Name: Pankaj Sharma

Job Profile: Actor

Sun Sign: Cancer, 10 July 1976

Educational Experience
I'm originally from Bombay. After I finished my schooling, I went to Delhi and did my graduation from Hindu College. I haven't done any professional course in acting, just attended a month's acting workshop in college where professionals from the National School of Drama (NSD) taught us the basics.

Professional Experience
When I was in Delhi, I worked in a serial called School Days, which aired on DD1. I came back to Bombay since my parents were based here.

I got an opportunity to work in serials and there began my serious career as an actor. I've worked in Amaanat, Sanjhi, Aan which aired on Zee TV. Then I also worked in a serial called Daddy Samjha Karo (Sab TV) and Bazaar which aired on DD1.

I've also done a few commercials like an ad for Coke which airs only in south east Asian countries. I've featured in ads for brands like Close Up, Frooti, Fortune Oil, Pizza Corner and Rediff.com.

Currently, I'm not doing any serials. I'm working in two movies right now but it's too early to talk about either of them and I don't want to disclose any names. One of the movies is a college based story and has newcomers in it. I play the main lead wherein I'm narrating throughout the movie. It's a very fresh movie.

Television as career choice
I was always very actively involved in stage shows during my school days. I had a keen interest in acting and always wanted to make a career of it and hence I am here.

Current television scenario
Currently the serials that are aired on television are all women oriented serials. There is hardly any scope for a man to perform. We become mere property in these serials and don't have any acting options.

But hopefully things will change. There are a few good serials on Sahara TV which are different from the cliched serials that are shown today. So things will get better.

Five years from now On top of the charts !! Hope to see my posters hanging on the bedroom walls of all the girls!!

Well....on a more serious note, I am open to doing serials but I want to give myself four or five months to sink into the film industry and get familiar with it. At the end of the day my aim is to make it big in the industry.

Hobbies
I like swimming and playing snooker. Since my dad has been associated with the Indian Navy, I have tried all types of adventure sports like scuba diving, para sailing etc, but I wouldn't call it as a hobby because I don't do it on a regular basis.

Idea of enjoyment
I love going out with friends and chilling out. I basically am a person who does my own thing and I'm happy doing just that !

Name: Ritabrata Saha

Designation:  Junior copywriter - J Walter Thompson (Kolkata)

Sun Sign: Capricorn, 30 December 1978

Educational Experience
To begin with, I was born in Goa. Stayed in interesting places like Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Bombay and Kolkata.

I studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bombay. Took science after my twelfth and got enrolled in Ruia College for a B Sc degree. Then came to Kolkata right in the middle of the year because my father got transferred. There I got enrolled in Netaji Nagar College and did B Com with honours in accountancy.

After that it was time for some post graduate diplomas... so I did mass communication from the University of Calcutta.

Professional Experience
I was always very fascinated by the media and I still have a dream of working for National Geographic or Discovery some day as a travel correspondent. The reason being... my love affair with the Himalayas.

I did my internship at The Hindustan Times from April 2001 and continued writing there till January 2002.

But somehow reporting for the press wasn't exciting me enough creatively. I mean... it was the same day-to-day hard reality stories. I also tried my hand at soft news like fashion and night life... only to be completely turned off.

I worked in Ogilvy & Mather (Kolkata) for three months. Got a first hand knowledge of what the advertising business was all about. The accounts I worked mainly on were Hutch, GKB Opticals, British Council, Bisk Farm and a couple of others. Then I shifted to J Walter Thompson in April 2003 (mainly for the extra remuneration that I was promised there!).

I have been in the advertising industry for roughly a year and three months. I'm relatively new in the field and hence have miles to go before I become a Piyush Pandey or a Prasoon Joshi.

Job ProfileI'm a junior copywriter in J Walter Thompson. Writing copy and trying to crack ideas sums up my job profile.

Currently I'm working on brands like Pepsi, The Telegraph, Tata Tiscon, Rupa, Bata and ITC cigarettes. Till date I've done three television commercials and a number of press ads and campaigns. I just finished work on two TVCs for Khaitan and one for Bata. The Khaitan ads should be on air by early May.

Advertising as career choice
Now that's a toughie. I was a reporter for six months in HT. But doing the same routine job really put me off. And anyway, brands were things which always fascinated me.

Finally I had had enough of reporting and one fine day in February, I left my reporting job and walked into Ogilvy & Mather and spoke to the creative director about my desire to work as a copywriter. And that's where it all started!!

Current Advertising scenario
The quality of creativity has gone sky high, almost meeting international standards. Creativity-wise the sector is booming. Indians have recently won at the Cannes. But the overall recession has affected the ad sector. I'll be glad if it is over soon.

Right and wrong about current advertising scenario
That's toughie number two... The overall gloom in the market is bad. Agencies are having their budgets slashed. The rest seems to be fine.

Five years from now
On top of Mount Everest. Well... jokes apart, I really don't know where I'll be. But I know that I'll be riding a Harley Davidson to work!

Hobbies
Trekking and listening to rock music.

Idea of enjoyment
Slugging it out on high mountains. I can spend countless days over there with good company, snow and without civilisation.

Name: Archana Karulkar

Designation: General Manager Administration & HR (Mumbai) - Television Eighteen India Ltd

Sun Sign: Taurus, 13 May 1961

Educational Experience
B.Sc Nutrition Major from SNDT University in Mumbai.

Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics from Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition (IHMCTAN) in Mumbai.

Professional Experience
My professional experiences are as varied as my life experiences. As a full time air force wife I travelled extensively and lived in places as diverse as Avantipur in J&K to Belgaum in Karnataka. From teaching in air force schools to a career in television my professional life has been quite wide ranging.

Job Profile
At Television Eighteen my work profile is an unusual mix of line and staff functions. As the General Manager administration & HR, I play a critical role of not just handling day-to-day activities but also assisting various departments in smooth functioning.

For a television channel the most important resource is the people. Which is why it is immensely important that the person handling HRD (Human Resource Development) is a television professional and has a complete understanding of how a production and broadcast house functions.

My broadcast experience dates back to the days when I used to manage high profile guests for ABNi, moving on to reporting for the same. In the entertainment genre, I have been a producer for a range of shows like Kinetic Mega Show on Star Plus and Fan Club on SABe TV.

At Television Eighteen, besides the above functions I also manage reputed on-ground events like CNBC India's prestigious annual Mutual Fund Awards, Auto Awards, Managing India Brainstorm to name just a few.

Television as career choice
As I travelled and gathered experiences, I figured that connecting and communicating with people came quite naturally to me. It all began as an opportunity to utilise these skills and since then has evolved into a very challenging and fulfilling career.

The sheer power of the medium, its reach and ability to change lives through information makes it a highly exciting platform.

Current Television scenario
I think it?s at an exciting stage. Like any media business it has its shares of fads and fallacies but the overall quality is excellent. The discerning Indian viewer makes sure of that!

Right and wrong about current television scenario
Rights and wrongs are not absolutes; there are mistakes sometimes, which a tough audience will not allow you to repeat.

Expectations and pressures are both high and so are burnouts amongst professionals. Talented professionals are constantly drawn to this industry but somewhere they stop getting the time to reflect, retrain, unlearn and learn new things.

Nurturing talent and self-development is an area where I feel the industry will have to make some investments.

Hobbies
It is not so much of a hobby as a passion... I work closely with the Make a Wish Foundation and help fulfill wishes for terminally ill children. Their wish list often includes meeting with stars, cricketers and other role models. And my media background helps me make these wishes come true.

Five years from now
In this business we are oriented to much smaller time frames, five years is a lifetime away... Making a difference in the medium that makes a difference is the underlining objective each day.

Idea of enjoyment A good day at work, reading a romance on a rainy day, chatting online with my sister and taking off to my farmhouse in Umbergaon with my husband and son.

Name: Sashwati Banerjee

Designation: Marketing and Communications advisor CMS Project, Futures Group, India

Sun Sign: Taurus

Educational Experience
Regular scolding from my parents saw me through graduation. Joined MA with good intentions but the thought of studying Chaucer and Silver Poets seemed too morose. Dropped out, did the usual vocational course in marketing and advertising, learned on the job and soaked up any and all kinds of information. I READ, READ, READ. My friends swear that I'm the ultimate TRIVIA QUEEN.

Professional Experience
In India, my company is the commercial market strategies project (CMS) division of Futures Group International. We're funded by USAID to provide technical consulting services on various reproductive health projects in India. Specifically CMS works with the private health care sector in order to increase their participation in public health goals.

To achieve this we design, manage, supervise and monitor programmes that include behaviour change campaigns, training, research, and other outreach activities. Currently CMS is managing programs to increase demand and usage of Oral Contraceptive Pills and Oral Rehydration Salts in north India. ICICI Bank is the fund manager of these programmes.

All my jobs have been a learning experience. My first one was handling the front desk of a newly opened 5-star hotel in Delhi. I learnt how to wear a sari well and also never to judge a book by its cover! Then I moved to work in a real dodgy below the line promotions company - learning? Bullshit works 9 times out of 10!

Then I moved to the UK and Hong Kong... retail promotions and corporate communications - learning - how to work in a multi-cultural environment and have a blast. Those were really fun days. The Brits really respect POETS (piss off early tomorrow's Saturday) DAY.

On a more serious note, Bombay is where I really learnt a lot about communication. What I brought to the table were ideas and experience that were being used outside India. What I got to learn here was how to translate those in the Indian context; how to accept that there are some things that can't change; and how to change the things that can.

At Contract I met some of the best advertising brains and to this day I think of Rohit as my guru! After a year at a company that launched a product well before its time and went under with a ssssss (the infamous Vaccumiser!), I was ready to leave the corporate rat race.

I started working with the development sector and consulted with various NGOs and funding organizations. Reproductive health was a field that interested me and I sincerely believe that health care in this country is a huge growth area. Coupled with my activist background from college days and feminism, I finally found the perfect niche.

I worked with CMS for 2 years and then moved back to Bombay. O & M was setting-up their Healthcare Division and I applied to head up their Bombay branch. It was most exciting. Almost too exciting!! Onset of ulcers and the NEED to be back to doing social development work brought me back to CMS.

Job Profile
PAPER and TRAVEL!! Seriously the amount of paper we generate in the form of contracts, reports, documents, research is not funny. I spend almost 45 per cent of my time traveling to my project areas - namely the BIMARU states in north India.

I manage and supervise two programs currently that look at increasing the demand and usage for hormonal contraceptives in north India, change behavior and have some policy impact in the long run.

Coordination with communication agencies, PR and Advocacy, working with the medical community and partner pharmaceutical manufacturers plus finding innovative ways to ensure that the sales chart keeps showing a healthy growth is the core of my job.

Social marketing as career choice
I can do a motherhood number here - like this is my calling, I was born to help others (sic!)

Well, social marketing is a bit like a big jigsaw puzzle, and you have to fit all the pieces in to make sure that everybody has the complete picture. I love big, complicated jigsaw puzzles.

I love working on issues that affect public at large and designing programs that bring about behavior change - to me that's marketing and communications at it's best! Health is an area that interests me and women's issues are close to my heart. Put the two together and wow what more can I expect?!!!

Current social marketing scenario
Nearly 25 per cent of India is below poverty line and supposedly can't afford basic health care. In reality almost 78 per cent of people access health care from the private sector namely they pay for health care from their own pockets and even the poor go to private doctors and chemists!

India's a highly segmented market. Basic health care is provided by the Government, social marketing firms like PSI and DKT cater to an SEC (socio-economic class) who can afford services and products but not pay the prices that the private sector demands and then the commercial or private sector catering to the higher SEC's.

However, that's all theoretical. This highly segmented market is also a highly subsidized market where all the above categories eat into each other and nobody gains. The programmes we run aim to grow the overall market and create an environment where the private sector feels motivated enough to provide quality services and products and help share the health burden of the country with the government.

Though social marketing has existed in India for a while, the growth of social marketing is very recent. It's only now that people are realizing the importance of private-public partnerships, corporate social responsibility and the glaring fact that subsidies cannot be an answer to long-term growth.

With burning health issues like population, women's health, child health, HIV/AIDS there is a strong need for the public and the private sector to join hands and promote services and products that can help to bring down the health burden in India.

Five years from now
Five years from now... the project will continue and be more dynamic, US won't declare war on Iraq or any other country, India will actually win a world cup or two, I'll be able to buy a house in Italy and make wine, learn how to Samba, find the courage to bungee jump, walk the streets of Delhi without fear of getting raped, half the population won't get wiped out because of AIDS? five years is a long time!!

Hobbies
Have a bag, will travel! Watching films irrespective of language, reading, music (modern jazz, blues and old Hindi film songs!)

What I hate: Liars, creepy crawlers, paying exorbitant rates for average food, haggling with cab drivers, late night horror movies!!

Idea of enjoyment
A glass of the very best single malt, jazz on the system, cold winter night, blazing log fire?.heaven!

Name: Nisha Sareen Job

Profile : Actor

Sun Sign: Sagittarius,    12 December 1979

Educational Experience
I've done my B.A. (Economics & Sociology) from St Xavier's College. Then I went to New York and did an acting course from The School for Film and Television and also from Weist Baron. I've learnt dancing from the Broadway Dance School.

After coming back to India, I joined the Kishore Namit School of Acting and also the Shakur Sheik Dance School. Everyone in the film industry from Hrithik Roshan to Vivek Oberoi have learnt dance from him!! He's the best.

Professional Experience
I have done a lot of theater since I was six years old. I was actively involved in it right through school. The credit goes to my mom because she has always been involved with theater. She has a theater school called SPEED which stands for "Speech Personality Evolution through Educational Dramakinetics," and I have trained under her.

I played the character of Mother Teresa in a play called God Is My Banker. The play portrayed her life from childhood till death. It was a great experience to play a young girl and a dying old lady in the same play.

Then I also played the part of Beauty in a play called Beauty and the Beast. Both these plays were under the banner of my mother's theater school.

The other plays that I have enacted in, are Rendezvous with Guess Who and My Best Friend's Wedding, which is directed by producer-director-actor Sundeep Sikaand.

My last performance was at the Abby Awards where we enacted a spoof on all the ads. It was a great experience.

On television I'm doing Deepti Bhatnagar's daily soap Kabhi Aaye Na Judai which airs on Star Plus. I play the character of a girl called Raveena who does not believe in salwaar kameez and sarees. She's a hard-core American return with tank-tops and spaghettis and a whole lot of attitude!!

I have also shot a pilot for Gurudev Bhalla's Rishto Ki Dori, which will be aired on Sony. The shooting for the serial should begin by the end of April.

Five years ago I started teaching the students at my mom's theater school SPEED and I really enjoy it.

Theater & television as career choices
Acting has always been in my blood. I was exposed to a lot of theater since childhood because of my mom. Theater is my life and I am very passionate about my work.

One thing that I believe in is that if you enjoy doing something you are definitely going to make a success of it. And I really enjoy acting.

Current Television scenario
Well, honestly the current television scenario has nothing new to offer. The same saas-bahu dramas are being shown on television these days and believe you me it's not going to work in the long run. You can't fool the Indian audience by showing them such dramas. The Indian woman is not as weak as is portrayed in these serials and I don't think any woman relates to the characters shown in such soaps.

Television is such a huge medium and has so much scope for performance, especially for new actors. There are so many talented actors in the industry right now but they need the right kind of role because for actors, serials are the best way to grow and also show their potential.

Right and wrong about current television scenario
There is a dearth of good stories in the industry. We NEED good stories and more intellectual growth. But sadly, it's not happening.

Indian women are not weak and mean like they are shown on most of the soaps aired on television today. They are not submissive to their husbands' atrocities like is shown. That needs to change.

I will never choose a role in which I don't believe. I don't think I can see myself playing the saas-bahu kind of roles. The characters of Tulsi and Parvati are definitely very popular and they have gained immense fame and popularity, but I'd rather not do those kind of roles. Fame, money and popularity are important for me but not at the cost of doing what I don't believe in.

I'm acting today because I love it and it's a passion.

Five years from now
Five years down the line I see myself extremely happy in what I'm doing. I want to be a great actress and it's always been my funda since I was a kid that I will work only in serials or movies that are in the A+ category... nothing less!

Hobbies
I absolutely love dancing and teaching kids in my mom's theater school. I enjoy singing and have trained to play the harmonium. Books are also my passion. My favourite authors are Danielle Steel and John Grisham.

Idea of enjoyment
My idea of enjoyment is being with people who I vibe with. My friends and family fall in that category.

I'm a very adaptable and flexible kind of person. I can mould myself to the kind of people around me. I love meeting and interacting with people because I believe that that's how one keeps growing.

I am definitely not a loner and I'm extremely restless. I need to be around people all the time. That's my idea of enjoyment!!

Name: Abhijit Pradhan

Designation: Associate Vice President - Core Consulting

Sun Sign: Taurus, 10 May 1971

Educational Experience
Post Graduate - Marketing, Times School of Marketing - Delhi.

Professional Experience
10 years across marketing and advertising.

Contract Advertising - cumulative six years.

Others: Fosters India (Consumer Marketing), ABCL (Marketing), Sony Music India (National Promotions & Product management), TV ASIA USA (Marketing), Ammirati Puris Lintas (Advertising).

Job Profile
I'm the Associate Vice President and founding team member of Core Consulting, which is a marketing / customer consulting outfit started by Contract Advertising (a member of the WPP group).

Advertising as career choice
I got magnetically attracted towards advertising. It was a career which combined the "definable" (the rigour of brand management, customer insight gathering, market analysis) with the "indefinable" (the creative spark and the non-rational behaviour of consumers) - or simply put a challenge etched in stone for eternity!

Current Advertising scenario
It's going through a struggle (not for revenues - which it also is!) to find its true worth. Advertising is getting more and more marginalised as the pressure of "accountability" comes heavily on marketing and even heavier on advertising.

There is pressure on how much price we should pay for creativity. It's sad that we have reached a stage where there are two schools of thought - "Creativity" and "Effectiveness" and not the true meshing of both.

Right and wrong about current advertising scenario
"Living in our box" or the Ostrich Syndrome - we need to get out of advertising to do better advertising. We need to understand people from a holistic perspective and not just consumers. We need to start instilling trust in them - and not grimace at the sight of the next commercial.

What is right is the PASSION - very few industries I have seen possess such lethal doses of this wonder drug. All one needs is the direction for the passion.

Five years from now
That's a long time frame in today's day and age - but the same time passes so fast as well !

I have a vision where I see "marketing" changing to "Connecting" - and I truly mean connecting - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Today marketing is trying to Get attention, Impress and Sell. Tomorrow it needs to Get Respect, Partner and Share - and have people buying into the company as opposed to just buying their products and services.

I see myself executing parts (or the whole) of this vision. The first journey has already begun with the formation of Core Consulting where we are attempting to bridge the gaps that communication is leaving behind.

Hobbies
Following music - focusing on a new genre, then exploring and discovering it as much as possible. Examples: The Blues, five years ago. Yesterday, it was Arabic Music!

Sun Sign
As bull-headed as one can be. I'm a Taurean born on 10 May, 1971.

Idea of enjoyment
My mind needs to be excited, thrilled, filled with a feeling that it's never felt before! Anything that delivers these results qualifies. In plain speak, it could be exploring new fields - a new sport, new land, a new musical genre, plotting to buy a new gadget or even a new car!

On a group front, I used to enjoy the bonding. Sadly since I have given up the elixir of life (alcohol), I am not "party" to such moments anymore!