The second episode of Talking Point with Ritwika Gupta features one of the most prominent film critics in the country - Anupama Chopra. Anupama reveals that her husband and award-winning filmaker, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, has been her biggest inspiration. A film enthusiast, book author and television presenter by profession, Anupama shares her experiences in the industry, talks about her wonderful voyage and how she manages to juggle the multiple roles in her life.

One look at her and you would pooh-pooh the fact that she is mother of a teenage daughter! One of the most prominent figures within India?s luxury retail circle, this gorgeous Bengali lass is the epitome of elegance and class, as is the company she represents. Meet Christian Dior Couture India vice-president, marketing and communications Kalyani Chawla.

Also donning the hat of Dior's social brand ambassador in India, Kalyani exudes an air of confidence. In a t?te-?-t?te with Indiantelevision.com?s RITWIKA GUPTA, she speaks about her family, online shopping and the perks of being the brand ambassador of an international label.

How has your journey been so far in the industry?

Nine years in this industry and I can say that it has been challenging but extremely rewarding. Dior is a serious contender in this nascent market, investing in the opportunity for immense growth, which we believe exists in the near future. The resources, which are at hand for me to invest in marketing, are unique as no other brand in India does that. This only helps to take this brand to international standards.

How do you keep a work-life balance?

My 15-year-old daughter is in boarding school but comes home often enough, which is when we bond. But I have a focused 10 am to 6 pm day, which really extends to 10 am to 8 pm most of times and on weekends too. Socializing and attending events is an integral part of my work too. So, it?s a great balance, which I think I?ve managed well!

How do you relax?

Massages are my biggest indulgence. I also love reading. Both these activities are so time consuming but the most relaxing.

Where do you draw your energy?

I meditate everyday, which is what keeps me focused.

Who are your favourite authors?

I love South American and Japanese authors particularly. Amongst the Indian authors, I adore Jhumpa Lahiri for her sensitivity and Calcutta settings, which I relate to. I like Firdaus Kanga for his dark humour and Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance completely shook my ground.

What kind of films do you love watching?

I love Woody Allen for his brilliance, Anurag Kashyap for his genre and Karan Johar for his late 80s type of movies, which we still laugh and weep over.

How would you define your personal style?

With a growing teenager, I am bending towards classic now but intrinsically with a twist! In terms of brands, I go for what suits me and what is age appropriate. More than being brand focused, I dress up according to the occasion.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I love high street shopping. I have my best pieces from the high streets, which are always such great value for money and style! I also shop online from international websites but you land up paying more tax. There are great online shopping opportunities available in India like rocknshop.com, which offers an EMI option and hence you do not feel the pinch? to an extent! 

What would be an ideal weekend escapade?

Any beach is great for me...I am a complete beach bum!

Do you have a daily beauty regime?

I have been blessed with great genes. So, I don?t really feel the need to follow any regime. I am a typical lazy Bengali and a good moisturizer for day and night is all that I am regular with.

Who are the biggest influences in your life?

My greatest influences have been my two sets of grandparents. They have defined my character, my drive, my interests and who I am today. My motivation is my daughter, Tahira Tara Chawla, who keeps me focused. I want to provide the best for her and give her the best education. To be able to afford that, I need to be successful in my field of work.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I live for the present and try to make the best of it. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. The future is unpredictable but we have to be prepared. That is the key.

On the first episode of Talking Point with Ritwika Gupta, the Managing Director & CEO of Rajshri Entertainment, Rajjat Barjatya shares what it feels like to be a part of such an illustrious lineage and admits that Maine Pyar Kiya is his all time favourite Rajshri film. As the youngest member of a family that is deep rooted in Indian entertainment since 1947, Rajjat Barjatya has given the business a new dimension by tapping a global audience on digitally connected devices through web and mobile platforms. "If you can think it, you can achieve it" - that is the philosophy of the man who is a leukemia survivor himself. In this episode, Rajjat tells us how his family is his pillar of strength and his kids are his biggest stress busters.

By: Ritwika Gupta

?Each moment, every single moment, we either create a dream or a nightmare, as each moment we either choose to live or we choose to kill the opportunity to live.?-  Ruzbeh N. Bharucha

Ruzbeh N. Bharucha?s new book Rabda is not just a plain biography of Sai Baba but it also brings alive real stories and philosophy of life. Bharucha, who himself is a non-conformist, believes that spirituality is as freewheeling as breathing.

As one of the most influential spiritual writers in the country, Bharucha started his career as a journalist and documentary filmmaker. Till date, he has written eleven books including the bestselling, The Fakir Trilogy. Settled in Pune with his family, Bharucha also has a popular blog on The Speaking Tree. In a candid chat with Indiantelevision.com?s RITWIKA GUPTA, the acclaimed author talks about his new book Rabda and shares his beliefs on spirituality and inspiration.

Your journey as an author?

The journey of writing books started when I was in Jai Hind College, Mumbai but it took me ten years to get the first book published. The publishing house had asked me to write a non-fiction book on spirits like whisky, vodka, wine. For some reason I thought they wanted me to write on life after death and spirit communication. It was only when the conversation maneuvered towards the subject of hangovers, I realised that I was harping about the wrong kind of spirits. But the publisher seemed to like my spooky idea better and that is how I got into writing about the spiritual world.

Your inspiration?

The process of writing makes life worth living and this inspires me to keep writing. Sai Baba of Shirdi also inspires me to write. Both my books - The Fakir Trilogy and Rabda - are set in a world where Sai Baba communicates and makes his presence felt. The conversation between the main character and Sai Baba is real. There is humor, swearing, laughter and profound words of wisdom as well.

Your favourite books?

I love reading fiction, crime thrillers and detective books.  I also love humour. I have read The Autobiography of a Yogi by Swami Paramhansa Yogananda innumerable times. My favourite books include Aghoras: At The Left Hand of God by Robert Svoboda, Timothy Files by Lawrence Sanders and Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Robert Bach. I also like to read books written by P.G.Wodehouse, Somerset Maugham, James Hardly Chase, Colin Dexter, Grisham, Khushwant Singh, Stieg Larsson, Lawrence Sanders, Harold Robbins and Rex Stout. 

Your thoughts on Rabda?

The crux of the book is to spread the message of oneness.  I wanted to write a book on Sai Baba of Shirdi. I wanted to focus on Baba's philosophy and ideology and project him as someone who is beyond religion, sects and miracles. But I wanted to write it in a conversational manner. The book goes back and forth, past and present, uses present day language along with Sai Baba's colourful vocabulary and the reader is taken on a journey of a lifetime.

Story & characters of Rabda?

The main character in the book, Rabda or Caiz, is a famous musician who attempts to commit suicide. His attempt however fails and he instead goes into a state of coma. Chances are that he is going to die but this is when Sai Baba enters the hospital and awakens the spirit body of Rabda. The two then begin to converse about life, death and everything in between and that is what the book is all about.

The Cover Page?

The cover page features Rabda the musician reaching out to Sai Baba.

 Next in the Pipeline?

My new book Ananda: Musings of The Fakir has been published by Full Circle. In the month of April, The Perfect Ones, a set of biographies on various masters, prophets, avatars, goddesses, archangels, will be published and released by Penguin. 

By Ritwika Gupta

Responsible for the overall sports business, Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi admits to being a complete food junkie. Sharing some of his memorable travel experiences, he gives us a glimpse into how he juggles multiple roles in life. Taking a brief breather between his hectic work and travel schedule, Sethi speaks to Indiantelevision.com?s RITWIKA GUPTA about his career, favourite films, travel essentials and more.

Tell us about your journey as a professional in the industry.

I?ve had a thoroughly enjoyable journey as a professional in this industry. Coming from the retail finance and insurance background, my ideologies were different. I have been successful in trying to implement learnings from my past jobs and in turn giving some structure to this industry. Some of the major challenges I?ve faced have been using my entrepreneurial approach to introduce a processed work flow. At the same time, my incentives are that I have been able to watch few of the best sporting events in the world right from WWE to UEFA Champions League.

 What kind of developments have you seen over the past decade or so?

The major change over the last decade has definitely been the emergence of the digital age. We can clearly see consumers? acceptance on this and have seen them transitioning from a traditional brick and mortar era to the click era.

 Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy the opportunity of working with varied people from diverse backgrounds. It is a hyper competitive environment entwined with some complex regulations in place. It has been truly challenging and very enjoyable.

 How do you manage to balance your role as a CEO and a family person?

If you enjoy what you are doing, it is very easy to align personal and professional priorities. I have had no difficulties balancing my personal and professional life.

How do you relax?

I have diverse interests. I spend considerable time reading and watching documentaries on different subjects. I also love spending time with my kids and my dog. I am a voracious reader and I read varied genres. Currently, I am reading the book World Order by Henry Kissinger. It is about history, strategy and statecraft.

Which is that one book you have read over and over again?

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is one book that I have read multiple times.

Do you like watching films? Which are your favourite movies?

I am not too much of a movie buff and seldom go out for movies. I do watch a lot of documentaries though. My favourite movies include ? The Bucket List, Shawshank Redemption, 7 Years in Tibet, Gladiator and 3 Idiots.

What is your idea of a perfect weekend getaway?

Short treks to nearby hills. Living in Delhi, there are opportunities for wonderful drives and short treks in the vicinity. I enjoy my serendipitous moments in the lap of nature along with my family.

 Which is your favourite holiday destination?

Anywhere in the Himalayas!

 What are the 5 most essential items you always carry on a trip abroad?

1. iPod
2. Kindle
3. Running gear
4. A collection of ties and cufflinks
5. An Evening Jacket

Do you have a memorable travel experience?

My memorable travel experience was my journey to the Chamonix Valley in south-eastern France, conquering the river of ice. I was meeting my college mates after a long time and the adventures we experienced while holidaying in Chamonix were inexplicable and very special.

Are you fond of latest gadgets?

Though I may sound traditional, my favorite tech gadget currently is my Mac Air.

What is your favourite cuisine?

While I love my paranthas, I equally relish South Indian food.  My favorite restaurant would be any authentic South Indian joint.

How important are awards, appreciation and recognition to you?

These are fundamental human needs. All of us respond to appreciation expressed through recognition because it endorses that you are being valued.

Collecting new designations as they go up the corporate ladder is something that is common to most executives. But, what many don't know is that these executives also harbor a secret passion of gathering collectibles. The most common being stamps and coins to airplane models, books, chess boards, comics, masks, rugs and paintings. Collector's Item refer to what executives like to collect, the places they acquire them from and how they nurture their interest on a regular basis.

We take a peek into Cartoon Network Enterprises India and South Asia director Jiggy George's numerous collections in a variety of items. His plush office cabin is filled with a range of Cartoon Network merchandise of Johny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter and other characters.

Apart from this, Jiggy is an avid collector of comics, coins, stamps, masks and music CDs inlays! "All of these passions have been there from a very early age. I keep collecting and the only constraint is the size of the home," he says.

oldlecting new designations as they go up the corporate ladder is something that is common to most executives. But, what many don't know is that these executives also harbor a secret passion of gathering collectibles. The most common being stamps and coins to airplane models, books, chess boards, comics, masks, rugs and paintings. Collector's Item refer to what executives like to collect, the places they acquire them from and how they nurture their interest on a regular basis.

We take a peek into Cartoon Network Enterprises India and South Asia director Jiggy George's numerous collections in a variety of items. His plush office cabin is filled with a range of Cartoon Network merchandise of Johny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter and other characters.

Apart from this, Jiggy is an avid collector of comics, coins, stamps, masks and music CDs inlays! "All of these passions have been there from a very early age. I keep collecting and the only constraint is the size of the home," he says.