Name: Bidisha Nagaraj

Designation: Marketing manager - Intel India Sun

Sign: Cancer, 9 July 1967

Educational Experience
After doing my B Com I did post graduation in mass communication from Bangalore University.

Professional Experience
I was in Lintas from 1991 to 1996 as a group account manager. Then I joined Compaq Computers in 1997 and was there till 1999 as their market services consultant. Since 1999 I have been with Intel Technologies as their marketing manager.

Job Profile
As a consumer marketing manager of Intel India I am responsible for driving Intel's consumer strategy for increasing demand for home PCs through the use of advertising, Internet marketing and retail marketing.

Marketing as career choice
Marketing has the power to move minds and influence decisions. It allows you to think outside the box and colour outside the lines.

I can't think of too many other professions where I can use the following sentences so appropriately - 'Create like a God ', 'Command like a King' and 'Work like a slave'.

These are some of the reasons why my passion for marketing has soared high over the years.

Current marketing scenario
2003 is certainly a watershed year for media and indeed for marketing.

Let's look at the inflections - CAS on TV is allowing consumers to choose their bouquet of channels better but this comes with an added price tag, rebirth of radio with increasing popularity of FM, growth of cinema multiplexes, Internet users estimated to ascend to 25 million in '03, regional print options are also mushrooming.

This dynamic situation is pushing the marketeer to 'Cogita Differenter' (Think Differently). There are new vehicles to evaluate, there are new competing categories that are emerging, all vying for the consumers' share of wallet, there are new consumer segments emerging which allow for finer positioning. Innovative thinking is really the only way out.

Five years from now
My philosophy is to take each day at a time... live each day to the fullest. I don't even plan for five days so five years is a real stretch to think of.

Hobbies
I'm a very patient listener of people's problems.

Idea of enjoyment
The three Cs: Coffee (Capuccino), Company (stimulating), Conversation (intense)!!

"As a child, I loved reading Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Enid Blyton. When I joined college, I started with Mills & Boons but the books didn't really fascinate me. As a matter of fact, I found them to be trash. So, I switched over to Sidney Sheldon and never regretted it.

Those were the days when I had all the time in the world and I could settle down with a book anywhere, anytime. Now, my priority is marriage, motherhood and of course work which leaves me very little leisure time. However, I try to catch up on my reading, either in between shoots or while going through files in office or sometimes even before going to sleep.Holidays are the best time to catch up on my reading, but then I would rather spend some time with my family.
In fiction, I like to read mushy stuff and so pick up novels written by Sandra Brown and Danielle Steel. I am not really cut out for hardcore stuff, and authors like John Grisham don't excite me. Science fiction or spiritual books are again not for me. I like to read only self-help books which sort of give me some direction in life.My favourite books
I have just finished reading Focus by Jack Canfield. The book is all about focusing on a goal. The author emphasises that `goal achieving is a process.' Nothing should come in between one's focused efforts and the goal one has set for oneself. It might take one years to reach our goals, but one has to continue to fight failure and not give up or lose focus.
This book has really inspired me a lot. It has helped me focus on my goal of having more television shows. Eventually, my goal is to make a feature film that would get me international acclaim.

I try to read books which help me with new ideas and that doesn't necessarily mean books in English. Sometime back, I read a Gujarati novel Maare pan ek ghar hoi by Varsha Adalja, based on which we made the serial Mujhe Dor Koi Khinche. I also read Trijo Kinaro by Harkishan Mehta. I love reading all his books. I wish, I had the time to read Hindi and Marathi literature which is equally rich.

Another book which has helped me in my profession is, How to win friends and Influence people by Dale Carnegie. This book was recommended to me by my father-in-law Pranlal Mehta. It was nothing less than a Bible for him. He used to say, 'You must read this book, otherwise you will never be a successful producer. And truly the book has helped me handle people effectively as a producer. In the self- help series, I have also enjoyed reading Success Principles by Norman Vincent Peale."

The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals," even if they are not real, believes animal collector Meenakshi Madhvani , Founder & Managing Partner Spatial Access Solutions in conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain .

Love animals --- as a child always had pets. Dogs, cats, chickens, a pig and even a pet snake. Unfortunately a flat is Bombay is not the right environment for animals and I have not had a pet for a long, long time! There was something missing and I decided to fill the gap with a surrogate. It all began by my buying a big bronze pig! He was followed by a papier mache frog, then a pair of marble dogs I found in Chor Bazaar...

Collecting animals-- for the last 5 years. I am not too concerned about the material they are made off. But they need to appeal to me.
My husband jokes that I have a meenagerie! My family & friends indulge me by adding to my collection. A stone Hippo was carried back from Africa by a friend. My brother-in-law got back a wonderful Giraffe from South Africa carved out of a single block of wood. Another Brother-in-law gave me a crystal cat & mouse!

Bit crazy -- when it comes to my animals? I like seeing them every day and move them around the house to new locations (almost like giving them a fresh view of their living quarters every once in a while!
I know that one of these days I will have a place in the country and will be able to have my animal friends around me once again.

From IIM to Leo Burnett Arvind Sharma, who has a management degree from IIM Ahmedabad, spent the first couple of years in marketing at Voltas. From Clarion McCann to being an account director in Chaitra, Sharma has been the chairman and CEO for Leo Burnett for some years now.

Around the world
I travel a lot for both work and pleasure. It is my passion to explore new and rich places, which have historic culture and heritage. I love meeting people from different walks of life and therefore I can spend hours at the Caf? Lapays in Paris. Here, one can find people from almost all walks of life. In Paris, there are a lot of French restaurants and you get to see a mix and match of humanities of all kinds.

Naturally balanced food for me
I am a non-vegetarian and have tried almost all cuisine in the world. I love Japanese, French and Italian food. There's only one thing I don't like -- mixing and matching different kinds of food. Everything has its own balance and taste, which should not be disturbed.

The stakes that I had in Chicago were just amazing. I love eating the Gujarati thali and then, not to forget, I have a big sweet tooth and can't resist eating moose and gajar ka halwa.

No spirituality, only physicality is my mantra
I've been doing yoga since I was four years old. Now it's become a habit to take out time at least two to three times a week for yoga. I learnt the art of yoga from my dad as he was totally into it. I don't believe in spirituality but from the view of physicality, I consider yoga to be the best remedy of all health problems.

Where's the time to?
For the last couple of years, all that I have managed to read are magazines. Nowadays who has the time to read as such? And then with the kind of schedule I keep, I rarely get time to browse the internet. Net is the need of the hour and is the easiest way to know about the world, fashion, happenings and everything that is required to keep you updated.

Movies rarely happen
I'm not much into music and movies. I do keep a track of what's new and happening in every field, be it fashion, movies or music. But I don't really get the time to go out for movies.

Relaxation for me is?
For me, relaxing is not about doing nothing, it's about doing a lot of things which interest me. We have a farm house in Alibagh, which is one of my favourite haunts. It's just three acres of grass where I can do what I love the most -- sleep under the biggest ceiling, the sky. I consider this the best way to relax and release stress. Every three weeks I land up there with my wife Poppy, who is a writer, daughter Ishita and son Akshay.

Name: Nandini Gupta

Designation: Senior Executive Producer, Sony Entertainment Television

Sun Sign: Capricorn, 27 December

Education
After my higher secondary at HR College of Commerce in Mumbai, I joined Osmania University for undergradute studies. After completing B Com, I pursued Masters in Commerce from Hong Kong University.

Experience
Currently I am working as a senior executive producer with Sony Entertainment Television (SET). Prior to this, I worked with with Television 18 for seven years. At Sony Entertainment Television I am directing a wide variety of shows.

I have been the programme director for the India special series of the Australian show AXN Who Dares Wins, anchored by Mike Whitney. I have also been associated with the studio-based talent-cum-entertainment show on Star Plus Kya Masti Kya Dhoom. Anchored by Sonali Bendre, the show was directed on a eight camera.

I have also directed a film personalities based chat show anchored by Ruby Bhatia called Kinetic Mega Show. During the course of this show, I got an opportunity to interact with celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Shah Rukh Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Akshay Kumar.

Among the memorable shows that I was associated with was a one hour special on the homecoming of Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific on Sony Entertainment, We are the World. I directed the show organised by the Times of India for the homecoming of Priyanka Chopra and Diya Mirza. It was shot in Mumbai, Delhi, Bareilly and Hyderabad. Later I also directed the one hour feature on the homecoming of Miss Universe Lara Dutta, which was again organised by the Times of India. It was shot in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

During my tenure with Television 18, I was an associate director of a pop music countdown show Popularly Yours aired on Home TV. Besides, I was also associate director for a one hour, on-the-road music countdown show, hosted by Mahima Chowdhary and Roshan Abbas called Public Demand.

Prior to that I had worked on a celebrity chat show hosted by Nikki Bedi on Star Plus called Nikki Tonite and a daily Game show aired on SET, A Double O Slip. Prior to that I was a correspondent on Star Plus' lifestyle-cum-entertainment show Amul India Show.

While I was at Hong Kong, I had filed stories for a picture based entertainment news show on Star Plus, anchored by John Moorhead and Kamal Sidhu. Called India Business Report, it was a weekly business show, anchored by Raghav Bahl BBC.

Job Profile
Currently I am the executive producer of various shows on Sony Entertainment Television. Primarily, I am in charge of Naved Jaffrey and Ravi Behl anchored talent hunt show Boggie Woogie.

Television as career choice
I would have never been satisfied doing a routine nine to five desk job. Which is why the media industry suits me. Here, every day is different, every show is different.

Current Television scenario
Everything is driven by TRPs. Anything that works, is copied. Which is why all programmes look similar. No one wants to risk trying a completely new genre of programming.

Five years from now
I don't know. I take each day as it comes

Hobbies
I love reading and travellingIdea of enjoyment
Watching a really hilarious movie

Name: Priya Mishra

Designation: Senior Executive Producer, Star Plus

Sun Sign: Aries, 26 March 1972

Education
I have done my MA in Mass Communications.

Experience
Prior to Star Plus, I worked in Zee TV for two years. I handled Chotti Ma, Sarhadein, Love Marriage and Lipstick. Later, I joined Star for a year now.

Why Star?... Probably because I had a better scope in Star. You are being watched by more people. That adds to my responsibility which in turn is converted into good output. I enjoy the challenges. Presently, I am handling Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Kaahin Kissii Roz and Sanjivani- A Medical Boon.

Job Profile
Literally everything. From the content you see on the sets to what clothes the artistes are wearing to the story to the screenplay to the music. Think of it, every show I do is an extension of my personality. I am so much into it.

I believe art forms are mostly autobiographical. Like recently in the show Des Mein... when the father Rajinder passed away, I could relate to it very easily, it just came from within. Probably because I had gone through that stage myself when I lost my dad 10 years ago.

I always actively participate in the creative aspect of the show. Unlike what the media says, it isn't channel interference, it is more like sharing of ideas. With cohesiveness in functioning, there are better chances of the show becoming successful.

What do you think was the turning point of Des Mein..., it was almost withdrawn at one stage. Right?
I have only heard about it, but fortunately, I entered only from the 44 episode. The graph started going up when Anu tries to kill Rajinder. There was a lot of reaction to that. Even the Dev-Pammi romance part did well. Also, there's no bad saas in this serial and the people see it as a refreshing change; that's working. And of course, Aroonaji is good with touching the inner chord of human emotions.

How do you handle three shows simultaneously?
Big deal! There are people who are handling 20 shows! You don't necessarily need to be present on the sets. But I make it a point to be there when crucial scenes are being shot.

You are doing an Aroona show and an Ektaa show as well? No rivalry problems?
Not at all. This so-called rivalry is only conceived and perceived from outside. You can term it as healthy competition if you want. Mind well, it's great fun.

Why has Sanjivani-A Medical Boon lost its medical touch?
(smiles) Maybe that's what the people want to see. There is a support system for every show. It traces what the people want to see. This research leads the decision-makers to take their decision.

Television as career choice
Surely, I did not get in by default. It was by design. My educational qualifications clearly suggest so, don't they? Well, I was in a dilemma whether to join films or television. I chose the latter simply because I could see that television would be growing a lot bigger in the coming years. So far, I have been proved right. Ironically, films have become smaller- crossover films.

Five years from now
Haven't thought of it. I am enjoying the present so much that I have never take any thought about my future to bed. When my head touches the pillow, I am fast asleep immediately.

Hobbies
Cooking, travelling and watching films.

Idea of enjoyment
Work (smiles).