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: 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: 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: Jaikishin Chhaproo

Designation: Manager - Group Media - Godrej Consumer Products

Sun Sign: Leo, 13 August 1973

Educational Experience
Bachelor of Engineering (Instrumentation) - 1994. Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (VESIT), Bombay University.

Post Graduate Program in Management Studies (Marketing) - 1997. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (SIMSR), Bombay.

Professional Experience
Joined R.K. Engineering in 1994 as Sales Engineer - Designing & Marketing of Control Valves & related accessories.

Joined Plus Channel early 1997 handling media research & acquisitions of serials & movies marketed by Plus.

Joined Wipro Consumer Care in Feb. 1999 as Manager - Media, handling the media requirements for brands like Santoor, Wipro Baby Care, Wipro Corporate Identity (Sunflower logo).

Joined Godrej Consumer Products Ltd in June 2001 as Manager - Group Media.

Job Profile
Handling media for Cinthol, ColourSoft, FairGlow, Godrej No. 1, Godrej Ezee etc. Besides this I coordinate for the media requirements for Group Companies Godrej Sara Lee, Godrej Foods, and Godrej Agrovet (Real Good Chicken).

Marketing as career choice
After doing my engineering, I joined a marketing firm- R.K. Engineering and worked for a year only to realize that I could not do this for the rest of my life. I opted to study further and so decided to do my MBA and joined Somaiya. I was actually planning to specialise in Finance.

Somewhere then I firmed my mind and decided to seriously consider Marketing as the field and make a career in Media. Maybe it was based on the down trend in the finance sector.

Once my mind was made - all roads ahead were towards a career in advertising. Be it my projects or summers. I would actually approach agencies and interact with client servicing heads and media directors to understand the various facets in advertising.

Must surely take this opportunity to thank all those good Samaritans. A very special mention to Ms Sumita Das - who was very helpful. Thank You Sumita.

Current Marketing scenario
Thankfully the market for most categories has revived close to normalcy. Unlike a few years back when all we could hear and see was recession. Every other person was jumping onto the dot com jamboree. As far as the categories I have worked on - the market will take maybe a year to two years to start showing a positive swing.

Right and wrong about the current marketing scenario
The marketers have pampered the consumer and spoiled his/her purchase behavior. I think we have taken "Customer is the King" a bit too literally.

Where is the (loyal) consumer? Have you seen one lately?? The consumers are today loyal to brands offering them gold coins, foreign trips etc?? Till Stocks last.

Five years from now
Buying Media.

Hobbies
Fishes. I have an aquarium at my place. I keep adding more fishes almost each week. Besides this, while traveling I usually prefer to move with a book. I usually enjoy fiction and have read all the books of Sidney Sheldon and Jeffery Archer. Currently I am enjoying the collection of Ken Follet. Besides this I enjoyed Why Men Don?t Listen and Women Can't Read Maps. The Alchemist is my favourite book.

Idea of enjoyment
Usually try to spend weekends with my family and plan weekend outings with my wife.

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.

Name: Nirav Adalja

Designation: Head of Sales and Marketing - Anchor Health and Beauty Care Pvt. Ltd.

Sun Sign: Sagittarius, 9 December 1969

Educational Experience
B.Com from N.M. College of Commerce and Economics.

MBA from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

Professional Experience
I first operated from Delhi where I was into International Marketing in garments and chemicals for two and a half years in an export house called Ari Enterprises. ('Ari' is a Hebrew word which means 'Lion').

I came to Bombay in 1997 and joined Anchor as a Sales Manager and have worked myself up to being the Head of Sales and Marketing.

Job Profile
I have to find a reason for the consumers to buy my product. I am also responsible for creating and servicing of more than 200 distribution networks throughout India and also provide the mechanism of effective service. I have to work out consumer promotions strategies, effective trade schemes and man power management.

Marketing as career choice
I had initially worked in the international market and it gave me an opportunity to learn various things. For example, I learnt about consumer behaviour and how to relate that into the ability of providing the right solution.

I had an inclination towards marketing and I had the flair for it too. So I naturally took to it. I could have been in any other sector also like finance but I wasn't predisposed towards it. I found marketing very interesting and so I'm in this field today.

Current Marketing scenario
The current marketing scenario is good. Consumer demands are increasing today and when they increase, there is a good scope for personal growth. Today the state is such that whoever does consumer interaction in any form will grow. Consumer interaction can be done in several ways like value addition to the product, consumer promotion, etc. So consumer interaction is the key word in the marketing scenario today.

Right and wrong about current marketing scenario
There are many in the marketing sector who have resorted to negative marketing to promote their product. Negative marketing is when one tries to sell their product by highlighting the faults of other products. That is wrong. I believe in positive marketing. By positive marketing I mean promoting my product for what it is and the qualities it has.

Five years from now
In every category, be it health care, personal care or consumer promotion, Anchor aims to become number two in ten years.

Five years from now I see myself heading at least two such categories. I'm saying number two and not number one because it's very difficult to be number one in five years. If I were asked where I see myself in ten or fifteen years time, then it would be heading categories which are number one!!

Hobbies
I love working. I'm totally involved with my work. Apart from that I like reading books on great personalities. My favourite book being Mohammed Ali - The Greatest. I also like the book on Alexander The Great. I fancy reading about people who have achieved something in their life, what they went through to reach these levels and how they cope with being on the top. I don't like reading management books!!

I have the zeal to explore and to get to know new things. It can be geographically; knowledge-wise?it can be anything. Apart from that I like spending time with my family, my wife and kids.

Idea of enjoyment
My idea of enjoyment is doing what makes me happy and doing it the right way. It depends what kind of a mood I am in. Once I'm out of office, I like meeting up with my friends, going for a movie, dinner or parties with friends and family. That's my way of relaxing and enjoying.