Roopali Kadyan : Senior Producer

Name: Roopali Kadyan

Designation: Senior Producer - STAR India

Sun Sign: Taurus

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.