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sitanshi talati-parikh

sitanshi talati-parikh

Category Archives: Interviews: Business

Catalyst of Creativity

20 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Aishwarya Pathy, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine May 2015
Photography by Ryan Martis

Aishwarya Pathy for The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

“I believe in paving my own way through life and society. People like and respect you because of the person you are and not so much because of your family’s legacy.”

While growing up, 33-year-old Aishwarya Pathy (daughter of sugar baroness Rajshree Pathy) has had renowned artists and designers as house guests, while being surrounded by “beautiful, well-made objects”, and never missed the opportunity to travel for an interesting art show or a design exhibit. It was most natural for her, then, to work with her mother on projects that challenged and established aesthetic milestones. “There is a dearth of world-class design platforms and schools in India. We wanted to create something that would bring together creative individuals and businesses from all over the country. We felt the need for a design school for avant-garde design thinkers, a laboratory of sorts for their ideas; hence the concept of CoCCA came to fruition.”

The launch of IDF is a serious milestone in her life, as that set her apart as a pioneer. “I want IDF to be larger than a design conference restricted to Mumbai. It should traverse across the country and serve as a catalyst which changes the way people think about design. We aim to give Indian design the recognition it deserves — especially for the fine craftsmanship that exists in this country, the unique materials available only here and, of course, the talent.” IDF comprises a small team, where “everyone does everything.

For the most part I seek out interesting, new and original concepts in the world of design or in design education. I also handle tie-ups with various partners for the IDF event including sponsors, and work on the entire production.”

She is currently working on the next edition of IDF while also developing two new businesses with her real-estate-developer husband, Laxman Vaidya. Aishwarya juggles various roles by prioritising. “As a mother of two, it’s a constant struggle to do everything you want to do without feeling guilty about compromising somewhere! You do the best you can and try to have fun doing it.” Fond of travelling, spending time with her family and entertaining friends, she enjoys flexible working hours while multitasking, working off a daily task list. “I think it is important for a woman to be assertive — be it in her professional or personal life. Women are marginalised all the time, more so in our culture. We’re used to accepting that. I believe in a level playing field, so if you want it, you have to fight for it.”

Known to be spontaneous, Aishwarya describes her personal style as, “simple, timeless, chic and, most of all, comfortable.” She counts a pair of vintage art deco emerald earrings as her most treasured piece of jewellery and believes that dressing up for an occasion means, “wearing things that make you feel great.”

On looking at the future, she says, “A long time ago, I learnt to stop planning and embraced uncertainty. For me, it’s all about the present — enjoying where I am at this moment in time and not having expectations.”

Maven of Good Spirits

15 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Aishwarya Nair, luxurybrands, The Leela Group, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine April 2015
Photograph by Ryan Martis

Aishwarya Nair for The Rose Code, Verve Magazine, Leela Group of Hotels

“It is life in a bottle and that to me is magic.”

The third-generation hotelier with The Leela Group, Aishwarya Nair is the head of corporate food and wine merchandising, responsible for drafting the master wine list for all the units in the chain of hotels. When you factor in variables including location, climate, cuisine and clientele, it becomes quite a task. A vino culture educator and writer, she pushes the envelope for the food and wine experience and knowledge in India. The only woman in India to have been felicitated with an honorary diploma by the region of Champagne, Comite Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne, Aishwarya has received the ‘Businesswoman of the year 2014’ title from the Indian Leadership Conclave and has also published a coffee-table cookbook, The Fine Art of Food, with her sister, Amruda and photographer, Rohit Chawla.

“The subject itself keeps me going: there is always something new to learn. Every vintage has a different personality, which is the beauty of the wine world!” With a culinary degree to back her up — she obtained an Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degree in hotel and restaurant management at the Culinary Institute of America — Aishwarya ends up delving into the creative aspects of food as well. On a regular workday, her key functions involve product development, menu engineering, research about wine and food, creating menus and reworking existing lists based on her basic algorithm. “I looked at myself as competition and that enabled me to work creatively and build something sustainable in terms of branding for the Leela hotels’ repertoire in wine or my own artisanal brand AMAI.” After the success of her luxury pastry brand, Dolce, she went on to create AMAI influenced by the principles of Japanese macrobiotics. It is artisanal — all crafted by hand — using no refined flour, dairy or eggs. “It is what I predict will be the future for India – the idea of conscious eating.”

She’s fond of electronic music, world cuisine, all things retro, and foreign or classic films. “Eclectic, minimal, edgy yet sophisticated” is her style quotient, while dressing up for an occasion means “coordinating the design of your outfit to match (or mismatch) your accessories, make-up and hair, immaculately.” She believes her curiosity for all things and openness to new experiences is a personality trait that serves her well.

Thirty-year-old Aishwarya Nair, who would like to reach a point where her wants are lesser than her needs, sees herself investing creative resources in a fashion-related business, and cherishes her grandfather’s crocodile leather black suspenders, which he once let her borrow.

She remains inspired by “design, travel, Wes Anderson, powerful women, astrology and metaphysics,” and believes that success is all about being a pioneer in her field. “I would like to live a life where every whim is achievable, by my own right, independently.”

Purveyor Of The High Life

02 Monday Mar 2015

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The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published: Verve Magazine March 2015
Photograph by: Ryan Martis

Rose Code Verve Magazine Aneesa Dhody Mehta

“Luxury, for me, is about the experience. It’s about how it makes you feel.”

Rita and Raja Dhody’s elder daughter, Aneesa, has her mother’s sense of understated style, and an intuitive understanding of the good life. Armed with a double degree in business and communication from Bond University, Australia, Aneesa had a watershed moment moving from the world of ad production to the world of luxury. From a stint at Kailash Picture Films, she joined the Murjani group, representing brands across their luxury division. “The learning curve was very steep, as luxury in India was in its nascent stages, and one didn’t have any experience dealing with luxury brands here. The challenge was aligning the expectations of the brand headquarters while still being relevant to the Indian consumer.”

Post this, she began freelancing and eventually founded Creative Co in 2011, with Diageo on board as her first client. The fledgling company executed around 20 events for Diageo in their first year, one of them being the successful Ciroc Sundowners, which put the brand on the map. What started out as a two-person team, working out of Aneesa’s father’s study with a single client and merely an event division, now offers a range of services: brand consultation, public relations, social media and events. Creative Co works with brands such as Gucci, Hèrmes, Christian Louboutin, Diageo, Lancôme, Clarins, Le Mill, and Pinakin.

Aneesa’s role in the company has grown to be a more holistic one – of being a mentor to her team and an advisor to her clients, while focusing on strategy and growth for the company as a whole. “I give my team a lot of flexibility and encourage them to develop their own minds and have continuous learning on the job. With my clients, I am always available should they need to bounce ideas off me or share thoughts on new developments.”

She spends her time working on deliverables or targets, checking in with her team, and meeting her clients regularly – juggling a busy day schedule with work commitments that occasionally stretch to late evenings. “The challenge is also to constantly innovate and not stagnate creatively. Marketing is all about coming up with new ways to engage consumers, so the work in itself is demanding.”

Aneesa’s personal style is “classic, feminine, and sometimes eclectic”.  She treasures her grandmother’s coloured diamond necklace, where each stone is cut in the shape of a heart. Married to Harsh Mehta, who develops luxury villas in Alibaug, Aneesa loves to travel if she has a few days off and hits the spa every Sunday. She defines luxury as, “going away to the Maldives and switching off my phone for three days…or buying a pair of handmade leather sandals in Greece! As is opening a great bottle of wine, and sharing it with a friend.”

While ambitious people inspire her, she appreciates straight shooters: “I’m a ‘from the heart’ sort of a person. I don’t know how to be ‘fake’. Therefore, I attract similar people to my life, and it’s been quite rewarding so far.”

Brand Builder

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published Verve Magazine, December 2014
Photography by Manpreet Singh

She can race cars, ride horses, skydive and speak the language of luxury with equal aplomb. A born entrepreneur, Pushpanjali Chawla makes her presence felt on The Rose Code

Pushpanjali Chawla for Verve's The Rose Code

I strongly believe that if you do something, do it to the best of your ability, or don’t do it at all.”

Thirty-seven-year-old entrepreneur Pushpanjali Chawla née Baidyanath (from the family owning Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Ltd) took a chance when she left Pepsi (USA) and moved back to India. She found a niche in the burgeoning, but hitherto unorganised, luxury market. The Stanford University and University of Richmond alumna kick-started her erstwhile venture Blueprint Retail Pvt. Ltd. with Burberry as her first client, followed by Exclusive Motors (Bentley and Lamborghini). She’s a consultant that companies may partner with to achieve their brand goals; she also provides outsourced solutions for retail operations and management and is currently involved in the ventures Luxuryworks, Piivotul Consulting Services and Luxuryworks Gifting Service.

Self-motivation, Pushpanjali feels, is the one key trait that keeps her going through the victories and the downs, not to mention managing via rigorous prioritising and delegation. “I surround myself with good people who I can rely on, both at work and at home. My husband (Rohtash Chawla, owner and director of Signet Garments) and my 10-month-old son are my absolute priority. Being organised and managing your time well are critical to being a master juggler.”

Enjoying the aspect of her work that allows her to avoid regular work days, she can “travel often, research constantly, work across industries and categories and meet a wide range of people. It’s dynamic and ever evolving.” Always one to live in the moment, Pushpanjali is into adventure sports, is a certified skydiver and has raced on the Nascar amateur circuit in the US. “When you are jumping off a plane or approaching a sharp corner on the race track, your mind, body and soul are all in the grip of that one moment. It’s pure, exhilarating and completely free from the yesterday and the tomorrow.”

The published poet and former US State beauty pageant winner is a power dresser who believes in timeless elegance – the sophisticated classic with a feminine touch. Turning out for an occasion means wearing something elegant in monochromatic colours, fine jewellery and statement heels. She treasures her engagement ring, wedding band and a jhoomar worn by her grandmother on her own wedding day. “My engagement ring and wedding band were both designed by my husband. His engineer’s mind got the proportions and ratios on the rings just right…they are magnificent!”

Pushpanjali Chawla remains inspired by “the goodness in life and beauty in nature. I meet amazing, wonderful human beings every day.” She believes it’s important to be non-judgemental because “no one can walk in another’s shoes” and that allows her to appreciate and celebrate diversity in thought and action. And success is being able to say, “I did it my way….”

Tech Tycoon

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Devita Saraf, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Vervemagazine.in October 2014
Photograph by Toranj Kavyon

The CEO and design head of Vu Technologies, Devita Saraf, is a trained Odissi dancer, member of the international high-IQ Mensa society and has been ranked in the top 25 most powerful women in India (2006) by leading national media. Young, smart and talented, there’s no question about Devita Saraf’s place in The Rose Code

devita-saraf

“I believe in thinking ahead. I get very uncomfortable if things seem too unchanged.”

The 32-year-old daughter of Rajkumar Saraf (chairman and CEO of Zenith Computers) started training at the age of 16, and made sure her academic career followed suit. Post management of technology at University of California, Berkeley, business degrees from the University of Southern California and London School of Economics, Devita Saraf joined her family business at 21 becoming the director of marketing. At 24 she started Vu Technologies, and at age 29, co-founded the Pittsburgh-based Vu Telepresence Inc. “While at Zenith Computers, working closely with industry behemoths such as Intel and Microsoft, we realised the burgeoning demand for high-end technology in the emerging Indian market. I mixed my love for luxury with our background of technology and the innovation capabilities of these large companies, and started Vu Technologies.”

She looks at the entire business, “even boring bits such as accounts, logistics and operations”, while her heart remains in marketing. She exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship: “It begins with imagining something that doesn’t exist and making it real. Entrepreneurship is a personality trait more than a job. Like the friend in the group who always makes plans, as opposed to the ones that just go along for the ride.”

Success is sweet, as Saraf has discovered. “I was never a topper in school and barely got any certificates for academic excellence, so I guess I compensated to my parents by winning some major business awards. They make my mother proud, and that is always satisfying.” It’s not surprising then that she counts as her personal milestone being invited to her school (Queen Mary School, Mumbai) as a chief guest a few years ago. “The same teachers who punished me for being a mischievous child, were now being hospitable. But they were also very proud of me and moments like these motivate me to work hard.”

While her workday is generally a mix of meetings, emails and face-to-face interactions with team members, she leads a “normal South Mumbai life, taking long walks at Marine Drive or meeting friends at the Willingdon Club. I’m not married yet, so it gives me enough time to pursue my interests such as dance or actively participate in EO and other forums.” Saraf also has certifications in Ikebana and jewellery design. She designed her name in diamonds as a necklace for her 10th birthday and wore it for every birthday thereafter. “Honestly, it surprises me that my parents let me design with diamonds at age nine!”

The global jetsetter’s personal style can be described as “feminine sophisticate” as she favours body-con dresses, red, pink, floral prints, lace, trench coats, hats and jewellery. “Even though I am in business, my style is far from androgynous.” She is inspired by “powerful princesses” and is all about creating new milestones and reaching them. “I do aspire to have political and policy-making leadership in this country. It’s the least we can do for the future of our country.”

Boardroom Tigress

10 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Nadia Chauhan Kurup, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published: Verve Magazine, August 2014
Photograph by Toranj Kavyon

Twenty-eight-year-old Nadia Chauhan Kurup is chief marketing officer and joint managing director of Parle Agro Pvt Ltd. She’s taken the company from Rs 300 crores to Rs 2000 crores in the last five years

Nadia Chauhan Kurup

“I am inspired by fearless and passionate people who always do what it takes to fulfill their cherished dreams.”

She’s won awards, she’s delivered a double-digit growth every year and she’s driven diversification making Parle Agro a leader in both beverage and food. Nadia Chauhan Kurup proves that progeny can be the leaders of the next gen. “I remember being mesmerised by the stories my dad (Prakash Chauhan) would relate to us and the many new products that he often brought back for us to taste. Passion is undoubtedly contagious! My inquisitiveness about everything that he was doing kept growing stronger as I became older. I used to spend many hours after school and often even on weekends at his office.”

From a shy child to a boardroom tigress, she has come a long way. “I remember often enough being quite intimidated when I was asked by my father to join a meeting and observe. I picked up a great deal from his very dynamic style of leadership. I noticed how he worked with intuition and his gut in taking decisions. I rely on a lot of this myself even today, in taking the organisation forward.” Looking at the future, she believes that the thriving business is at a tipping point, about to take a greater leap forward.

With great support from her husband and children, she has ably managed to find a suitable balance to ensure that her four-year-old daughter and ten-month-old son remain a big part of her day. “Nia and Kian have accompanied me to office since they were a month old. I am as passionate a mother as I am a businesswoman. I am very hands-on and extremely proud to be so. While you sacrifice some things just to be able to create that balance and give your 100 per cent, to see the outcome of it is the best feeling ever! I dedicate all my non-working time to my kids.”

She’s a perfectionist who often likes to step away from her comfort zone. “I take risks, I explore new ground – with that I grow and with that the business grows further. Personally, I would like to see myself travelling around the world and discovering new experiences.” Her daily personal style is practical and comfortable; while dressing up for an occasion it translates into ‘graceful elegance’.

Nadia admits that she is not fond of the gender question in the business arena. “Why create such differentiation, when there is none? Women around the world are becoming increasingly dominant in work, education, households, even in love and marriage. Some studies suggest that the global economy is becoming a place where women are finding more success than men, and are poised to become the next superpower. It’s pretty much evident with the increasing number of women running some of the best companies in the world.”

The Business of Being

15 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Bikram Saluja, Schauna Chauhan Saluja, The Rose Code, Verve Magazine

Published: Verve Magazine, June 2014
Photograph by Toranj Kavyon

She’s passionate, dedicated and full of conviction. The CEO of Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd., Schauna Chauhan Saluja, is fully immersed in running her family business and believes in a lifetime of learning

Schauna Chauhan Saluja for Verve Magazine

“Work is my priority. Which does not mean family is not as important. But at this age I have the energy, determination and the strength to handle a lot more.”

Thirty-seven-year old Schauna Chauhan Saluja started in the family business at the age of 22 and it feels like she was meant for exactly that. “I didn’t need to see a guidance counsellor in school to sit and ponder over what it is that I wanted to become or where I should work. I think it was already chosen for me and I accepted it as I grew up learning the business…it was a very natural process.”

‘After schooling in Kodaikanal International School and acquiring a Bachelor’s degree from business school in Lausanne, she was back home, learning the ropes in Parle Agro. “Being part of the business has always been so great because it is driven by so much passion and energy. And you are continuously learning. When I started, my role was to learn and understand the business, and that’s what I did – and in a lot of ways I’m still doing that. Joining young gave me a chance to grow with the company.”

The mother of a six-month-old boy, Jahaan, she has her hands full but believes that time can expand to fit all that needs to be done in. “Everyone in my family is working and is as passionate about their work so the understanding is there, if there are occasions where work takes up most of your time. When the family is together, the shared experience becomes important. And whatever free moments I have are taken up by my family first.”

Schauna, who believes in the power of teamwork, a healthy culture and set of values within the organisation, is focused on the current challenge at work – which is something she believes every other entrepreneur or business person is also facing – the challenge to keep the company growth steady in today’s economic scenario. “My life will take the direction depending on the choices I make and the decisions I take. Where I would like it to go is only higher….”

“I am what I am and I do what I do.” Her personal style is very simple, and when she accessorises, she ensures that it’s always a reflection of her personality: simple, elegant and delicate. “I believe that less is more. I don’t like it too cluttered or busy and one does not need to be fancy to look elegant.” Jackets, pearls – you would almost never see her without her pearl necklaces – and bright colours, like pink, are her staples. “One should try and dress up every day…whether it’s the business suit you wear for work or the outfit you slip into when you are going out for an occasion. And dress well to please yourself.”

She treasures a gold heart-shaped Tiffany necklace and an Ulysse Nardin watch that her husband, tennis player and actor, Bikram Saluja, gave her – the latter after he got his first independent project. To Schauna success is, “Going through varied emotions, doing what you love, dressing up in what you would enjoy wearing, learning something new every day, getting up every time you fall down, smiling through the tough times, never taking no for an answer, and always asking the question, ‘Why?’”

Living Her Dreams

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Bollywood, Interviews: Cinema, Perizaad Zorabian, The Rose Code, Theatre, Verve Magazine

Published: Verve Magazine, April 2014
Photograph by Toranj Kavyon

Indian cinema and theatre actress, mother and brand builder of her family business; Perizaad Zorabian-Irani is effortlessly easy-goIng, exuberant and full of life

Perizaad Zorabian for Verve Magazine

I don’t have a single lazy, chilled out moment! My life moves at a crazy pace…but that’s the only way I know how to be.”

Dinner With Friends, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play directed by Feroz Abbas Khan that she’s been working in, has been running for three years and seen a 100 shows worldwide. Simultaneously, Perizaad Zorabian-Irani has looked after specific food ranges as her family business, Zorabian Chicken, started its journey into the retail space. And if that’s not enough, she’s mother to six-year-old Zaha and four-year-old Zayaan.

Juggling things isn’t new to her. The 40-year-old describes how she managed to be in the top 10 of her class in school while training for 12 years to be a ballerina – one whom in her teacher’s words was ‘born to be on stage because of the immense joy she brings to her performance’. Later, while modelling and being a part of fashion shows and dramatics, she graduated with a gold medal in management from Mumbai University. She followed it with her education in New York City, where, in addition to her MBA, she also attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. “All throughout, I have been inclined towards academics and the arts; I feel passionately about both!”

Building the Zorabian brand in the retail space with a limited marketing spend has been extremely challenging. “All I had when we started building our brand was quality – an outstanding product to offer the Indian consumer. Convincing our storekeepers and retailers to give Zorabian shelf space when we first started off was tough, but today when people stop me to tell me how much they love our product, I feel like I have conquered the world and it makes me believe even more in the power of doing things right.”

She’s been nominated for a best debut award for Bollywood Calling (2003), and won a best actor award for Joggers Park (2003) at the Bollywood Awards in New York. She’s acted in more movies since, including essaying the role of Indira Gandhi in a Chinese film, Badung Sonata, and looks forward to exploring that profession further. “Zorabian Chicken gives me an adrenaline rush; being an actor is my moment of nirvana – I need both to complete me.”

She’s been trained early to manage her time effectively and she’s grounded with a strong sense of discipline with the ability to prioritise; which all form key aspects of the balancing act. She admits that it’s not easy to do all of it together, especially when one has young children, but, “if you really want to do something, the whole world conspires to make it possible!”

Perizaad got married in 2006 and believes her husband, businessman Boman Rustom Irani, is the ‘wind beneath her wings’. “In spite of being hugely successful in his own right he has never undermined my need to excel – he has always respected and encouraged it.”

She describes her style quotient as minimalistic, understated, classic and feminine; and her most treasured possession is her engagement ring, which she absolutely can’t take off, even after seven years. While passionate, committed and hard- working are all what she’s about, Perizaad Zorabian-Irani believes success is merely “living life on your own terms. Being able to chase the dreams you want to; being free!”

Power Women 2013

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by sitanshi talati-parikh in Interviews (All), Interviews: Business, Interviews: Cinema, Publication: Verve Magazine

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Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Verve Magazine, Vidya Balan

Published: Verve Magazine, Annual Power List, Feature, Power Rush

Kareena KAPOOR
32 POWER SIREN
A fiery mix of impeccable genes, experience and natural talent have kept Kareena Kapoor Khan going strong years after contemporaries have lost steam. The zesty Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has matured into a seasoned actress who can carry films with her massive screen presence, proving that an actress in a serious relationship doesn’t lose out on the popularity scale. From holding the weight of a movie like Heroine that suffered from poor scripting, to adding punch to a light movie like Ekk Main Aur Ekk Tu, from playing a defining character role in Talaash to becoming attached to the male-dominated 100-crore club movie successes, she has proven that nothing can shake her and she can juggle multiple roles. Not to mention, having had what has been pegged by a Wall Street Journal blogger as ‘India’s wedding and social event of the year’ – a power wedding with beau, the Nawab of Pataudi, Saif Ali Khan last year. In association with Globus, she is the first Indian actress to launch her own line of clothing. Voted India’s Hottest Woman by a glossy and recently ranked one of India’s most influential women, she has also co-authored two fitness books and last year, her own memoir, The Style Diary Of A Bollywood Diva.

METHODOLOGY: None. She has been pegged as an ‘instinctive actor with emotional intelligence’ who refuses to rehearse for her roles preferring to rely on spontaneity.

COMING-OF-AGE ROLE: Chameli, a sex worker in Chameli (2004). It defined her as a versatile actress with depth.

TRACES ONLINE: None. Despite buddy Karan Johar’s desire to get Kareena Kapoor on Twitter, she has steered clear of any social media and most media in general.

FRAGRANT CAUSE: Jean Paul Gaultier Classique perfume, her all-time favourite.

Nina LATH GUPTA
48 POWER HEAD
The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) saw a dramatic change after Nina Lath Gupta came on board as managing director. With a slimmer, restructured team that harps on transparency and accountability, the NFDC shies away from government and bureaucratic stereotypes. Determined to ensure that the NFDC produces films that will make cinematic history, but big production houses won’t touch, Gupta has been breaking new ground. Recognising the need for development of good writing, they set up the Screenwriters’ Lab, under the NFDC Labs. Their home video label, Cinemas of India, saw reruns of all the DVDs they have released to date. The Film Bazaar, which runs parallel to the International Film Festival of India in Goa is an incubator of talent, with art-house films (including South-Asia films) regularly getting picked up for the festival circuit from there. In real terms, the NFDC saw a dramatic leap in turnover from Rs 12 crores in 2006 to Rs 255 crores in 2011- 2012 under her leadership, turning a struggling enterprise into a dynamic and profitable one. Last year, The Hollywood Reporter featured Gupta as one of the 12 outstanding international women achievers in the field of entertainment, and she regularly speaks at film festivals across the world, while also being on the jury of the Venice Film Festival (2010).

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “The ability to keep pace with the times, of being able to constantly adapt according to the needs of the time and ensuring that our activities are in tune with the requirements of the talent and creative pool we work with.”

STRONG PERSONALITY TRAIT: “Unrelenting perfectionist.”

ABOUT THE JOB: “It begins with a love for the movies. But gradually that passion grew with an increasing awareness of the immense power that the motion pictures have in influencing individuals and thereby society. This in turn created a consciousness of the immense responsibility that filmmakers carry.”

2012-13 WAS ABOUT…“Initiating Phase II of NFDC’s growth and taking small steps in the direction of setting up platforms that aim at last mile connectivity for good cinema with audiences.”

Pankaja THAKUR
42 POWER FILTER
The chief executive of the Central Board of Film Certification or the Censor Board of India has headed tough decisions on ratings and cuts in Indian cinema, leading to resentment from many and approval from some. She’s in the unique situation of being damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Movies that go through with stringent censoring give rise to social questions like – ‘are the recent atrocities against women a throwback to violence in cinema?’ Movies that face savage cuts or ‘A’ ratings get a rise out of the filmmakers. While there have been altercations on films like 2011’s blockbuster, The Dirty Picture (which withstood 52 cuts) and Ashwin Kumar’s documentary, Inshallah, Football (2010) which got an ‘A’ rating, she’s taken tough decisions on international films as well, such as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011), which didn’t end up being screened in India. She was one of the panellists to object to Sheila Ki Jawaani (the song from Tees Maar Khan). ‘I would not like my daughter singing, “I am too sexy for you,” as the lyrics of the song go, but we cannot bring in our personal value systems while making decisions.’

ALTERNATIVE CAREER: As a bureaucrat with the Indian customs agency, she has headed assignments like one involving screening baggage at the Mumbai International Airport.

DEFINITION OF POWER: “The freedom to make choices and the ability to take decisions for oneself and for others.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “To keep myself and others working with me motivated. With fixed salaries and time-bound promotions the drive to improve is difficult to generate.”

A WORD OF ADVICE: “My advice to all new civil servants is to begin their day with this prayer: God give me the ability to change things that I can, The serenity to accept things that I cannot change…the wisdom to understand the difference between the two.”

WAYS TO RELAX: “I meditate and listen to music.”

Roshni NADAR MALHOTRA
31 POWER HEIRESS
The only daughter of Shiv Nadar, chairman of the $6 billion-listed HCL Group that includes HCL Technologies and HCL Infosystems, is all set to take over as chairman after her father retires. Currently, she is CEO and executive director of the corporation and is a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, managing the latter’s philanthropic initiatives. She drives Vidya Gyan – an initiative that provides free education to people from underprivileged backgrounds and is on its way to open a third school. Planning to steer clear of a corporate role despite her impending appointment, the Kellogg School of Management alumnus wants to concentrate on the philanthropic activities.

FAMILY TIES: Married to Babson (US) alumnus, Shikhar Malhotra, who founded an auto retail venture, and is now the chief executive of Shiv Nadar School. They have a son.

CREATIVE PURSUITS: Is a trained classical musician.

ALTERNATE CAREER: Has an undergraduate degree in Communications, majoring in radio, television and film from Northwestern University (USA) and has worked briefly as a news producer for SkyNews (UK) and CNN (America).

LANDING GROUND: She lives in New Delhi.

Mary KOM
30 POWER WINNER
Five-time world boxing champion and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships, Mary Kom belongs to the Kom tribal community in Manipur. She is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, and returned with the bronze medal. The recent Padma Bhushan (Sports) awardee has also been ranked as No 4 AIBA World Women’s Ranking Flyweight category, while locally she has been felicitated with a host of awards like the Padma Shri (Sports) and Arjuna Award (Boxing). Her personal story of rising to great heights in an unconventional sport from a simple beginning has led to a Hindi feature film being made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, on her life, with Priyanka Chopra essaying her life.

ON REACHING HIGHS: “I am a strong believer in ‘Apna karm karo, fal ki chinta mat karo’ (Do your work without worry about the result). Thank you so much for giving me such an honour; I will keep working harder and harder to take the Indian flag to new highs.”

SUCCESS MANTRA: “You reap what you sow. Work hard, be disciplined, be grounded, be polite to everyone, share your experience with your colleagues and juniors.”

UNWINDS BY: “I hardly get a chance to relax, but whenever I get the time, I listen to music and enjoy quality time with my husband and children.”

A NORMAL DAY: “I get up early and do my daily morning exercise and training; then after breakfast, lunch and a rest, I go in for my evening training.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: “To keep myself physically and mentally fit and try to avoid injuries during training sessions and competitions.”

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT: “Without any doubt, my Olympic medal. This medal has given me an opportunity to let the whole world know about Mary Kom, what she has done in her long boxing career. I hope my journey will inspire other upcoming talents.”

Shikha SHARMA
54 POWER BANKER
Awards spill out of her hat like rabbits do from a magician’s! And she managed to turn what could have been a windfall – ceding a possible CEO position at ICICI Bank to Chanda Kochhar after 29 years of service there – to a position of strength. The IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus has been the managing director and CEO of Axis Bank since 2009, and India’s third largest bank in the private sector saw a spurt of 30 per cent last year to $55 billion. She is bullish on growth, and if the recent stock price is anything to go by, people believe her story.

Since taking charge, she has more than doubled the bank’s network to 1,500 branches and 8,300-plus ATMs. The Transformational Business Leader of the Year (AIMA’s Managing India Awards), Woman Leader of the Year (Bloomberg-UTV Financial Leadership Awards), and Businessworld’s Banker of the Year’ has somehow also managed to squeeze into the Forbes List of Asia’s 50 Power Business Women, Indian Express’ Most Powerful Indians and India Today’s Power List of 25 Most Influential Women, all in 2012. This is the same woman who during her post-MBA placement wasn’t able to land a job until day 8 or 9. She was rejected by foreign banks which gave her confidence a drubbing.

IDENTIFIABLE PERSONALITY TRAIT: “Self-belief.”

FAMOUS QUOTE: ‘I want to make Axis Bank India’s JPMorgan.’

ADMIRES: Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan (US). Also looks up to Gandhiji and corporate leaders like Ratan Tata.

FAMILY TIES: Her husband, Sanjay Sharma, is the MD of Tata Interactive Systems. Her son is a part of a startup at Silicon Valley. She also has a daughter.

PERSONAL TIME: She has studied Hindustani classical music.

Vidya BALAN
34 POWER EMOTER
The moment the supremely talented actress became comfortable in her own skin, the entire world fell at her feet. Her success has not been merely accolades and awards, critics and popular appeal – though she has had those in liberal doses. Hers has been the power of taking a formula-driven industry and turning it on its head to prove that rules can be broken, and to make her choices game-changers. While she bagged several awards for her role as a pregnant woman in search of her missing husband in Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani (2012), post the spate of hugely successful author-backed roles, she has now been considered a ‘female hero’ – toppling the notion of a male lead in a largely male-dominated industry. Last year, not only did she marry beau UTV CEO Siddharth Roy Kapur, she also became the youngest recipient of the Prabha Khaitan Puraskar awarded by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce for her attempts to empower women. In May, she was part of the jury panel at the 66th Cannes International Film Festival, taking the respect for her acumen and sensibility overseas.

UNWINDS BY: “At the end of every day, I sit on my balcony and watch the waves and think about nothing.”

LESSONS LEARNT: “Firstly, there are no rules. Secondly, anyone who tells you otherwise knows no better. Thirdly, and most importantly, have faith in yourself, if you don’t – no one will.”

IDENTIFIABLE PERSONALITY TRAIT: “Self-belief.”

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: “I’ve begun to love and accept myself more and more.”

BIGGEST PASSION: “People.”

MOTIVATING FACTOR: “My love for life keeps me going, and my love for love keeps me going!”

Vrinda GROVER
49 POWER ACTIVIST
Self-belief, conviction, and a strong sense of purpose define this human-rights activist and New Delhi-based lawyer. She has done extensive work on rape laws and women’s issues. Seeing harassment of women in public areas and in colleges, she became a part of a street theatre group and one thing led to another and she became a lawyer standing up for the rights of women and human rights in general, particularly for those who have slipped through the cracks of the system, not just the privileged lot. For her tireless efforts to change the system, brought particularly in the limelight with the brutal gang rape in Delhi, she was one of the three Indians who made it to Time’s 100 most influential people in the world.

POWER LISTER: “I don’t attach any significance to these ‘lists’. They view life through the lens of individual achievements. The credit for foregrounding the issue of violence against women and the changes in law and policy must be given to the collective struggle and strength of the women’s movements in India.”

DAY IN THE LIFE: “Each day is different, as I engage with human rights through many forums – the courts, campaigns, meetings, street protests and read, write and ruminate in my office.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: “Those tasked with upholding the rights of people, are violating them the most. Anger and despair are driving people to think that violence – à la death penalty – is a solution. The subversion of Indian democracy by corporate power and dominant communal forces. And of course patriarchy!”

Rohini IYER
31 POWER MOVER
You can’t get to most top Indian cinema celebrities without coming into contact with their publicist Rohini Iyer, who named her PR agency Raindrop Media after the song, ‘Raindrops keep falling on my head….’ This may prove that she’s a romantic at heart, but it belies the fact that she’s tough and intractable and manages one of the topmost agencies on her own steam. Her current roster of names includes Kareena Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Vidya Balan, Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan, Ekta Kapoor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Not surprising then, that Iyer has resounding clout in an industry she understands and navigates well.

POWER LISTER: “I’m constantly trying to push the envelope – and these honours are extremely encouraging.”

SUCCESS MANTRA: “Always listen to your gut instinct. Always stand for something you believe in.”

TIME OFF: “I don’t switch off…. But I make it a point to watch at least one movie a day and am an avid reader.”

FUTURE PLANS: “World cinema is still waiting. All I want is everything!”

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: “I love crises. It’s challenging to not lose your calm in the face of a crisis and that is what Raindrop thrives on.”

CAREER ADVICE: “‘Greed is good’ – to quote Gordon Gekko in Wall Street.”

IDENTIFIABLE PERSONALITY TRAIT: “Killer instinct.”

Saina NEHWAL
23 POWER PLAYER
The lithe Haryana-born girl from Hyderabad made her country proud with a bronze at the London Olympics last year. Valiantly holding her number two ranking by the Badminton World Federation for over two years, she is flying high, having bagged the Thailand and Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold, reclaimed her Indonesia Super Series Premier title and having become the second Indian to win the Denmark Open last year. NDTV editor, T S Sudhir, wrote An Inspirational Biography on the girl who watched badminton even from her pram, not to mention that primary school textbooks in Andhra Pradesh apparently carry a chapter on Nehwal. Last year, she became India’s highest paid non-cricketing sportsperson after reportedly signing an over $7 million three-year contract with a sports management firm.

STARTING OUT: “I would get up at 4 a.m. and catch a bus at 4.30 a.m. for the stadium 25 km away. I would skip the last two periods of school and practise till seven or eight. I often slept in the bus or even on the scooter. I have lost several racquets in autos.”

GETTING THERE: “Even while growing up I would love working hard. My body would hurt after workouts, but I loved the pain. I do not think that I have missed something in my life. I want to make myself so perfect that I will become World No 1. That is my target.”

PROVERBS TO PROVE WRONG: “Many Indians would say, ‘Padhoge likhoge banoge nabab, kheloge kudo ge honge kharrab’ (If you learn to read and write, you can be on top of the world; if you play sport, it will ruin you). I changed the proverb and proved that sports is a neglected field in India, where a lot more is to be done.”

LIKES TO UNWIND BY… “Sleeping and watching a movie.”

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT: “I hope the Olympic medal is a big one, but every win is a win for me.”

Purva NARESH
38 POWER TALENT
Trained Kathak danseuse and award-winning short filmmaker, Purva Naresh wears many hats. She juggles between being a writer, director, and producer of Aarambh, a theatre group that produces musicals, plays and short films and holds down a day job as head of production of motion pictures for Reliance Entertainment while also choreographing and designing costumes for stage. She has written Afsaneh: Bai Se Bioscope Tak, and has adapted stories of Ruskin Bond for A Special Bond 1 and 2, while her feature film credits include Hanuman, Kisna: The Warrior Poet and Krrish. She swivels between earning wins and nominations at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META), and earlier this year she was the recipient of The Laadli National Media Awards (Best Drama) for her play Ok Tata Bye Bye. She was invited to give a reading of the play at The Royal Court Theatre, London.

POWER IS: “The ability to take and execute my own decisions.”

SUCCESS MANTRA: “Keep calm and carry on.”

UNWINDS BY: “Jogging, dancing, reading, watching a movie or a play.”

A NORMAL DAY IS: “Hectic. Impossible. Promising….”

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: “Time management and my impatience.”

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT: “When my mother finally approved of my play, after I did seven!”

Pernia QURESHI
27 POWER ENTREPRENEUR
Post experience in New York, the fashionista and stylist moved back home and landed her dream job of dressing up beautiful women in couture. Not content with that, she capitalised on the market space and took it a step further by launching her online store, Perniaspopupshop.com. Last year she managed to get top-line designers to give her rotating capsule collections to showcase and purchase directly from her store, and has also launched her own collection online along with the popular names. Aisha (2010) was the first Hindi feature film she styled, which brought couture to the forefront of Indian cinema. And the trained Kuchipudi dancer made it to the cover of Verve’s best-dressed list last year.

POWER IS… “To be able to do exactly what one wants to do.”

SUCCESS MANTRA: “Hard work, conviction, a great attitude and passion.”

UNWINDS BY: “Eating good food and hanging out with friends.”

A NORMAL DAY: “If I’m in Delhi, then I spend the first half dancing (Kuchipudi) and the second half working (office, shoots and meetings).”

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: “Finding sincere people to build a team for work. I think I have done a good job but it was tough.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Be prepared to work 24/7.”

IDENTIFIABLE PERSONALITY TRAIT: “Honesty.”

Priyanka CHOPRA
30 POWER BEAT-MAKER
Fame is a funny thing. It brought India’s Miss World to the top echelons of stardom as a beauty pageant contestant, as a movie star, and now the talented actress has an international music record label to add to her list of credits. In July 2012, Chopra became the first Hindi movie actor to be signed by an LA-based entertainment and sports agency. Her first album is set to release this year and she debuted her first single In My City with rapper Will.i.am, which was launched on NFL’s Thursday Night Football after being unveiled in India. In last year’s Barfi!, she essayed the role of Jhilmil Chatterjee, an autistic woman who falls in love with a deaf-mute man. Here we find a powerful actor: Priyanka’s glamorous screen persona disappears and Jhilmil’s character comes alive. Possibly one of the reasons that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has chosen a mainstream actor like her to portray Mary Kom in the latter’s biopic. And PC’s own peripatetic story forms the first chapter of an Environmental Studies book as part of the curriculum in a reputed Bengaluru CBSE school.

CELEBRITY LIFE: “I am being watched all the time. Even simple things like scratching my nose will get captured in all their glory!”

PERSONAL LIFE: “The only thing I guard very carefully is my personal life. It’s never been a question of hiding any of the relationships, but more about keeping them away from public glare. I’m not comfortable opening the doors of my private world for the world to see….”

ON HER OTHER LOVE: “I can’t think or function without music. My van, my room, my car are always blasting music, so the five minutes I get, become my chill-out zone. And besides my family, that’s the one thing I find time for.”

PERSONAL QUIRK: Her DVDs are all labelled and numbered.

|  Filling the gaps between words.  |

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