KZK Articles-NO COMMENTS! - Page 21

W e started from my home's garage. Initially, we lost money because I made so many wrong decisions. There was a time when my mom had placed her valuables as guarantee to raise cash. Till the age of 25, I had only two shows on air. We worked very hard to get our third show on air. Then with one right decision, slowly in three years, we covered our losses. It was actually like a soap opera..plenty of struggle before finding success. Are you okay with your work pace? I'm not. I've tried many times to scale up to 15 to 20 shows but that messes up the quality. I'm in the middle of some deals. Once they're through, I should get some breath- ing space. Has the exit of Sameer Nair from Star channel affect you? Though I continue to work with the channel, I was sad that he'd quit. Sameerji's contribution to my growth has been huge.Wher- ever he goes, I'll be a part of his company and vice versa. I consider my first meeting with him as the most important turn- ing point in my career. When I met him, I realised here's a man who is actually going to gamble his mon- ey on a 25-year-old youngster try- ing to sell a concept based on tra- ditional family values. Star's creative head Shailja Kejriwal says you have the knack of making something inane very entertaining. (Laughs). She's being nice. She has taught me so much about TV and life. I'm very aggressive and child- ish. Many people think that I'm very temperamental but I would like to think I stretch myself to reach perfection. I get very emo- tional if any episode turns out lousy. I feel terrible. Shailjaji has given me a sense of balance in the last six years. It's no secret that you can be a toughie. Yes. I feel an entrepreneur is not someone who does good work.. but- someone who makes others aware that they can do good work. If I have to be a hard taskmaster, so be it! I could have been this really cool producer who cares a damn.. but then I'd be digging my own grave and of thousands of others who depend on me. Some actors crib that their time is being wasted but hey my money , is also being wasted. I push them because I feel despite the delays, if we put in a little extra time and effort, we can make a super show. What's your mother's role in the business today? My mother is the brain behind this business. I'm just the face of Bala- ji Teleflms. All I have is an idea, mum takes it beyond the concep- tualisation stage and makes the final product come alive. I'm noth- ing without her, I still take my pocket money from my mum. I don't even know what's in my bank account. Do you intend to start your own satel- lite channel? I do see myself going towards that way ..wherein the company gets an equity in the channel I provide content for. That is the future. Con- tent makes any channel thrive. Since we are the so-called fore- runner company in providing con- tent, we should set new standards.. and formats. Just like Yashraj Films set up its film distribution cell. For starters, I have a new show in Dubai which I'll be selling to channels in India, Pakistan, the US and the UK. I see myself pro- viding content to all mediums like radio, TV and internet. We're setting up offices in Dubai, Sri Lanka and Jakarta where our show formats are pop- ular. And we want to increase our programming in regional channels too. We organise talent hunts for writers across colleges in India. That's our investment to ensure fresh talent..to develop a GenNext creative team. What does money mean to you? It means a way to fuel bigger growth for the company I love sav- . ing money. I like to spend money smartly, not stupidly. Like for an hour's flight to Ujjain, I would fly economy class. I'd hate to waste money on an hour's trip. What has success meant to you? Acceptance. But there is also the fear that if I get out of the scene for a minute, I will be gobbled up. I'm sure every successful person worries that it could all just dis- appear one day . Where do you get ideas for soaps from? From watching people and hear- ing about their lives. TV or any storytelling is suspension of real- ity. It's 50 per cent reality, 30 per cent aspiration and 20 per cent visualisation. What are you most superstitious about? I don't like to start things on any- thing connected with the numbers eight or four. Many think that I co- relate success with how much I pray for it. Believe me, that's not true. I can't change my planetary charts, even if I pray more or less. God can guide you but your deeds deter- mine your future. I believe karma is bigger than dharma. What do you think of TV actors turn- ing producers? I will acknowledge new production companies only when they achieve what they set out to. It's easy to start something.. sustaining it is the tough part. Good luck to all those who think it's child's play . What ticks you off? Liars and complacency . You've never spoken about your actors being poached by Sony? It's their loss, not mine. This is a free country There's always some- . one who will offer you a better job or better money I get offers to work . with rival channels all the time. How's your equation with your broth- er Tusshar? Tusshar's my lifeline, my dar- ling..an elder brother even though he's younger by one-and-half years. He takes time to trust peo- ple..contrary to belief, I make friends easily . Now we're mature adults but we don't sit together for more than an hour because we end up fighting. I hope my parents are proud of us, though they haven't yet told us those sort of words yet. (Laughs) My mum always says that I'm the biggest pain in her neck! Have you ever been in love? Yes, I've been in love. The gentle- man concerned is abroad. But today, I don't know if it was love.. I was only 18 then. By the age of 21, I was completely out of love with the guy . Love can either bloom or wilt like a flower. It's a root which begins with attraction. We need to constantly water it, make it stronger with time. For me, love was something that destiny didn't support. I got over it.. I haven't experienced timeless love.