I begin my day
Mornings are usually very rushed. I live at Andheri (a suburb in Mumbai) Lokhandwala Complex which is pretty far from my office. Since I spent the whole day at work; in the mornings I try to play with my four year old daughter Mahek. Me and my wife get Mahek ready for school, after which we go for a walk at the nearby park.
After brisk walking I practice a little bit of kriya yoga, which I've picked up from my mother. But I must confess, I am trying to be more regular with my routines.

My diet mantra
I don't follow a strict diet. It's a very simple diet mantra and that is eat healthy and avoid all spicy Indian food. My breakfast is mostly some fruits and milk and I don't carry my lunch. I just grab something at the office canteen which is pretty palatable. To dine out I prefer either Mahesh Lunch Home in Juhu/ South Mumbai or Mainland China.

Shopping
I don't really shop much. And whenever I go shopping, I make it a point never to go alone. Because it's all about getting a nod from my wife. Most of the time I stick to what my wife selects for me. We mostly shop at the malls and I amongst all the brands I stick to Allen Solly which is pretty good.

Travel Destination
I think India is a beautiful country. And each time we go for a holiday it's like rediscovering our country all over again. I had gone to Kerala recently and I still can't forget the breathtaking sights of the backwater expanse consisting of canals and coconut groves.

I like to visit hills, archeological places and beaches. I hate going to sanctuaries, especially in Orissa, that's where I belong. Weekend traveling is also fun. I often refer to the weekend destination books to plan my weekend getaways. We love going to Lonavala, Igatpuri and Matheran.

Traveling abroad doesn't happen too often. Had traveled to Singapore recently.

Relaxing Mantra
Broadly speaking, our work is not as stressful as people make it out to be. It's as stressful as any other profession. Spending time with my family is always a great stress buster.

Gadgets and Gizmos
Love the latest in mobile phones, stereos (especially like the ones which are assembled with the best of components from different manufacturers), digital cameras and camcorders.
Recently bought a Nokia 6670 and a Kodak 5 Megapixels, 10X Zoom camera that also shoots motion.

On Books
Have the urge to catch up on a lot of reading, though time seems to be in short supply always. Beyond catching up with the everyday newspapers and some favourite columns in the Sunday newspapers, I recently read a book 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell. The book takes everyday life instances to illustrate concepts that can benefit all of us, especially marketing professionals like us. I also quite liked reading Robin Sharma's The Monk who sold his Ferrrari. Though I don't quite like the self-help category of books, this one is different. It sort of sets you thinking and motivates you to rediscover things about yourself.

Was browsing through the 1970s classic Future Shock by Alvin Toffler to see how we saw the future then and what really has transpired in the intervening 35 years.

My idea of entertainment
Weekends are usually fun and reserved totally for my family. Since, there are more than four multiplexes just near to where I stay, so for entertainment and relaxation it's movies all the way. Either I like to watch something that is sensible or an out-and-out comedy - nothing of the middle order. Some of the recent films which I enjoyed watching were Salaam Namaste, Hanuman and Bunty aur Babli. And yes, I didn't miss the latest Salman Khan films - No Entry and Maine Pyaar Kyun kiya.

My favourite car
When I was a kid, my dad had a Black Hindustan 14 - an Indianised Ford Austin made by Hindustan Motors (HM), the makers of our good old Ambassador. That really was my first impression of what a car could be and should be - sturdy, mobile, majestic and BLACK.

Things changed and we bought a Premier Padmini, then a Maruti 800 and now I own a Baleno. I feel a car has to be technically good and give you the comfort you deserve. Of course looks matter, but that's not everything.

My favourite car is the stately Mercedes Benz that rules the road. As for now, my Baleno is no less though....

There's a great hustle bustle of activity at the Sony office while it's raining cats and dogs outside. It looks like it's been a day of hectic meetings, creative brainstorming sessions for Tarun Katial, Business Head Sony. As I enter his cabin, his cell phone keeps beeping incessantly; as Katial is busying sending off that `one last mail for the day.'

Yet, there's not a hint of being stressed out at the end of the day; in fact he looks pretty calm, composed and totally in charge of himself.

"Television is as stressful as any other profession really," he declares nonchalantly. "And what keeps me through the day is that I take a very detached attitude towards life in general."

That perhaps sets the whole tone of the conversation, as we settle down for a tete-e-tete. And during the course of the conversation Katial reveals a rather spiritual side to his personality.

He reveals, "I did a course in Vipassana, an ancient form of meditation a few years ago which sort of transformed my life in very many ways. Now, I not only practice it everyday but recommend it to many people within the television industry."

For those uninitiated, Vipassana is an ancient technique of meditation and helps in self transformation through self observation.

Though slightly reluctant to talk further, but after much convincing he expounds his spiritual journey which began when his chips were down.

So, here goes Tarun Katial on Life, Success and Karma.

Vipassana filled a certain vacuum in my life.

It was about two years ago, that Katial discovered his moment of truth He says, " I got into Vipassana a few years ago when I was actually unemployed, so-to-speak or lets say in-between jobs (read between Star & Sony). That was a pretty depressing period of my life which lasted for about five months. I felt totally out of touch with the world and did not meet too many people. There was a certain vacuum in my life. It's like suddenly I realized that without a job or a position you're a nobody.

"But then, it's like life always offers you an opportunity. I used the vacuum as an opportunity to do something new and get on with life. One of my family members actually recommended the course in Igatpuri to me. It sounded like a good retreat from the regular mundane life and I started to get the things I decided to go for it. What I learned from the course, has sort of stayed with me forever.

For those uninitiated, Vipassana is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gautam Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ill. Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation.

Recalling the experience

Having decided to take the plunge, Katial was off to Igatpuri, all equipped with the basic stuff ( a torch, an umbrella a bed etc) to take on a ten day hibernation.

"There are many who shirk from doing this course since it demands a very high level of discipline. But since it promised inner peace I was all prepared for it. We had to be up early in the morning and meditate for the major part of the day. Another important thing being that one is not allowed to communicate to people around.
It's during the silence is when I began the process of self-evaluation -to differentiate between the good-bad and the ugly. I sort of felt my life going past me from mychildhood. Normally, the wrong things that we do in life are pushed under the carpet but it does manifest in the form of prejudices at a later stage in life. Now my working day begins mostly with Vipassana.

I religiously practice this form of meditation each working day. It sort of sets the tone for the day and leaves me rejuvenated for the day. I've now learned to take life at its face value and leave out the insignificant things in life.

My success is the result of my good karma

I am honestly not too ambitious but just a product of being at the right time and place. Also, I believe my success is really the result of my good karma. I am not really scared of the future or losing it all, since nothing is really permanent in life. It's like a sensation that you feel which will go away after a point of time. I never get too excited with success or get too depressed with failure. So, this attitude sort of keeps me rooted.

On climbing up the corporate ladder

When I ask him but don't you want to be the CEO of a company one day. He says, "no, not really. I would rather retire early and do something like teach at a media school or run an NGO.

I don't claim to read Jack Welsh

I don't claim to read great books. Forget Jack Welsh or any such author. I just stick to simple inspirational books on Buddhism, like the one I am reading now is called, ` The way it is by Ajahn Sumdha and there's another one by Swami Chimayananda - on the Art of living.