'What makes a good leader? Listening…'

What attracted you to study at King’s?

My elder brother, Vishal, was at King’s and he told me about their new Business Management course. He thought it was something I’d be interested in. It was and the draw of a prestigious central London university sealed it. King’s ended up being a family affair for us, as my twin brother, Rohit, also studied there.

What’s your favourite memory of your time at King’s?

Meeting my wife, Meghna. She was on the same course as me and I still remember the day I first saw her walking into the lecture theatre.

Sentiment aside, it would be the maths lectures at the Strand Campus. Our main base, the Queen Elizabeth Campus in Kensington, was charming but smaller. At the Strand, I felt part of the wider university buzz. And the library was amazing. I used to love working there.

What’s the key skill or lesson you learnt at King’s?

The ability to research and analyse. Our coursework required independence, using the library’s resources to gather and process information, then solving problems. This skill has been invaluable throughout my career, both in London and Mumbai.

What was your plan when you left King’s?

I was drawn to finance and investment banking. This happened through the ‘Milk Round’ recruitment process, where companies visited universities and met those who were about to graduate with a view to hiring them. My plan was to get into a large global investment bank. It was a pretty competitive process. But after many applications and interviews, I secured a role at UBS before graduating in 1999.

You’ve had a varied career. How do you think all of those roles shaped you?

Investment banking taught me work ethic, adaptability and attention to detail. Later, I started working in the internet and media sector at the start of the first dotcom boom. Here, I learned the value of listening to smart people and collecting information from them. It's a skill I’ve utilised throughout my career.

But there must have been some challenges?

Moving to Mumbai after years in London was a big challenge. The work culture was very different 25 years ago. I soon figured out that I wouldn’t be able to change that culture, so instead I took what I had learnt in London and adapted it to suit Mumbai. This different perspective gave me an advantage and shaped my career in India.

You’re now working in motion pictures. How did that happen?

By accident! I was initially brought into Mukta Arts to create a business plan for Whistling Woods International (WWI). While there, I encountered the film, Iqbal, an underdog story with the backdrop of cricket. When I brought the idea of producing it to the company, they suggested I should produce it. I went for it and it became a critically acclaimed blockbuster.

You work in finance, marketing and teaching at Mukta Arts. How do you balance it all?

It’s about planning and prioritising, then being able to adjust your priorities if something urgent comes up.

What do you enjoy most?

My favourite part is definitely teaching at WWI. As Director of Academics, I give classes on everything from project development to funding and distribution. I also mentor students and alumni. Helping them grasp complex ideas and find their own solutions is deeply satisfying. It’s a skill that I first developed as a student at King’s.

What sort of guidance do you give to students?

Too often, I see people fail because they develop their ideas in a vacuum. I urge students to seek perspectives beyond their own. They can learn a lot about themselves, their art and their ideas by understanding others.

I’m also candid about the risks of the entertainment industry. I encourage students to be practical and realistic, to examine opportunities critically and avoid being blinded by glamour.

You must be proud of the success of WWI?

Yes, it’s been my greatest career achievement. We now have more than 3,500 alumni working in the media and entertainment industry throughout India and beyond. I’m proud of every one of them and how they’ve worked through their challenges to get where they are today. When I see how valued and sought-after WWI graduates are, it gives me immense pride to have played even a small role in their journeys.

What do you think makes a good leader?

Listening. A lot of people think leadership is about talking, but I’ve never believed that. It’s about meeting people where they are, hearing their concerns and understanding issues at the ground level before acting. That’s what gives you true insight as a leader.

Finally, what advice would you give to King’s students and alumni wanting to follow in your career footsteps?

Don't follow in anyone’s footsteps. Find your own path. Sometimes you’ll need to move sideways or even backwards before going forward. Keep moving, adapt to change and gather as much information as possible to make the right decisions. Life rarely works out the way you think, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work out.