Name: Swati Shetty

Designation: Assistant Manager - Star Plus Sun

Sign: Taurus, 17 May 1974

Educational Experience
B.Pharm; MMS (Bombay University)

Professional Experience
Started my career as a Territory Manager with Eli Lilly Ranbaxy Ltd. Quit to study further, followed by a short stint at Intergold with Rajiv Sheth and Vikram Raizada in Marketing. Introduction into the media world happened at Sahara TV (Marketing-pre-launch). Harish Shriyan (Grey Worldwide) on a work meeting insisted I meet with Raj Nayak who was then heading Marketing & Sales at Star and was looking for people. It took Raj two minutes to make up his mind and convince me to move from marketing to ad-sales and I shall never regret that decision.

I started as an Executive with Star World, and then moved on to sell Channel [V] for the Western region. Following the team merger of Star Plus and the Star niche channels, I was chosen to be a group head first selling the network of eight channels followed by three channels Star Plus, Star Gold and Star Vijay.

I've only gained in the last two and half years at Star, especially in relationships with my clients (they're the best!) and business partners. Enjoy doing what I'm doing and have the same adrenalin rush each time we crack the deal...you must know it's fun.

Job Profile
Currently working as an Assistant Manager with Star Plus. I am responsible for revenues from certain key clients.

Television as career choice
Pace is critical in keeping me going in this industry, especially Star TV. The organization I represent gives me that and more. Besides, having specialized in marketing and being good at sales, the closest I could get to any form of creativity was either advertising or television? so I chose advertising sales in television.

Current Television scenario
It's only the beginning. Our seniors have laid the foundation and we're ready to take on any challenges!!!

Right and wrong about current Television scenario
I believe there is no wrong and all is right. If something was wrong for you, it probably was right for me. All the same, there is enough scope for each of us to contribute and make it better than yesterday.

Five years from now
I would certainly liked to have progressed beyond being called an upcoming or rising talent. I would have contributed enough to feature on headlines and would be dreaming of better things in life. Hopefully, would be changing diapers too!!!

Hobbies
Take classes in Hindustani classical music, enjoy reading, writing, netsurfing and of course dreaming!!

Idea of enjoyment
My idea of enjoyment doesn't confine itself to being by the seaside with friends and listening to my favourite music. It extends itself to the pleasure I get when my parents are happy, when my sisters imagine it can't get any better, when my in-laws take pride in including me and when Rajiv (my hubby) comes to see me in between a commercial break!! (Ha! Ha!)

PS: "It's the little things in life that make the big difference. Right?"

Name: Bonnie Jain

Designation: CEO - Eternal Dreams

Sun Sign: Aries 14 April 1974

Educational Experience
B.Com from St Annes College, Mumbai

Professional Experience
Six years with Saraswat Audio Visual and Amitabh Bachchan Corp Ltd (ABCL).

Two years with Cuecom Entertainment.

One year with Channel Nine India.

Presently with Eternal Dreams since 2001.

Job Profile
Handling the entire company as the CEO. The company is a sales agency for various TV serials, TV concerts / events, movies like ITAA on DD I and Sony, Non Stop Blockbusters and Non Stop Music Masti on DD Metro recently. Also in the pipeline are SFX Model Hunt 2003 on Star Plus and DD Metro besides brand specific ground events in various parts of the country for dealers and consumers.

In fact after the traumatic experience with Tara Marathi, the past four months have been really good for us and we would close this year's turnover at over Rs 60 million, which will help us breathe again.

Bonnie with Pankaj Chaturvedi, CEO-Baskin Robins

Media as career choice
It just happened at the age of 18 when Jaya Bachchan launched Saraswat Audio Visuals and asked me to assist her. Thereafter it has been a very fast journey for me with various portfolio changes and department changes. Right from ad sales to marketing to production to meeting up with all important people in the film industry.

With Cuecom Entertainment I got to know the entire South Industry. I always considered myself to be jack of all and master of none but who knew that one day it would help me head a company which has done phenomenally well for itself in such a short period despite several set backs.

Current Media scenario
This seems to be a very generic question and being the head of a sales agency I would answer this only in terms of share of revenue which I feel is getting really competitive. And due to many players, instead of rates increasing on an annual basis, they seem to be dipping for channels and especially for Doordarshan.

People say there is no money in the market. This is a logic which I have never been able to digest. There is over Rs 40 billion rupees available for television advertising alone and statistics say that the ad pie is increasing and not decreasing. It is very encouraging for the advertising industry and in my opinion it is just a matter of right approach to sales and mainly after-sales.

We, at Eternal Dreams, believe in providing value for money to our clients and always try our best to over-deliver on our commitments made to them. CAS is definitely going to impact the television advertising drastically but it's too early to say what will happen and how it will happen.

Right and wrong about current media scenario
Right - Moving slowly but in the right direction.

Wrong - The way media is bought, Rs 40 billion being spend based on a sample size which is as low as 20,000 people all over India with a penetration of over 70 million TV homes.

I would strongly support CAS and if implemented well, it will change the entire media scenario and then the deserving would get the right share of the advertising spend.

Five years from now
Making movies, movies and movies.

Bonnie with Sapna Chaturvedi and a journalist

Hobbies
Work, Cricket, partying.

Idea of enjoyment
Goa...hic...Beach....hic....Beer....hic.....Music....Sun.....sea food ......!!!!!

Name: Sukhdev

Designation: Singer

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Educational Experience
I took up music professionally at the early age of 15. I began playing keyboards and went on to programme entire songs by myself. Having acquired my early musical knowledge in light Indian and Western music through different experienced teachers, I later studied "Music Production & Performance" in East Berkshire College in the UK.

Professional Experience
The major break: Having developed skills in singing, music composition and direction, I first came to India in January 1999. Quick to realise that Bhangra being the flavour of the youth, my core audience, I signed on to T-Series to release my debut Punjabi pop album Solva Saal to break into the Indian market.

This extremely successful 'Platinum' album, was completely written, composed & arranged by me all by myself. MTV chose me as their Ubharta Sitarain July 1999. This was followed by a series of live performances all over India, which showcased my complete personality and I was accepted by audiences all-over as a 100 per cent entertainer.

Spurred by the success of 'Solva Saal', I teamed up with ace music director Jaidev & lyricist Dev Kohli to release another bhangra album Kudi Tu India Di on T-series music label in early 2001. With a video shot by the famous Anubhav Sinha Productions, this album too was well accepted and appreciated by the media and masses alike.

Latest album-New Avataar: Though my 'roots' are in Bhangra-Pop I did not want to limit myself but instead use my skills as a complete musician to the fullest. With this in mind, I decided to completely self-arrange and produce my third album, where I pay homage to some of my favourite evergreen Hindi classics, which I grew up on.

I have reworked on giving them a contemporary flavor and vibrancy that would appeal to the sensibilities of the new generation. Besides, having sung in 10 different languages in the past, I decided to sing these songs in the language of today's youth 'Hinglish', which would also help me connect with Indian youths world-wide and help spread my wings into the international market! The album, released by Crescendo Music in January 2003 titled My Heart Is Beating has already received a great response at music shops across India besides being No 1 on the Channel [V] charts.

The video on the title track has been directed by Anant Mahadevan, the famous TV actor and now film director (Dil Vil Pyar Vyar). The other reworked gems on the album are Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi si, Pucho na yaar kya hua, Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein, Sanam Teri Kasam, Jahan Teri Yeh Nazar Hai, Chandni Raatein. This refreshing album promises to be a sure-fire hit which will make everyone listen to it again and again because of its simple emphatic lyrics and new wave of dance rhythms.

My experimentative streak coupled with my ability to reinvent myself and to understand the pulse of the youth will ensure that my new album will appeal to my core audience. Leading music channel B4U Music had chosen me as Singer of the Nation for the month of January 2003.

Live act: I gave my first live performance at the tender age of 19 and since then have performed in several countries including UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, UAE, Tanzania and Uganda. Once popular as a one-man band (playing three keyboards, two drum machines, two sequencers and of course, my vocal chords simultaneously), I earned the sobriquet of being a stylish, young performer, famous for getting the audiences totally 'involved' in my shows - by occasionally breaking the "security code" and getting into the audience area and dancing with them or even bringing the audiences onstage to dance with me. I have my roots in Jullandhar, also have the widest range of songs for live shows, a glimpse of which is shown below:

Popular new Hindi film songs such as Na, Na, Na Re (Mrityudaata), Sona Sona (Major Saab), Tera Rang Balle Balle (Soldier), Tote Tote (Bichoo) and Kudiyan Sheher Diyan (Arjun Pandit).

At shows, my most popular songs from hit albums include Solva Saal, My Heart Is Beating, Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein and Kudi Tu India Di.

Not forgetting my roots, I also sing some traditional Punjabi hits such as Tutak Tutak, Gur Nal Ishq Mitha, Rail Gaddi. I also entertain audiences with Punjabi hits of my contemporaries such as Daler Mehndi's Bolo Tara Rara, Dardi Rab Rab, Ho Jayegi Balle Balle, Harbhajan Maan's Oye Hoye, Hansraj Hans' Dil Chori Sada, Sukhbir's Gal Ban Gayee & Ishq. I also sing non-Punjabi numbers, including Hindi Pop (Lift Kara De), Old Hindi Film hits (Roop Tera Mastana), International hits (Nari Nari & Habibi) & New Hindi film hits (You Are My Sohniya & Le Gayi Le Gayi) depending on the target audience.

Job Profile
Singer/musician who has been proclaimed as "ubartha hua sitara" by MTV, Channel [V] and B4U. (Sukhdev, a teenage prodigy, also has two major achievements to his name, one that of performing in ten different languages (including Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili and Arabic) and the other of having performed at a New Year's eve concert for over eight hours!).

Five years from now
I believe that Indian music will become global and western musicians will imbibe Indian influences. Fusion will play an important role and several Indianised tunes are becoming popular in UK's clubs. I see a lot of Indian artistes using English lyrics to make their mark globally. Ricky Martin used English lyrics despite having won acclaim in his home country. AR Rahman is working with Michael Jackson and Shania Twain will working with Hari Prasad Chaurasia. I myself will be in the thick of intense activity - always experimenting and producing great sounds.

Hobbies
Apart from music, I love watching movies and comedy shows on TV. I love fast cars, enjoy playing pool and snooker. I also love traveling to different places and countries. In India, I remember going to Benares and was fascinated by eight year old boys who have become yogis and sadhus. I am also fascinated by the response of people in interiors such as Kandwa and Ratlam to artistes like me.

Name: Shailesh Kapoor

Designation: Senior Marketing Manager - Zee Cinema

Sun Sign: Leo, 26 July 1975

Educational Experience
I did my schooling from Delhi. Thereafter, like most other students, engineering came up almost like a default option. So, I went for a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi. Very early into IIT, I realised engineering was not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, the whole IIT experience was fabulous, because it helped me meet some of the sharpest brains of India, and shaped my thinking which is today proving to be a valuable asset. Also, the hostel life opened up the world for me.

From there, I joined IIM Calcutta for my MBA. The IIM-C days were very different. I enjoyed the courses and the project works and everything else an MBA education had to offer, and I did well for myself, ending up as the third rank holder in a batch of 300!

Professional Experience
I had always been an avid watcher of Hindi cinema. But it was at IIM-C that this passion really took the shape of a career option. Luckily for me, Sony Entertainment Television visited the campus, and I decided to go for it as my first option. I got into Sony as a Brand Executive in 1999. Over the 11 months I spent there, I worked on a variety of shows and films, like Saaya, Missing and the Raj Kapoor festival. I was responsible for the on-air and off-air marketing efforts on these properties. Sony was a good nurturing ground for me, as it exposed me to the hitherto mysterious world of media and programming.

Shailesh at work

From Sony, I moved to indya.com in Bangalore, where I joined as the Channel Manager for the Cinema and Music websites. The 18 months I spent at indya were absolutely out of this world. The Internet teaches you another way of working altogether. You learn in a year what you may have learnt in three to four years elsewhere. Also, since it was a new business, the passion of the team, right from the top to below, was unparalleled.

When indya downsized drastically, I was one of the 200-odd people who left what we thought was a cherished dream, in November 2001. From there, I took a break, spent time with my family for about three months, and gave shape to my first film script. Thereafter, I moved to Mumbai and worked for a film promotion company for three months, before I joined Zee as the Senior Marketing Manager on Zee Cinema.

Zee has been a very interesting experience. Handling the marketing of a full channel is a different kick altogether, compared to handling two to three shows on a main channel like Sony. You feel you are so much more in control of things and can shape the future of your channel with your ideas and concepts. I have the support and encouragement of an excellent team here, and make no mistakes about it: I am enjoying it big time!

Job Profile
My job profile includes anything and everything to do with the marketing and promotions efforts on Zee Cinema. Right from on-air promos, off-air marketing, sales inputs, coordinating with programming, contests, channel packaging... there is so much scope to work here.

The great thing about being on Zee Cinema is that it is India's No.1 Movie Channel by a fair margin, and you know that your efforts are being seen and appreciated by millions, be it the up-market Colaba in Mumbai or the relatively mass areas of Joka in Kolkata, where I spent my two years at IIMC. It's another high altogether.

Marketing as career choice
Marketing was intuitively the one area of management that caught my fancy during my IIM-C days. The interaction with the consumer was that one thing that made me go for it. Regarding television, I initially saw it as a stepping stone for a career in films. But at Zee, I have realised the true power of the medium.

But frankly, it's still the fact that I am working on a Hindi movie channel that is important. Because, at the end of the day, Hindi cinema is in my blood, in a way that I cannot explain.

Current Marketing scenario
The satellite television industry is very new in India. So, we can't expect a predictable scenario anyway. Things will keep changing, and the key is to be able to think through the changing scenario while you have the vision to shape the future.

Right and wrong about current marketing scenario
I seriously don't think there's anything wrong. Like any other free economy model, our TV industry will find its own way out. Yes, we can always say that there is a dearth of variety in the content available. But we have to realise that we are only ten years into the industry. Things will emerge. In fact, compare today to, say, two years ago, and the difference is more than noticeable.

Personally, the effort will be to understand the consumers and give them the content they want. The trick is that the consumers will never be able to verbalise their needs. You have to get the insights out of them and build your properties around that. And that's where the marketing person's challenge comes in.

Shailesh at his brother's wedding with family.

Five years from now
Tough to predict, but whatever I am doing, wherever I am, it will be something around Hindi cinema. Two of my film scripts are ready. I have not managed enough time to narrate them to some of the key producers in Bollywood. But yes, that will always be one option that I would want to take forward in the next year.

But otherwise, be it TV or films or theater or whatever else, Bollywood will never be out of my scheme of things.

Hobbies
I love films of course, and lot of my free time goes into watching either the new releases or the classics from the past, which I can watch again and again, and yet again. I love writing too, and have a weekly column on msn.co.in on Hindi cinema, which keeps me going.

The rest of the time is when I spend some moments with a few close friends. It's really important because I am aware how we let go of our close friendships because of corporate hustle and bustle. But no such thing for me.

And of course, like any other Indian, I love to watch cricket. Hope we turn things around in the coming weeks and do well in the big event!

Idea of enjoyment
Enjoyment for me is a holiday with three to four close friends... what we do is not very important. It might be a trip to some quiet, scenic place or just a few hours in town, moving around, shopping, watching a film and eating great food. It's the company that's more important. And yes, I love the two weeks I take off every year to spend time with my parents in Delhi. They are truly enriching in their own way.

Name: Palki Malhotra

Designation: Executive Producer - UTV

Sun Sign: Pisces, 28 February 1978

Educational Experience
BA in English Literature from Mithibai College, Mumbai.

Professional Experience
I was in advertising initially. I worked in an ad agency, called Facts, as a Production Executive. Then I joined UTV as an Assistant Director and worked on fiction shows like Swaraaj (DD), Waaris and Hip Hip Hurray (Zee). Then I became an Assistant Executive Producer and worked on a serial called Sarhadein. At present I am the Executive Producer for UTV and am working on Kehta Hai Dil which airs on Star Plus.

Job Profile
I'm an Executive Producer with UTV. I have to be the master of all trades. My basic job profile includes managing everything on the sets from A to Z. I can't be ignorant about anything. I have to know each and everything about each and every one on the sets.

Television as career choice
I started my career in television in 1997. I was always interested in television. When I got into this industry there were no double standards like there are in the film industry.

Palki with Shagufta Ali and Smita Bhansal

Current Television scenario
The present day television scenario is really improving. The audience today wants to see something beyond the saas-bahu sagas. And there has been a conscious effort by the channels to give them what they want.

Right and wrong about current Television scenario
There is nothing like right and wrong in the industry. If a serial gets a high TRP, the formula is right and if it doesn't, the formula is wrong. The most important thing here is to believe in what you do. One also has to change according to the needs of the audience. So, a lot of things have to be kept in mind for a particular thing to be right in the television industry.

Five years from now
Five years from now I see myself as an individual producer.

Hobbies
I love dancing.

Idea of enjoyment
My idea of enjoyment is dancing. It gives me immense happiness and pleasure.

Name: Abir Goswami

Job Profile: Actor

Sun Sign: Aries, 14th April 1975

Educational Experience
My elementary education was from different places throughout India like Bihar, Nagpur and Rajasthan due to the nature of my father's job requirements.

I've done my MBA (marketing) from Lala Lajpath Rai Institute.

Professional Experience
After I did my MBA I worked for Videocon in the Internal Audit Department for three months. Then I worked for Indian Express Group in the Circulation Department that managed events and promotions. After that I moved on to BPL Mobile and worked there as an Assistant Manager in the Corporate Sales Department.

Being very passionate about acting, I did theater when I got the opportunity. My first play was Basant Ki Raat Mein which was directed by Bhupen Deshmukh. I started my stint in television in the year 2000, but for the first four months there was no work and like any other newcomer I was making the rounds of the offices of the producers and channels.

TV serials: I got my first break from the serial Aahat. I also did a couple of other serials like Daddy Samjha Karo and CID. Presently I'm working in Kittie Party and Miit. I've also played small roles in serials like Kkusum, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kamal, Manthan (Neena Gupta Productions), Parchaiyaan (Sahara TV), Aasha Ki Kiran (ETV). I got a lot of recognition with a negative character I played in Kabhi Sautan Kabhi Saheli.

Feature films: I played the character of Phanindranath Ghosh in Raj Kumar Santoshi's The Legend of Bhagat Singh. Initially I was chosen to play the character of Ajay Ghosh but the makers found a more suitable look alike of the character and hence I was given to play the character of a freedom fighter who turns traitor. I was a little apprehensive to play a negative role in a period film but in the end it all turned out well for me.

I've just completed shooting for Ram Gopal Verma Production's Darna Mana Hai, directed by Praval Pandey. The movie is in its post-production stages and will hit the theaters in April.

Television as career choice
A career in television today is very tough. Those days of stardom have gone and it's not like it was before. Now with more and more channels and production houses coming up there is no dearth of people entering the industry. I am an MBA but I was always interested in acting and it's only because of that passion for acting that I am where I am and not in an office behind a desk.

Current Television scenario
I have been in this industry for the last two years or so and I can't remember any bad experience as such till date with anybody in the industry. At the end of the day I have always got my money. Sometimes it may come late but it comes for sure. Gayatri Telesoft, Neo-Films, Balaji Telefilms are a few good paymasters. Everyone is very cooperative.

Right and wrong about current television scenario
In this industry where there are highly talented people, there are also hordes of short- sighted and egoistic people. And because of them the deserving people don't get their due and recognition. There are many good and talented makers but again they are not getting a break because of the monopoly of some.

The position that I am in today, frankly, there is nothing I can do. At present my primary concern is to carve a niche for myself in this industry and work my way towards establishing myself in this industry. One has to be in a position of power to bring about a change. Right now, I don't think I am in that position.

Five years from now
Five years from now I want to be established as an actor and do more meaningful roles. I want people to remember me as a good actor.

Hobbies
I love playing cricket. I also enjoy singing. In fact, I have learnt classical singing. The thing I love doing the most is going away from Mumbai to a hill station with a few friends and forgetting everything else. I love watching movies and I'm a total movie buff.

Idea of enjoyment
My idea of enjoyment is being in a state where I forget myself and my work and all my problems. I love to sit with my friends and laugh and forget all worries. Also as I mentioned earlier I love to travel. That's my idea of enjoyment.