teenage
fiction soaps like Kyon Hota Hai Pyar;
kids daily Shaka-laka Boom Boom to
events like the Screen Awards. Here's where
I get serious!
Job
Profile
The basic crux of my work is to create and
implement high quality fiction and non-fiction
television for mass audiences; to supervise
all production and creative input on programmes;
and innovate on a weekly basis with respect
to storylines and visual presentation of shows.
I also act as the interface between the channel
and the production houses for all issues with
regard to shows; make key decisions on budgets,
casting, production schedules, selection of
creative and technical teams; scripting, promotion
strategy and off air marketing. Phew!!!!!!!!!!
Television as career choice
Television, is a medium of constant change
and reflection of society. Its dynamism and
ever evolving nature has always attracted
me. The mass reach of television entertainment
and its ability to reach out to its audiences
country wide cuts across all economic and
social sections. It also gives us a direct
connection to the mind, and especially in
the case of fiction shows, to the heart of
the viewer.
The
responsibility of providing a high standard
has always been challenging and I have loved
this challenge. The reward of being able to
read the mind of the viewers, to pre-empt
their reaction and get it right is what motivates
me week after week.
The
opportunity to innovate on a weekly/daily
basis and to create a product, that is widely
accepted as successful in a very subjective
field, is what drew me to television.
Current
Television scenario
I think Star Plus has got it right! The total
domination our channel has in the current
television scenario indicates the high level
of understanding the team, as a whole, has
towards the taste and sensibilities of the
viewers.
Star
reflects the aspirations, feelings and idea
of entertainment that the TV viewing audience
in India has today. In a way, this is a complete
reflection of our society. It also means that
our biggest competitors are our own shows
and therefore my biggest competitors sit right
beside me!
Right
and wrong about current Television scenario
It's a very subjective question. What works
is right and what doesn't is wrong. All we
need to do is innovate on the formats front.
I would have test periods for everything so
that at the end of it I can have an idea of
what works and what doesn't.
Five
years from now
Considering the high level of burn out in
my field, I see myself on a white beach with
top sunlight and waves conducive to boogie
boarding with my loyalists Kurusawa, Cleopatra
and Ginger (my dogs)!
Hobbies
Watching movies (language no bar), watching
Roswell on Star World, going out as much as
the job permits, dumping pups in my parents
home. (I love dogs and they love breeding!!)
Sun
Sign
I'm a Taurean but I hate cooking.
Idea
of enjoyment
On a white beach with top sunlight and waves
conducive to boogie along with my loyalists
Kurusawa, Cleopatra and Ginger (these are
my dogs)! In five years I will be doing what
I enjoy most.