Chinmay Udgirkar is a versatile Marathi actor who has had a fascinating journey from a mischievous boy to a commendable actor. He discovered his passion for acting by chance in school plays and competitions. After completing his law degree to appease his family, he got his big break in a reality TV show and subsequently acted in several hit TV shows and films. He has balanced his acting career with social activism like working to rejuvenate the River Godavari. The journey was challenging due to coming from a non-entertainment family background but he overcame pressures through hard work and a determination to succeed.

1. 2021
VOLUME 04 | ISSUE 05
www.insightssuccess.in
Chinmay
Udgirkar
IMPACTFUL BUSINESS
How to create an impact
in this fast-paced
business world?
in
Impactful
Individuals
Indian
Industry
The
WFH STREAMLINED
Steps to remain professional
in the work-from-home
environment

4. Editor’s Note
hat do you think makes a person impactful?
WIs it their intelligence, personality, or the
position they hold? Then again, does an
individual have to hold a certain position or be in a
certain sector to create an impact? Think again.
“I’ve always had a philosophy that position doesn’t
define power. Impact defines power. What impact are
you making on people? What impact are you making on
business?” Mindy Grossman, CEO of WW International
says. It is true with ‘impact’ becoming a buzzword these
days from your day’s work to the presence of your
company in the niche market you and people around
expect a certain impact in every action you take and
decision you make.
And to make such kind of impact to influence people
with energy and positivity one doesn’t need to hold a
certain position, or belong to a specific industry, or
project themselves on a particular platform. You can
make an impact when you greet a shy colleague with a
smile or lend an ear to your distressed friend.
These and more such examples show that the impact
we all make and seek around us is not limited to our
position, niche, or company size. More or less, we all
can and do influence people, the economy, and the
environment with our actions positively or negatively.
IMPACTING
MILLIONS

5. People in every role and individuals and businesses in
every sector through their work, management strategy,
and philosophy do their bits to create an impact. Now
the question is, how you can take this influence on the
next level to touch more lives?
When you feel stuck, be it creating a dream life,
building a successful career, or making an impact, what
path you choose? You simply find inspiration around
you. You read about stories of successful people, get
inspired by their struggles, and find your way forward.
You also notice the core qualities of these successful
individuals and the ways you can inculcate them.
Talking about impactful individuals you will notice
these core qualities in them that make all the
difference.
Ÿ They dedicate to following the meaningful purpose
of their life.
Ÿ They commit to continuous learning and improving
themselves.
Ÿ They engage with people with an open mind.
Ÿ They embrace positive criticism.
Ÿ They invest time and energy not in what already is
but what better they can make of the situation.
Ÿ They spread the light of knowledge, laughter, and
inspiration.
Ÿ They uplift others with them.
Ÿ They view their journey as a learning experience.
Ÿ They use their power and influence positively.
The latest edition of Insights Success ‘Impactful
Individuals in The Indian Industry’ features such
impactful individuals who by depicting these core
behaviors have influenced thousands of people and
made an impact on millions.
Darshan Parmar
Managing Editor
darshan@insightssuccess.com

6. Cover
Story
Chinmay
Udgirkar
THE , THE , AND
ACTIVIST THINKER
THE ACTOR
Chinmay
08
CO
NT
EN
TS

7. 16 18 26
30 34 42
44
Ashwineya Raut
A Dedicated Fitness Model
Transforming the Fitness Space
Hrishikesh Avinash Wadekar
A Fashion Influencer with
a Zeal to Change the World
Maharrsh Shah
A Creative Storyteller Passionate
about the Film and
Entertainment Industry
Pradeep Kumar Jain
Dabbling in the
Legal Space Since 2002
Simran Tapadia
Illustrating Positive Impact
in Graphic Designing Space
Sohel Sanwari
Telling Impactful Stories
through Sound Design
Suryakant Rout
Crafting Life into Garments
through Creativity and Dedication
Articles
Impactful Business
How to create an
impact in this
fast-paced business world?
22
WFH Streamlined
Steps to Remain
Professional in the
Work-From-Home
Environment
38

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APRIL, 2021
We are also available on

9. Brief
Ashwineya Raut is a renowned martial artist, fitness model, and a gold
medalist in fitness.
Hrishikesh has appeared in shows like Next Top Model, Mr. Pune 2020, and
Mr. Maharashtra. He was awarded India’s Best Upcoming Talent of the Year
2021 by Global Icon Awards. The Brand Opus awarded him for the Best
Upcoming Talent in Maharashtra in the Fashion and Modelling Industry.
Maharrsh Shah is the Creative Producer & Lead (Films & Series- Fiction),
Condé Nast India. He is also a former Creative Director-Films (Jio Studios)
and Creative Director (Originals), Times Studio.
Pradeep Kumar Jain is Managing Partner of Singhania & Co. LLP
Simran has started a series on her Instagram handle (@tapsiiee), where she has
been posting watercolour paintings and pixel art animation with a message to
stay positive.
Sohel Sanwari is a veteran freelancer sound designer, who has captivated the
audience through excellent sound designing and editing.
Suryakant Rout is spearheading his home furnishing brand known as ‘ikat’.
Featured Person
Maharrsh Shah
Simran Tapadia
Sohel Sanwari
Suryakant Raut
Ashwineya Raut
Hrishikesh Wadkar
Pradeeep Kumar Jain
Chinmay Udgirkar is an Indian actor. He debuted with a reality show called
Maharashtra’s Superstar in 2009-2010.
Chinmay Udgirkar

10. Impactful
Industry
in
Indian
The
Cover
Story
Individuals

11. Chinmay
Udgirkar
THE , THE , AND
ACTIVIST THINKER
THE ACTOR
I was never worried about whether
people loved me or not. It was
always about whether I performed
well or not.
“

12. During the entire month of Shravan, you see him
walking barefoot. You spot him planting
saplings during green drives. You see him
walking along the banks of River Godavari in Nashik with
environment activists who are fighting against river
pollution and for river rejuvenation. You see him on the
small and big screen displaying his talent.
Actor Chinmay Udgirkar has many facets to
his personality.
When he was made the ambassador of
River Godavari rejuvenation project by
environment activists, he asserted that he
would work for the cause of the river as a
volunteer and not as a celebrity just for
namesake or for the sake of a face to the
cause. His take on this was that he grew
up in the city of Godavari, spent his
formative years and youth by the banks
of the pristine and then clean river,
hence he owed it to Mother Godavari.
On the professional front he discovered
his passion by chance. Never did this
mischievous little boy or his well-
educated family dream that what started
off on stage during Ganesh Utsav would
become his passion and career.
From the mischievous little boy to a
commendable and versatile Marathi actor,
Chinmay Udgirgar’s journey and
transformation has been fascinating. His
persistent efforts to keep on improving himself
on the personal, professional and social front
has been remarkable. Today, he is a youth icon.
Traversing down the memory lane, Chinmay
shares, “I had the inclination towards acting
since childhood. It all began with Ganesh
Utsav when I was in class IV. Our society used
to organise very good community Ganesh
Festival where public/open competitions were
held. I portrayed the central character Bandu,
in a very nice one-act play, Banducha
Abhyas. Since childhood I was very
mischievous and so was Bandu’s character.
Hence, I could portray the character
naturally. And that was the first time that I
was appreciated for my work. Till then I was
looked upon as a very mischievous boy.”
With ‘Bandu’ being recognised,
Chinmay felt proud of himself
for being appreciated. It was
then that he decided to
participate in plays as much
as he could. He started
taking part in inter-school
drama competitions and
bagged many prizes. The
prizes encouraged him.
“I realised that acting
fetched me prizes and
appreciation. Then for the
sake of appreciation I began
acting in more plays. I began
getting chance for solo
competitions as well.
Confidence soared high due to
the prizes. Gradually, I felt that I
should take acting seriously and
should get formal training in acting.
There was an organisation in Nashik,
Swapnashala, run by Vivek Garud. I
took admission in that institute and
started learning to act,” Chinmay reflects.
When he was in standard X, he
discontinued acting for a brief period, but
it remained at the back of his mind. After
passing standard XII, he took admission
in law college so that he could pursue
acting because in law college lectures
were not compulsory.
“I began spending lot of time in Pravin
Kalokhe’s Genius organisation and
became active in parallel theatre. There I
did lot of plays – Aamcha Var Kon Prem

13. Karnar, Rakta Pushp, Buddhibai Jhabbu, to name a few.
These plays received good appreciation on experimental
theatre and my name also began to be recommended as a
good actor from Nashik,” he recollects fondly.
While learning to act in plays at Genius, he became used to
taking theatre/plays seriously. It became an inseparable part
of his life and he realised that acting was his hobby and that
what he used to do to get appreciation from people became
a passion.
“I could see myself only as an actor. I could not see myself
as a doctor, an engineer or as anything else. So, I decided to
make my career in acting. But with no family background
in acting, I was apprehensive about how to get into the
industry, whether I should venture into it in the first place,
should I take the risk and how I should go about it. I,
therefore, decided to continue with theatre and wait for
destiny to give me the opportunity to work in serials and
films,” said Chinmay.
His family though supportive, put forth a condition that he
should complete his degree in law first. He obeyed them
and completed the five-year law course while
simultaneously acting in theatre.
“And I was so lucky that things turned out in my favour,
just like Shah Rukh Khan’s dialogue in the Hindi film Om
Shanti Om – “When the desire is strong enough, the entire
universe conspires to give you what you want”. I completed
When I started working
for Godavari my personal
problems, family issues,
career problems
began getting resolved
automatically.
my law degree and there was this reality show called
Maharashtracha Super Star in Zee TV where I was called
for audition. I got selected among the first 24 contestants
and performed as per the requirement of the show. I got
eliminated in the last round. It hit me hard that I was
eliminated because I could not perform as expected. I felt
bad particularly because I was doing very well in parallel
theatre but was rejected at the commercial platform. This
made me think very seriously about what improvement I
needed. While giving auditions once again, I got a role in
Star Pravaha’s Swapnacha Palikade. It was a mega hit that
time. It went on for four years. Shreyas Patkar’s character
became so popular that people even now know me as
Shreyas. Then immediately I got Nanda Saukhya Bhare and
Ghadge & Suun. In nine years, I did these three serials
back-to-back. All the three serials super-duper hit. While
doing Swapnacha Palikade I got a role in the film,
Shyamcha Wadil for which I bagged the best debutant
award. I also got the confidence of working on big screen,”
shared the versatile actor.
In a span of nine years, he worked in three serials and six
films in variety of roles. He began to be recognised as a
versatile actor. The journey became even more interesting
for this actor who was finally getting roles that he desired.
“Now I am into web series. Tik Tak To web series was
released recently. It got good response from the audience. I
did a film last year, Prem Vari which bagged good reviews.
Recently, I did a film with Rinku Rajguru, Makeup which
was appreciated very well. Besides, the film Gulab Jal with
Sonali Kulkarni also got good reviews,” said the bubbly
actor.
Content with whatever came his way he emphasised that he
was making slow and steady progress, climbing the ladder
step by step.
Since Chinmay’s family has no background in the
entertainment industry, his family had made it clear to him
– Whatever you are doing, accept it with all loopholes.
What you have in your career today, you may not have
tomorrow. So, you should be able to withstand it. You have
to maintain mental fitness for battling your emotional
struggles.
“

14. But Chinmay was determined to prove himself and make himself and his family
proud. The pressures that he faced were different from others.
Elaborating on this he said, “Being from a well-to-do family, I never had the stress
of earning for bread and butter. Basic survival was never the problem. But I
wanted to do something at par with the calibre of my family. My mother is a
lawyer, my father a banker and older brother an engineer. They were all well-
settled. If I did not rise up to their level, then there would be no logic for me
to make a career in this field. This was a different kind of pressure for me. I
had to get good work always. I did not have any excuse. Or else I would be
a misfit in my family.”
The actor revealed that initially, he used to feel extremely pressurised but
gradually he understood how to release that tension and how to focus on
work and the outcome is here for all to see.
The journey was no cakewalk for Chinmay. It was constant hard work
through ups and downs while making his career and progressing in it,
perfecting his performance, working towards his personal
development.
“In my field, one has to constantly confront oneself everyday
being faced with a new role. I have to always check if there is
anything similar in me to the character that I am playing. This
made me realise the loopholes very easily. Earlier I used to be
scared of those loopholes. I was doubtful if I would be able to
overcome them. I began getting frustrated. I had a feeling that I would
go into depression. But then I realised that unless I accepted myself
the way I am I will not be able to improve on myself,” said the actor.
Now, while doing every role he realises his loopholes and
immediately begins working on it. Owing to this he realised that after
working on these loopholes a little bit of self-talk can work wonders.
Fear, complexes, mental blocks, insecurities gradually disappeared.
The transformation that happened then went a long way in
transforming his entire personality. From a mischievous child, to an
impulsive youngster he became a composed person ready to face
anything that came his way, calmly.
“Whatever problems I had about relationships and other conflicts
went away...meaning, I became free. This freedom reflected in my
performances as well and I began feeling very content with this
freedom. So, I was never worried about whether

15. people loved me or not. It was always about whether I
performed well or not. With this being realised, I became
joyful. My career now is all about love, passion, happiness,
and satisfaction,” said Chinmay.
Getting into skin of character was, however, difficult
initially for him. Every project that he did he felt that the
character was difficult. But his constant pursuit of self-
development helped him get into the skin of the character,
no matter how different it was from the other characters.
“The character, Shreyas Patkar was a chawl resident while
in Nanda Saukhya Bhare, the character I played was exactly
opposite. He was from a rich family. In Ghadge & Suun the
hero was introvert and he turned up doing things in a way
he never planned. While doing all these roles I felt that
these characters were nowhere close to my nature,”
admitted Chinmay.
He had his own fears of being rejected due to repetition as
in daily soaps, the actors are seen every day and Chinmay
has been doing daily soaps for nine years. He used to worry
if people would get bored of seeing the same thing again
and again and consequently reject him.
“But when I started seeing myself in each character and
working on the loopholes, I focused on my satisfaction with
my work. When I started doing everything happily, people
started loving the role and began liking me more,” said a
composed Chinmay.
The dedicated actor is a die-hard environment activist and
deep into spirituality.
Sharing his love for the environment and spiritual
inclination, he says that his family was always spiritual. He
was always taught - Whatever you do, look within.
“So, during those days of frustration and struggle when I
was not getting roles on the screen, I used to act on the
stage. I was also studying law then. I used to go to the
banks of Godavari River with my friends. By the side of the
holy Ramkund we used to discuss about our struggles, we
would dream of getting good work and River Godavari was
a witness to all this. It was as though she was listening. It
may sound silly but when I got acting offers in Mumbai, I
You need to introspect
seriously before it is
too late, instead of
getting carried away
“
“
felt Godavari that meets the sea in Mumbai must have
conveyed the message to it to give me a break since I am
her child,” Chinmay shares with passion and devotion both.
He reveals that he used to always bow down to Godavari
every time and was aware that he had to give back to the
river since he owed a lot to Her.
“But I got the opportunity to work for Godavari when
environmentalist Rajesh Pandit approached me. It was the
onset of Kumbh Mela in 2014-15 and they were planning to
observe Harit Kumbh (Green Kumbh). He asked if I would
work for it and I told him that I would work as an activist
not as a celebrity. While working for Green Kumbh project
I met Magsaysay Award Winner and India’s Waterman
Rajendra Singh from whom I learnt the mantra - When you
work for Mother Nature, she takes care of you. And I
experienced it. When I started working for Godavari my
personal problems, family issues, career problems began
getting resolved automatically. So, my faith in this work
strengthened even more. From what started with cleaning
the river, we are now we in the process of rejuvenating it so
that water flows continuously,” Chinmay said.
He elaborated that there are natural springs in the riverbed
which have been concealed with concrete and this restricts
the flow of water. “Hence it was essential to remove the
concrete and we won this case. Natural ponds and streams
will rejuvenate when the aquifers are free of the concrete.”
The spiritual environment in his family prompted him to
walk bare feet during the month of Shravan.
“It is said that one should not wear footwear in Shravan.
During Chatur Maas one should not consume onion and
garlic. I feel all these things should be experimented to

16. strengthen our minds. Hence, it was not due to religious
belief or blind faith that I observe such practices. I decided
to check for a one month if I could manage without wearing
footwear and during Shravan no one will even question me.
You should be able to get rid of the shame and inhibitions
of your mind because tomorrow any adverse situation may
arise. It is we who put barriers in our minds that we cannot
do a certain thing. I had also planned to use one bucket of
water every day for one year for my daily activities and I
was able to do it,” shared the actor.
He has been doing different experiments since the past 5-6
years. It all started after he read Mahatma Gandhi’s book
My Experiments with Truth. He began experimenting a lot
on himself because he loved the idea. For one month every
year, he does such experiments and every experience gives
him a different kind of satisfaction, most importantly, it has
taught him to keep his mind under control.
An ardent reader, traveller and movie buff, Chinmay
decided not to go to sleep unless he reads at least for 15
minutes no matter how late it is in the night.
“Of late, I also started reading astrology, tarot,
numerological science and all that our Indian culture has
given to us. I have started studying these sciences as a
hobby,” Chinmay shared.
Describing himself in the tarot language, he said that there
is a card in Tarot called Hermit which he identifies with. It
is a man with a lamp in his hand in the dark.
“I feel that of late I changed. Earlier I used to react to
everything. Now with age and maturity my attention is
more into my inner self. Some things are not in our hands.
For example, the other day an aunt, a family friend passed
away. I was very close to her. Soon a family doctor who
used to treat me since childhood, passed away. The external
reaction would have been - How and Why this happened. I
should have been devastated, los,t disturbed but I accepted
the fact in the face of such tragedies that this is going to
happen to everyone. I can say I have become positively
introvert,” the actor said.
He feels that today’s youth are more into 4 G, 5G,
6G….and are moving very fast to keep pace with the fast-
paced world and lifestyle in general. With technology, the
world has come very close and people feel like discovering
new things every day but in the process, they fail to realise
that they are completely lost and what they exactly want.
“I feel that without any reason we have unknowingly
created a competition. I want to give only one message to
the youth – are you truly happy/content with the speed with
which you are running about? Are you peaceful? You need
to introspect seriously before it is too late, instead of getting
carried away. Life was very peaceful during our parent’s
time. After graduation, people took up a job in a bank or
private office. Now the thirst is to earn more. By the time
you achieve what you wanted you cannot enjoy it because
many things would have been lost by then. For 10 years I
am working continuously in the industry. I earned a name
but lost many things. I lost many friends, gave up some
hobbies. I used to go out in the open and have fun, eat paani
puri with friends, play pranks which made me happy I miss
all these,” admitted Chinmay.
He urges the youth not to fall prey to this fast life because
the world will move according to their speed. Even the
learned said - You are the world. So do not get carried
away. If you peaceful the world will be peaceful. If you in
hurry, the world will be in a hurry. “So do not get into the
mad rush, do not get into the competition created by
parents, do not lose inner peace. Work on your mind for 20
minutes by meditating just like you work on your body,” he
signs off.
With age and maturity
my attention is more
into my inner self.
I can say I have
become positively
introvert
“

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18. Ashwineya
Raut
A Dedicated
Fitness Model
Transforming
the Fitness
Space
I wake up
EVERY DAY
to make a
DIFFERENCE
“
“
Ashwineya Raut
16 | APRIL 2021

19. S
ome people are destined to write their own success
story. They possess nerves of steel and the
indomitable will to overcome every obstacle and
achieve their goal. They are calm, confident, and relentless
at the same time. These dedicated personalities give their
very best in every task they take up. They never give up
during difficult situations and ensure that they provide the
audience with lasting experiences.
One such pragmatic personality who is making waves in the
Indian fitness and modeling industry is Ashwineya Raut.
He is a renowned martial artist, fitness model, and a gold
medalist in fitness. In an interview with Insights Success,
Ashwineya shares about his journey, various challenges
throughout his career, and his future plans.
Brief our audience about your journey as a fitness
model.
From childhood, I started workouts like joining different
styles of martial arts classes, wrestling, mardani khel, etc.
So that fitness became very important part in my life.
th
After 10 , I started to going at gym. While pursuing my
graduation I decided to make modeling and fitness field as
my profession and for that I started to do various national
and international courses as well as gathered precious
knowledge through so many people who was already in this
profession.
This hunger of knowledge and curiosity creates fitness and
modeling industry as my profession.
Who is your source of inspiration? Whom do you
consider as your role model?
It’s actually difficult to take names of selective people,
because there are so many people, so many legends who
keep inspiring me. Bruce lee and my teachers/coaches
inspire the most to wake up every day and keep making a
difference, and obviously my progress also.
What are the challenges that you have faced throughout
your career?
As a model, we must have to face so many challenges like
we must have to maintain good physique all the time, most
of the time we can't eat what others eat like fast food, chats,
or even chapati also. We must have to follow diet all the
time. Our skin, hair, gesture must have to take up to the
mark. Always research and being active in industry for new
revolutions and what companies expect from us.
Apart from that, I still remember that while my struggling
period, I faced lots of fake people and companies,
foundations etc. They show you shining opportunity and
insure you that, how you'll have bright future if you work
for them and all and for that they demand money as their
charges or in terms of fees. But after spending big amount
they wipe out or give various reasons and excuses and
always ignore you until you get to know that you have been
cheated and you stop asking them. This is very big problem
I think nowadays; every model once faced this kind of
situation in their life.
How has the pandemic impacted the fitness and
modeling field? How have you tackled the pandemic
situation?
The current pandemic does not affect much in modeling
field; we can take shoots from home or on digitally as well,
gives interview, doing promotions on social media etc. But
if I talk about fitness industry, this pandemic affects a lot.
Gyms were closed since long time, if it gets chance to open
then lots of precaution, rules and time limit must have to
face. Most of gym places are hiring on rent then staff
payment, trainers, light bills etc. I found so many good
gyms are getting closed due to this pandemic.
What are your strategies to grow and learn?
I think whatever experience, knowledge you have you must
have to share to those who really need it. You should guide
or help new comers and beginners for their good future and
always be happy and makes others too.
What is your mantra of success?
For me always being down to earth and you have to finding
more and more information and never forget the
continuously learning process. Finding more ways to grow
yourself as well as your opportunities this is more essential.
Do you have any advice for the young generation?
Never lose your hopes. If you have passion, you must have
to protect your dreams. Forget about time and difficulties
just enjoy the process. Try to help others, always be
motivated and love your passion.
Where do you see yourself in the future? What are your
upcoming plans?
I'm looking myself as an international athlete, a champion
in fitness industry and a good gentleman. If I motivate at
least one person then I guess I achieve a lot according to
me.
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
APRIL 2021 | 17

20. Hrishikesh
Avinash Wadekar
A Fashion Influencer
with a Zeal to
Change the World
18 | APRIL 2021

21. Fashion influencers have become the buzz word
today. From advertisements in the print, broadcast,
and electronic media to the present-day social media
rage, fashion influencers seem to have come to age in the
real sense.
Social media has proved to be the biggest tool to generate
the right kind of fans and a whopping number at that.
Fashion influencers today have many followers on social
media than their counterparts of the yesteryears and in the
not-so-recent past.
We, at Insights Success, spotted one such fashion influencer
who has been making waves in the social media platforms
and has a huge fan following. The personality in focus is
Hrishikesh Avinash Wadekar.
After completing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering and learning various languages like English,
German, Sanskrit, Hindi, and Marathi, Hrishikesh worked
for various brands like OMG Labs and US square Media for
various projects, catalogue shoots, banners, and posters. He
campaigned for JFZ business and has done shoots for
festivals like Diwali, Holi, and others.
Hrishikesh also appeared in shows like Next Top Model,
Mr. Pune 2020, and Mr. Maharashtra. He was awarded
India’s Best Upcoming Talent of the Year 2021 by Global
Icon Awards. The Brand Opus awarded him for the Best
Upcoming Talent in Maharashtra in the Fashion and
Modelling Industry.
The fashion influencer spoke to us at length about his
journey. Following are the highlights of the interview -
What inspires you to wake up every day and keep
making a difference in the respective industry you are
catering to?
Firstly, I believe in being a good human. Humanity stands
tall for me. I have seen my mother, my father, and my
grandparents always balancing their professional and social
lives together. My father, inspite of being an educator and
businessman has always looked after socially
underprivileged sections. My mother has always been
socially active and thus made me believe in doing
something good for society, no matter what I became in my
personal life.
As a leader/personality in your field, what challenges
have you faced?
Being a young entrepreneur, my age has always been an
issue. People stare with disbelief assuming that youngsters
lack experience and this makes things difficult for us. But
somehow, these challenges have always made me stronger.
I have been trying to turn these situations into a positive
atmosphere. Also, the problems vary from city to city. In a
city like Pune, despite being always charismatic and
enthusiastic, providing the best content and services is a
challenge. I am still learning every day.
Tell us more about your professional lifestyle.
I have been curious about almost all fields. I have tried
many photoshoots, advertisements, campaigns. Along with
this, I have been a part of major educational projects as
well. I have been a part of an organisation named Erfolg,
where we have made students aware of the importance of
foreign language and also train them for interview skills.
Apart from this, I am involved with an NGO named Era,
where we have worked for underprivileged kids. We teach
them basic subjects like English and science.
How has the current pandemic affected your business
and what steps have you taken to safeguard your
employees while catering to your clients?
This pandemic has shocked every one of us. I have always
been a positive person. Somehow, I have always taken
negative vibes in positive ways. This pandemic affected me
just like any other individual in the world. But as mentioned
earlier, I have been taking care of all my employees from
day one. My father always suggested me to pay everyone’s
salaries on time even if we suffer losses in our business. I
followed his advice. We also took some measures such as
daily sanitisation, vaccination of employees and provided
them some health insurance.
What creative ways have you employed to make the
work environment of your company vibrant?
I believe in happy and healthy work environment. I have
always paid attention to my employees and their mind-set.
Just to ensure the same, we have incorporated some
techniques such as fun Friday activities, Monday
discussions etc.
All my employees enjoy their work and personal life at the
same time. In our office we have a room that is very
colourful, for brainstorming. It enhances ideas as soon as
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
APRIL 2021 | 19

22. Loyalty and
hard work
Is a bridge
to being
A responsible
and Successful
business leader
“
“
20 | APRIL 2021

23. someone walks in. There is one meeting room where we
have decided to keep a round table, just for ensuring that
everyone can give their opinion at the same time.
According to you, what are the essentials of being a
responsible business leader?
Loyalty and hard work both stand together in being a
responsible and successful business leader. I have always
observed employees helping the company even in bad times
if the leader and management are honest enough. We can
never achieve a successful business partnership if we fail to
be a good leader. Leadership does not mean only speeches
and motivational quotes, but equal inputs and hard work
just like the other employees.
What would you like to share with the young generation
of entrepreneurs who are looking to step into a
leadership role in their respective businesses?
Being myself and doing what I have been doing from an
early age, I believe just to be updated is not enough. Yes,
we do need new ways of working and trends to always be in
limelight. But at the same time, honesty and hard work are
the values that can take you to places. Listening to elders at
times and incorporating new ideas simultaneously is the key
to success in the new business world.
In terms of future growth, where do you see yourself?
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, who is known
for his ideas and values rather than his money-oriented
business. Money is important, but at the end of the day, how
and why you earn money should be a reason for others to
live too. I believe in being a millionaire with some new
approaches yet with old values.
What is the mantra to climb the corporate ladder
dynamically?
The professional world is very different and yet full of
adventures. What you do in your personal life or what has
been going on in your personal life has nothing to do with
your professional or corporate life. This takes time. I think
being practical and yet being sensible and sensitive is
important. I have seen some of my close friends and family
members who work like corporate slaves and robots. That is
not enough. Emotions play an important role. Just to
achieve something professionally, you do not have to give
up your sensitive mind.
Always being able to see the welfare of others and helping
each other to achieve their goals is also important. People
of then misunderstand this. They believe in working 24*7
and having no personal or social life. But balancing all can
help us in being successful in corporate life. Always
learning new things, communicating with new minds, not
discussing someone else’s failure in personal or business
life is important.
I look at the corporate ladder as a part of my own life and
not just as a challenge. Taking every single step like hard
work, patience and responsibility is important than just
jumping from one to another. Being able to see our own
flaws and able to justice others is also important. In the end,
success comes to those who have seen and worked very
hard and not just to someone who is being arrogant and
ignorant to others.
APRIL 2021 | 21

24. How to
create an impact
in this
fast-paced
22 | APRIL 2021

25. Effectiveness lies in recognizing the determined
goals of your business by doing the things
righteously, whereas proficiency is achieving
them with minimal measure of time and cost-effectively
by doing things precisely.
Designed strategies and proposed plans intended to
maintain a business, which specifically relies upon the
changing events and situations – anything from planned
budget to an initiative of new policies or a sudden plight
in the economy.
Planning the roadmap to run a business has gradually
stopped working for a lot of start-ups and sizable
businesses. As with the swiftly changing market and
consumer behaviour, these strategies and planning are
getting decayed within few months of initiating a
business or promoting a product. Some organization are
lagging in their usage of technology while other are
restricted with their ideas and are following the same
traditional means and method to run a business.
Therefore, it has now become essential to shape and
strengthen the young employees with the adaptability to
work with any strategies accessible to them and execute
at the time. It is important to equip them in doing what's
needed for an organization to accomplish its goals.
Subsequently, constructing the work ethics with
employees becomes crucial to make business move
quicker and at full tilt without forfeiting the quality of
the product/service.
The modern innovations and smart technologies are
contributing a lot in creating a sustainable world by
assisting customers with the quickly evolving products.
Organizations do this since society anticipates it, yet in
addition since it is vital for their own growth and present
their service in the face-paced business world.
The marketing department of an organization has
business world?
Impactful Business
APRIL 2021 | 23

26. equipped with a plenty of advanced tools today that can
assist the business to spot purchaser and trending product
in market, scale their advertising, and maximize the
consumer engagement at diverse platforms.
Data Analytics for marketing, Big Data, online tools
along with advertising software and applications guide
organizations to – analyze the behavior of their targeted
consumer, their purchasing habits, and transformation
rates to more readily market to them. All these
approaches become possible due to the expansion of
numerous social media platforms and digital presence of
business on them.
Modern technology has speeds up the whole scaling
measures for business to remain more productive and
competitive in the digital world. Taking example of the
automated marketing tools – that possess the ability to
analyze the Return on Investment of each campaign
instantly and provide gainful outcome for the product.
These tools also yield marketing professionals with the
ability to check consumer's commitment towards the
product/service and feedback to cut down the worthless
methods and focus on necessitate.
Advancement in AI, 5G, and the Internet of Things has
entirely changed the way we live, and work.
Technologies like these spike enhancement, reshape and
aid society in incalculable ways. Thus organizations that
can't stay up with these progressions and pace are falling
behind in marking their digital footprints.
The potential that innovation has offered now stretched
the targeted audience for them through online platforms,
namely – social media, networking sites, blogs, and
websites. Without the utilization of such online platforms
for digital existence, business and their products won't be
able to reach to the potential clients. Focusing alone on
customary methods and strategies to expand a business
may not be considered as a bright idea, as it may only
limit a business' compass and eventually stops
development and expansion.
We on a very basic level, accept that the future
achievement of an organization is straightforwardly
attached to the strength and feasibility of the networks
we serve. These days, buyers need gratification from the
provider and if it is not offered to them, they'll start
looking for some other services that can. You don't need
to have imperium to prevail in the business world; you
simply need to tank up with creative thoughts and turn
them into solutions.
The famous cliché that no employer resist to tell –
“Think out the box” motivates employees to bring
something new to the desk. Even though it has been
overused by the leaders, it still describes the same lesson
for growth - try not to let your preconceptions, daily
routine or bounded thoughts hold you back from
thinking about all the segments of a sudden inflated
hitch. Grow out of your imperatives and think about all
the data available to you.
With these ceaseless changes in the environment of
businesses, it is amazing that how various new
approaches have surfaced in the field of managing the
administration. Pioneers are an esteemed resource for
organizations for a number of reasons – they are the key
assets that help to fabricate values, trust and transparency
of an organization. These leaders are a significant part
that enacts change in any business. They directly affect
the inspiration of low-level workers in making them
contented with their work. With such a powerful impact,
it is clear that these leaders can shape the thoughts of
employees through their positive outlook towards
changing the approach of handling a business in the
digital world.
With the right blend of expertise, innovativeness and
perception, an organization can have a great impact on
their customers and on their employees. Utilizing these
attributes along with the pertinent understanding to rule
in the digital world, one can confidently drive their
business to an elevated height with an impact that is
deep-rooted.
-Renuka Singh
24 | APRIL 2021

28. S
ome people are destined to achieve success. They are
driven by the zeal to transform their dream into
reality, while overcoming indomitable odds. These
individuals do not give up at the face of adversity. They
lead by example and transform every challenge into an
opportunity.
One such leader with a never give up attitude and the
ability to tackle difficult situations with creativity is
Maharrsh Shah, the Creative Producer & Lead (Films
& Series- Fiction), Condé Nast India. He is also a former
Creative Director-Films (Jio Studios) and Creative
Director (Originals), Times Studio.
In an interview with Insights Success, Mr. Maharrsh shares
his professional journey, opinions, and future plans.
Below are highlights of the interview between Mr.
Maharrsh and Insights Success:
1.Brief our audience about your professional journey and
your way towards becoming the creative producer at
Condé Nast India.
As far as I can remember, I have always wanted to tell
stories. And as I hail from a family with business
background, I had absolutely no idea regarding the media
industry, whatsoever. But I caught the bug early, and
because of my affinity towards stories and creations.
Academically, I excelled in Literature and History, while
miserably failing in other subjects. I enrolled for the
advertising course at HR College, Mumbai, post which I
studied broadcast management at MICA. To round it off, I
specialised in Filmmaking from Whistling Woods
International, being part of the first batch of the institute.
Now with arsenal on my side, I took up various jobs for
Mukta Arts and eventually got an opportunity to work in
Ekta Kapoor’s creative team at Balaji Motion Pictures, after
a cold call to Tanuj Garg, the then CEO, who was the most
instrumental in giving me this chance. After working on
various films, one of them being Ragini MMS, I had a stint
with Sony Pictures and worked on developing multiple
mainstream Hindi films such as Mubarakan, amongst
others.
2.Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the
entertainment industry?
I believe, I’ve created an impact in the entertainment
industry in my own small way. My career journey has been
a great lesson learnt – in terms of conducting oneself,
especially as a studio executive, who are otherwise mostly
inaccessible and non-responsive. I ensure that I read every
single piece of material that comes to me, no matter who it
is from and how hard the schedule is. I ensure to reply
within a stipulated period of time, so as to not keep a
storyteller hanging!
3.Being an experienced creative professional, share with
us your opinion on how the adaptation of novel
technologies in the entertainment space has transformed
the industry and what more could be expected soon?
The biggest credit here goes to the OTT boom. The appetite
of streaming platforms has led to creators looking for
stories and create material at breakneck speed. Books, no
doubt, offer a great respite when it comes to being able to
pitch a project and because there is already inherently the
base of a story that is available for the writer to adapt. At
the same time, the word-to-screen process is not easy, but
MAHARRSH
SHAH
A Creative Storyteller Passionate about the Film and Entertainment Industry
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
26 | APRIL 2021

29. Be real about your own potential and be flexible
and open to opportunities
Maharrsh Shah
Creative Producer,
Lead (Films & Series- Fiction)
Condé Nast India
“ APRIL 2021 | 27

30. I am glad we are looking at them. In India also, some of our
greatest works like Guide, Malgudi Days, 3 Idiots, etc.,
have been based on books. I think it is a fantastic time for
book-to-video adaptations and I am glad it has finally
entered the space here. Some of the recent popular
streaming pieces such as Sacred Games, Paatal Lok, Scam
1992 and The White Tiger, amongst so many others are all
based on books!
4. Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and
its impact on global economies, how are you cruising
through its ups and downs?
Just like everybody else, it has been challenging for me to
adapt to work from home and to be able to structure and
schedule timelines, basis the way of working that we were
used to. At the same time, I have become a huge fan of
work from home and I hope more corporates allow
employees to exercise the option. Of course, in our line of
work – being on a shoot is the only way to churn out
content and now that all shoots are in progress, it is
refreshing to see how swiftly we have adapted and adhered
to the revised way of working, new SOPs, etc.
5. What are the challenges you faced throughout your
professional journey?
I think, coming to terms with the long gestation period in
both my roles, i.e., as a development executive or an author,
has been the most challenging. Unfortunately, that is the
nature of the business and as creative decisions get more
democratic, this only adds to the duration of turning around
an idea to final fruition, whether it is a book, movie, or
series.
6. Kindly tell us something about your Bollywood Saga
Book – Zoravar
Zoravar: Book One in the Bollywood Saga, is really my
love-letter to the movies. I wanted to tell a story that spans
over eight decades of India, highlighting her journey as a
nation through its greatest events, but from the perspective
of 3 generations of a fictional film family, starting with
Zoravar, who aspires to be an actor in the 1940s. It is an
entertaining read for Bollywood buffs and trivia seekers,
apart from the fans of mass paperbacks and pulp-fiction.
7. What would be your advice to budding artists,
producers, and leaders who aspire to venture into the
entertainment space?
To be flexible and to be open to opportunities. I understand
that one must follow a certain passion etc., but – the
entertainment industry is an extremely volatile set-up, and a
lot of the end-results are circumstantial – the endgame is
not necessarily in your hands. So, let the passion be about
telling stories and do not get hung-up on a particular
aspiration. Enjoy the journey, be flexible and do not bother
about the destination.
8. Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run
and what are your future goals?
In the long run, I see myself writing novel after novel, and
hopefully directing, apart from continuing to develop and
produce entertaining mass content. Or running a bookstore
cum tavern after having migrated to the hills, where I can
focus on developing good stories, on the side.
28 | APRIL 2021

32. Pradeep Kumar Jain
Dabbling in the Legal Space Since 2002
HONESTY
is still the
best POLICY
and the
INTEREST
of the CLIENT
must be
PARAMOUNT
“
“
PRADEEP KUMAR JAIN
Managing Partner
30 | APRIL 2021

33. An Advocate (also known as a lawyer, counsel, or
counsellor) is a licensed practitioner who gives
legal advice to others and also represents them. An
advocate in today's world may be young or old, male or
female. Almost one-third of all Advocates are under the age
of 35, and a considerable percentage make up for women in
the profession and it is increasing gradually.
An Advocate's key responsibility is to uphold the law while
defending the interests of his or her clients. One must know
the law and be a good communicator to fulfill these
responsibilities.
New Technology always offers great hope to mankind if
used wisely, it has made a difference in other professions
and thus, the legal profession is not an exception. Though
the Indian legal sector has been a bit late in embracing
technology and harnessing its true potential, none the less,
the pandemic has given us a great chance, and created this
urgency to use technology for creating more efficient legal
systems and framework for faster disposal of matters and
effective communication channels.
In this new normal era where technology is changing the
way things have been running and being managed in the
legal sector, the advocates are adapting to newer ways and
learning to be tech-savvy. In this transformative phase, their
responsibilities have painstakingly grown. In an interview
with Insights Success, Pradeep Kumar Jain, Managing
Partner of Singhania & Co. LLP shares with us his views
of being a lawyer and what goes into being a good lawyer.
Mentioned below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a lawyer.
Indeed, it was an interesting journey because I never
wanted to be a lawyer, though my mother always believed
in my argumentative skill and suggested to pursue it. In
fact, I got admitted to the course in law after my enrolment
in Company Secretaryship, and completed both the courses
simultaneously. In 2002, I came to Mumbai, and fortunately
had met a partner of Singhania & Co, LLP who advised me
to practice as a lawyer instead of a company secretary. In
one sentence I can say,“legal profession was not my choice
but of the almighty and maybe that’s why I got good name
and fame.”
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the
legal space through your stronghold in the industry?
I did a master's in Mathematics and being a student with a
science background, I always felt odd between evens hence,
believed in doing something extra for a better result. I have
always followed the phrase to date ‘little less and little
more’ which means to take a little less than what you have
agreed for and do/give a little more than what is expected.
These “little less, little more” had left good impressions on
our clients and gradually helped me grow in the profession.
The Advice of our founding partner, Mr. D C Singhania to
work for client interest and offer a solution to his problems,
also left a great impact on our clients, leading to an
increasing client base through word of mouth and referrals
from our satisfied clients. In fact, in Singhania, we were
taught to use litigation as a last resort. For the betterment of
society and the country, one should try to resolve
commercial dispute faster through other means as the idle
assets locked in litigation leads to loss of valuable resources
of the nation.
Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and its
impact on global economies, how are you driving your
organization to sustain operations and ensuring the
safety of your employees at the same time?
It would be wrong to say that we came out unscratched
from the impact of the pandemic. However, considering our
planning and preparedness, we did not face a major impact
on our operations as well as finances. Since we have been
doing foreign arbitrations for decades, we are habitual of
submission of documents and attending hearings through
video conferencing or other modes of digital media and our
experience helped us in coping with the challenges and
limitations presented by the covid-19.
As far as the safety of our associates is concerned, we
advised all of our associates to work from home and travel
only when it was not avoidable. Our Robust IT
infrastructure and work from home policy helped us
manage our client work efficiently.
What are the challenges you faced throughout this
pandemic and how did you outpace them?
We Indians, develop personal relations very fast with the
service provider or sellers- be it shop keepers, doctors,
lawyers etc. In the consulting domain, personal interaction
is a primary requirement. In fact, clients are ready to pay
extra to meet a lawyer even if it is unnecessary or
avoidable. During the pandemic, it was very tough to make
them understand that personal meetings can be avoided, and
their work can be executed without meeting personally.
Gradually they understood and started enjoying meeting
through a conference call. Now a majority of our clients are
comfortable discussing their matters through VC and other
online modes, etc.
What would be your advice to budding lawyers who
aspire to venture into the Indian legal space?
The legal profession has always had a great impact on our
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
APRIL 2021 | 31
APRIL 2021 | 31

34. society. Whether it would be positive or negative, it
depends upon the legal professional who is carrying the
baton on behalf of his client. I have few bits of advice to
our budding lawyers; viz:
The interest of the client should be paramount, work for a
solution, be blunt in your opinion and use litigation as last
resort. Further, listen to the client carefully as he is the
affected party and can offer a good solution which the
lawyer needs to fit within the legal framework. And last, no
one can replace two important tools of law; logic and
research, so always think about whether your solution is
logical or not, and if logical then research to find supporting
case laws.
Where do you envision yourself to
be in the long run and what are
your future goals for Singhania &
Co. LLP?
It is said that the basis of the legal
and medical profession is fear but in
Singhania & Co., we do not believe
in it. Singhania is always loved by its
clients for offering solutions without
injecting fear. We want to protect this
legacy of our founder Mr. D C
Singhania and continue to
differentiate among our peers through
our unique approach of a positive,
fearless, and healthy client-firm
relationship.
How to create an impact in this
fast-paced business world?
Though law is considered to be a
noble profession, it has all
ingredients of the service industry.
Therefore, delivering good or
excellent services to your client and
protecting his/her interests honestly
can surely create a positive impact. I
can understand that in litigation,
more than internal, external factors
affects the performance of lawyers
but still, he/ she can give comfort to
his/ her client by providing
information/ outcome on time instead
of allowing his/ her client to chase
him.
I believe ‘honesty is still the best
policy’ and the interest of your client
must be paramount. During the initial
stage, the client must be informed about the merit/de-merit
of his case and advise him/her accordingly, as litigation is
not only time-consuming but a bit expensive too in the long
run. I can say with my experiences that half of the
commercial disputes don’t need litigation but the right
advice of lawyers. I believe it can be resolved through
mediation which not only saves the time and energy of
clients but also the precious business assets of a nation. I
have been following the above two principles for a long
time and been appreciated for my approach by the clients.
My focus has always been to resolve the conflict for my
clients and not just winning matters for them in the courts.
A 360-degree approach and a long term vision have helped
me create an impact in the fast-paced business world. I am
sure this will help others.
32 | APRIL 2021

36. Simran Tapadia
Illustrating Positive Impact in Graphic Designing Space
During the year in lockdown,
when people had more time to
spend indoors and less options
of entertainment, most having internet
access, turned to social media to
entertain themselves. Many started
posting their workout regime to
encourage others to stay home, stay fit.
Others posted their kitchen endeavours
on social media. However, when
scrolling through these updates became
monotonous after a while, the
illustrations by the artists and digital
designers brought a fresh breeze on
social media with a constant
underlying message – to encourage
their followers to stay positive amid
tough times.
For the latest issue of Insights Success
‘Impactful Individuals in the Indian
Industry’, we had a chance to interview
Simran Tapadia, Designer at Lakme'
India who has been on a mission to
spread positivity among her followers
through her artwork.
To encourage her followers, Simran
has started a series on her Instagram
handle (@tapsiiee), where she has been
posting watercolour paintings and pixel
art animation with a message to stay
positive. “I am currently working on
body positivity quotes for both men and
women. My next series will be
releasing in March, which is inspired
by all the events that took place in
2020.” Simran shared with us.
Read the following interview where
Simran shares her journey right from
how she found her passion for print
media to working for Lakme' India and
publishing her book ‘How to Survive
College’.
Brief our audience about your
journey as a graphic designer and
author/entrepreneur.
My journey as a graphic designer
started when I was working as
illustrator for The Juice Magazine,
Jabong. I was ecstatic when I first saw
my name published in the magazine.
This was when I discovered my
passion for print media and decided to
pursue my career as an illustrator.
Becoming an author was never in the
books but everything just clicked
during my last year at Whistling
Woods International (WWI), while I
was brainstorming for my graduation
project. I have always believed in
creating work that my audience can
relate to. It struck me that I should
write a book on how one can survive
college. It was a unique idea of
creating a non-fictional, illustrated
book. And that is how ‘How to Survive
College’ came into being. I am also in
the process of publishing another book
with a renowned publisher.
Enlighten us on what it takes to be a
successful graphic designer and
author?
Persistence and smart work are the
essentials to a successful life. One
needs to compete with themselves and
try to be better every day. I am
constantly creating and exploring
different mediums, be it pen-and-paper
or digital software. One needs to study
their audience, understand what they
want, and give it to them without your
audience realising they have been
wanting this all along.
How do you avail edge over others?
I can’t say whether I’ve an edge over
others. I believe; however, my work
ethics and versatility has helped me
stand out in my field. I have closely
studied different art styles from
Vincent Van Gogh to Henri Matisse,
Kalamkari to Jackson Pollock, and
Kerala Mural art style. My passion for
learning and understanding the mindset
behind these art styles has helped me
improve my work and grow as an
illustrator. I like creating artworks with
a subtle message in it.
What are your plans to optimize the
user experience? What are the
business lessons that you have
learned?
I want to create designs that are easy to
understand and leave a lasting
impression, which makes the viewers
want to share it with everyone. While
working on outdoor banners for
Lakme' in Hindustan Unilever, I
experienced the power of simplicity in
34 | APRIL 2021

37. “
the artwork. When you create designs
with a message attached, you need to
create it in such a way that even a
layman can understand what you are
trying to communicate. You need to put
your consumer’s needs first while
creating your content. At the end of the
day, they will be the ones consuming
your work.
Share your opinion on the role and
potential of technology in improving
graphic designing solutions?
Technology has played a crucial role in
taking graphic designing to the next
level. Be it from various software that
Simran Tapadia
Graphic Designer
Ÿ Author to four published books with
Whistling Woods International on Indian
art styles and Vincent van Gogh.
Ÿ Interviewed by Hans India for ‘How to
Survive College’ on August 16th, 2020.
Ÿ Won the coveted A’ Design Award for the
design work in Sati Comic Book, which
was exhibited in Italy, at Museo del
Design - Via Bellinzona from October 15
to November 15, 2020.
Be true
to yourself,
no matter
which eld
you pursue.
Your work
should make
you happy
and the rest
will follow
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
APRIL 2021 | 35

38. aid in creating
artwork to
platforms where
you can share
them, technology
has helped
designers create
high-quality work
smoothly. I can
firmly say this as I
had struggled with
my output due to
lack of proper
machine. But when
I got my hands on
the right
technology for
designing, it was a
game-changer for
me. Currently, we
are highly
dependent on technology for creating
quality work.
Kindly shed some light on the
challenges that you have witnessed
and how you have overcome them.
The biggest challenge for me was
deciding which way to go ahead in life.
I have always wanted to get into
publishing, which led me to my book
‘How to Survive College’. Once that
came into fruition, the challenge was to
get the right publisher for it. So, I
planned to finish the book and then
pitched it to various publishing houses
for seven months straight, along with
attending college full-time, working as
a freelancer, also working on my
graduation film.
The struggle of finding the publisher
continued until I found Scholastic.
They loved my pitch, and the rest is
history. Throughout the process, I have
learned that these ups and downs are
part of life, it just depends on your
attitude, how you tackle them.
How do you see the impact of
COVID-19 on the industry and what
are the best ways to adapt to
challenging times?
When we were affected by COVID-19,
there was a lot of uncertainty in the
industry. But as we all know, ‘change
is the only constant’. So, everyone
started adapting the new normal and
work became easily accessible. As
people were spending more time home
and most of the audience had access to
the internet, the viewership for my
work grew. I also started adapting and
changed the topics of my online comic
novel, .
Memesaab
What would be your advice to
designers/authors who want to
venture into graphic designing or
those who aspire to be authors?
There is no point in doing work that
your audience enjoys but you don’t.
When it comes to designing or writing
there are no limitations. You need to
set yourself free and just focus on
creating. Work every day, have that
consistency of creating something new
every day. And when days get tough,
take it one at a time. I am workaholic. I
can’t let a day go by without working
or creating something new unless I’m
in a rut. When that happens, I take a
break for a few days to recharge
myself, so that I can get back to
creating content with revived
enthusiasm.
Where do you envision yourself to be
in the long run and what are your
future goals?
I see myself by the mountains with a
river flowing beside my cottage, while
I’m working as a freelance illustrator. I
also want to get into teaching and give
guidance to students, as I see many
aspirants confused about what career
path to choose. I have seen many
choose the path they end up regretting.
“
During
challenging
times,
understanding
the problem,
and working on
the ways that
would help you
and the
audience gives
you a direction
to create and
modify your
content
accordingly
36 | APRIL 2021

40. WFH Streamlined
38 | APRIL 2021

41. Steps
to
Remain
Professional
in
the
Work-From-Home
Environment
APRIL 2021 | 39

42. Working from home has its own perks. It saves
money and time to not have to commute and
checking in with co-workers is incredibly easy
thanks to a multitude of free resources. You could also work
in your pyjamas or shorts if you wanted.
But there are challenges as well. Keeping yourself from
getting distracted with petty household work, handling a
friend who stops by unannounced in the middle of the day,
getting things done while having kids around, all these are
problems that interfere with work performance. The root
cause for this is distraction that may take place at home,
which is why we need to create a work environment where
we can focus and get work done efficiently and effectively.
Working remotely, also known as telecommuting, is often
seen as a benefit to companies that offer a variety of
options. Significant challenges can arise whether you
telecommute 100% of the time, a few times a week, or only
in emergencies. What if you have a pressing need for details
and your co-worker isn't responding? Perhaps an email or
other directions have left you uncertain of how to proceed.
Miscommunication and a lack of communication can lead
to some serious issues.
A number of people work from home today. Here are a few
steps that anyone could use and benefit from, while working
from home.
Get a Fixed Work Spot:
Getting a fixed place to work is to designate a certain area
from your home to specifically get work done. An empty or
spare bedroom that you could convert into a home office
would do the job. If you have enough space to set up a desk
for your computer and office supplies, you will be ready to
start working in your new work spot. Not taking into
consideration the location or the space in it, dedicate an
area of your house especially to work and commit to
working in that space on the daily. Make sure there isn't
anything around that will distract you.
Make Your Work Station Comfortable:
Working in a comfortable spot with pleasant furniture
around you is more than a necessity. It is needed to have
good office furniture at the work spot as we can work better
and deliver more superior results if we are comfortable and
happy in the surroundings we work in. Basic office furniture
like a desk, lamp, bookshelves and most importantly a
comfortable chair are some things that make work
accessible and easy, eventually delivering effective results.
Follow Work Hours With Discipline:
The advantage of working from home is that you can
flexibly set your working hours. Following work hours with
discipline is one of the basic steps to setting up a successful
work environment. Try to avoid lingering around the house
because if time is wasted during work hours, the work
assigned to you may not be completed.
Invest in Quality Technology:
Investing in cutting edge technology is one of the main
steps to remain professional in a work from home
environment. Gadgets lagging while working can be a very
frustrating experience which can affect performance.
Sometimes there are internet problems due to bad
connectivity issues. This could be due to a bad network
operator who is not supplying continuous internet. Investing
in the latest technology can improve performance and
productivity.
Know When You Are at Your Best:
Finding out the time in the day in which you are the most
productive can be an important tool to getting work done
efficiently. There are specific times in a day where you are
the most productive. Find that time window in which you
are the most productive and utilise it to do the heaviest
tasks which require more attention. This can make tough
tasks simple and less time consuming.
Use a Calendar:
Making a habit of using a calendar or diary is a good habit.
If you work from home some days but are on the road on
others, get into the habit of writing down and keeping track
of deadlines, schedules, and meetings in a calendar. This
helps in keeping track of tasks that are done and tasks that
are yet to be completed.
Try to Not Work in Pyjamas:
Working in Pyjamas gives you a comfortable feeling which
makes you want to laze around. This is one of the reasons
why people choose to work from home. If you prefer to
work in your pyjamas, you are sabotaging your efficiency.
"Dress for performance" isn't just a catchphrase in the
workplace; it's crucial when you work from home. You will
prepared to handle any kind of video chat or check-in with
a teammate, in addition to mentally keeping you in the right
mind-set for work.
These steps will definitely help anyone to remain
professional in the work from home environment.
-Ashish Chandgude
40 | APRIL 2021

44. The Indian film industry has witnessed tremendous
metamorphosis over time. The arena of sound
design is not an exception, where creative leaders
have made revolutionary developments. They have
embraced innovation and have delivered lasting audio
experiences to the audience.
One such renowned personality leading the industry is
Sohel Sanwari. He is a veteran freelancer sound designer,
who has captivated the audience through excellent sound
designing and editing.
In an interview with Insights Success, Mr. Sohel shares his
professional journey, opinions, and upcoming projects.
Below are highlights of the interview between Mr. Sohel
and Insights Success:
Please introduce yourself to our readers and your
professional journey so far.
Being a Sound Designer by profession, I have had an
excellent journey so far, with my career spanning over a
decade in this field. I have had the privilege to work on
distinguished projects across varied genres in the film
industry, making my work fulfilling, fun and insightful so
far. The myriad of different experiences, each rich in its
own way, have contributed to my success. I also believe in
growing in my field and sharing my knowledge of industry
know-how as the opportunity arises.
What inspired you to step into the sound production
industry? Who were your role models growing up?
Since childhood, I was always intrigued by the world of
sound. But over time, as I enjoyed watching films, I grew
I BELIEVE
IN GROWING
IN MY FIELD
AND SHARING
MY KNOWLEDGE
OF INDUSTRY
KNOW-HOW AS
THE OPPORTUNITY
ARISES
“
“
Sohel Sanwari
42 | APRIL 2021

45. curious to know about how dialogues worked and how
different sounds made an impact from approaching
footsteps, leaves rustling in the wind to raindrops on the
roof. On completing my graduation, I was determined to
enter the field of sound design. At that time, Whistling
Woods International (WWI) was in the stage of being
launched and upon visiting, I was impressed with the
superior infrastructure. Fortunately, I got an admission, and
this helped me find my calling – I knew this is what I
wanted to do. Mr. Nakul Kamte, was my role model while
growing up and I recollect buying the DVD of his film,
Lakshya, available at that time, just because I was
enthralled by the effective use of sound of the war
sequences in the film. Another of my role model and mentor
is Mr. Rakesh Ranjan, who has inspired my work. I still
remember his movie Taal, a musical blockbuster, where
soundscape and silence were used to create a magical effect
throughout the movie.
Kindly share your views about the current volatile
dynamics of the film making industry and how it may
have affected your projects or work, if at all.
The unprecedented time has impacted every industry, and
the film industry is no exception. Fear of visiting public
spaces, social distancing, and closure of cinema halls for
most of the year has had a downward spiraling effect with
many projects being in limbo. On the other hand, audiences
have lapped up digital content with many projects releasing
to wider audiences on the web platforms. Fortunately, my
home studio set up has enabled me to complete projects,
even during the lockdown. With most studios becoming
operational again and production houses taking utmost care
to follow precautionary measures, shoots and post-
production work should resume at a normal pace soon.
We would love to know about your experience of
working on any of the movies, series and other
interesting projects you have worked on. Please tell our
readers about the same.
At the onset, I would like to share that every project that I
have worked on has been a learning experience. As they
say, there is no bad experience - it just teaches what to do or
what not to do. Amongst some of the memorable
experiences that have stayed with me, is working on a
movie titled, Harud, with military presence at every given
point of time because of the sensitive location that we were
shooting in. The terrain was challenging and if you have
watched it, you will realise that there is no background
score – the entire soundscape was created from scratch, in
detail, including the footsteps of the characters walking on
leaves to the sound of the wind and the silence.
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was another great experience,
where the entire unit was like a family of youngsters in
their 20s and 30s, who were enthusiastic to try out new
things and experiences. Yet another is the acclaimed web
series, Four More Shots Please! where the main characters
are female artists and recording sound involves bringing my
best creativity in exotic locales and elaborate costumes. The
experience working on Shershah has also been memorable.
Shot in Kargil at a height of 18,000 feet, on a super steep
incline in extreme cold and dusty conditions with no access
to mobile networks, was a digital detox experience for the
entire unit for almost 55 days! An experience that I hold
close to my heart is working on Listen Amaya, where I
worked with the late actor Farooque Shaikh and discovered
the gem of a person behind the artist.
What are the biggest challenges and struggles faced by a
sound designer stepping into the industry?
Anyone entering a new field is likely to face a struggle. I
have learnt that formal education helps you brace for a
transition into a work world. This needs to be supplemented
with adequate and more hands-on knowledge to build skills.
Remaining open-to-all kinds of projects, irrespective of the
labels or price tags attached can help you prove yourself
and gain a foothold in the industry.
Kindly mention any of your awards, accolades, and
accreditations.
I have had the opportunity to work with some renowned
names in the industry for some brilliant films across various
genres. I won the Zee Cine Awards for Sound Design for
Badrinath Ki Dulhania in 2018. Listen Amaya won the Best
Film at New Jersey Independent South Cine Fest 2012.
Harud won the best film in Urdu category at the 60th
National Film Awards. Kapoor & Sons was nominated for
Best Film at the 62nd Filmfare Awards. Four More Shots
Please! has been nominated for the 2020 Emmy Awards.
Please tell us about your future prospects and plans in
the industry.
I look forward to doing more different projects to add to my
knowledge base and expertise, by collaborating with my
existing network of professionals, while also exploring new
opportunities with creative masters across various
mediums. The objective remains the same - to design
captivating soundscapes that breathe life into stories and
allow sound to become a 'visible' and respectable part of
filmmaking.
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
APRIL 2021 | 43

46. S
uccess is not just a word; it is a
journey comprised of hard work,
hardships, failures, and
dedication. Achieving one’s goals by
overcoming all odds is not a cake walk.
Individuals must deliver their very best
to accomplish their goals. They should
not give up during difficult situations;
rather face them confidently.
Impactful individuals transform every
challenge into an opportunity, while
creating numerous prospects for others
as well. One such industrious and
astute personality is Suryakant Rout.
He is spearheading his home
furnishing brand known as ‘ikat’.
In an interview with Insights Success,
Mr. Suryakant shares his professional
journey, opinions, and future plans.
Below are highlights of the interview
between Mr. Suryakant and Insights
Success:
Please introduce yourself to our
readers and your professional
journey so far.
My name is Suryakant Rout and I am
from the east of India. I am deeply
inclined towards my ethnicity and
heritage as I hail from the oldest city
known for its silver filigree, Cuttack. I
began by journey working under the
design maestro, Neeta Lulla from my
second semester at Whistling Woods
International (WWI). Post my
graduation, I worked as an Assistant
Designer for the ‘master of weaves’,
Gaurang Shah and then moved on to
become the Design Head for the brand,
House of Neeta Lulla. Now, I have
started with my home furnishing brand
which incorporates ‘ikat’.
What inspired you to step into
illustrations and fashion designing?
Who were your role models growing
up?
Coming from a joint family, where we
are deeply connected to one another on
a personal level, I have always found
joy in helping the women in my family
when it comes to dressing up, from
selection of sarees, to having it draped
or just choosing jewellery to go with
the look. I joined Whistling Woods
International as a filmmaking student
but gradually started inclining towards
the world of design and eventually
found my calling for fashion design.
During my numerous visits to the
library, I found myself drawn towards
the fashion section and reading
‘Schiaparelli and Prada – Impossible
Conversations’ by Harold Kota &
Andrew Bolton, which influenced me
to take the decision to pursue fashion
design.
This paved my path towards the world
of illustrations, pen, and paper and
SURYAKANT
ROUT Crafting Life into Garments
through Creativity and Dedication
soon I found myself transformed from
a filmmaker to a fashion designer.
Shilpa Soneji, my faculty at WWI was
like a true guide and friend, who
became the pillar of support while I
dived into the world of illustrations.
She is the reason I found my personal
style and I am always indebted to her
for that.
Kindly share your views about the
current volatile dynamics of the
fashion industry and how it may
have affected your projects of work,
if at all.
There is always some form of volatility
involved in fashion or rather any form
of creative practices. I have always
believed in participatory planning
when it comes to any work. Everybody
should have the freedom to voice their
opinions. Following the trend is good,
but I follow a design process that keeps
me away from saturation while also
making my vision strong.
I believe in maintaining a healthy chain
by paying workers on time, not putting
their income on hold for any personal
reasons, and giving credits to every
individual who has been a part of the
process, while also maintaining
transparency in all I do.
We would love to know about your
work on any of the fashion shows, or
Impactful Individuals in the Indian Industry
44 | APRIL 2021

47. The Indian art,
spirituality,
and the belief
makes me wonder
and fuel my fantasies
through thoughts,
breaking the mirage
through reality.
“
“
APRIL 2021 | 45

48. any other interesting projects you have
worked on. Please tell our eager
readers about your experiences
working on the same.
Fashion can never be boring. Every day
as I head to work, I get to learn new
things. My interest quotient is always
high. I had a very interesting experience
while working with Gaurang Shah. A part
of my experience involved learning
Kalamkari and that led me to design few
sarees, which was completely new to me.
This liberated my thoughts while I was a
part of the process. Then there was a time
where I explored natural dyes that were
never used in Kalamkari before. This
allowed me to express my art in newer
colours and helped me gain efficiency in
return. I remember I was sent to
Srikakulam for a project and there I
learnt the process of paper jamdani on
Khadi. It was an eye-opener! My mind
was blown! Such new techniques
rendered calm and euphoria in me,
simultaneously.
What are the biggest challenges and
struggles faced by illustration artists
and fashion designers stepping into the
industry?
Life is all about struggles. When you are
stepping into the professional world, you
need to have an open mind and be
prepared for the worst. Always. That is
my mantra! Some issues that I would like
to highlight which would be important
for freshers is to always be sure of the
designation and to have an awareness of
the market. Knowledge of design and
development will come with time, but to
never give up is the attitude. Be it
illustrators or designers, there will
always be a time when you would find
yourself suffering from a creative block,
but do not let that hamper your psyche.
Be open and talk about it. Also,
communication skills play an important
role in your growth. Never be scared to
voice your opinions or insecurities. At
the end of the day, we are here to learn.
Learning must never stop!
Kindly mention any of your awards,
accolades, and accreditations.
I received the Best Garment Construction
Award for my collection at Aiyanna, the
fashion graduation show of Whistling
Woods International and was awarded by
the renowned actress Manisha Koirala.
Kindly tell us, what is the best part
about being a fashion designer?
The best part of being a fashion designer
is that you are always evolving. You get
to empower so many lives. There is a
satisfaction of fulfilling collective dreams
and goals. To also be a part of the process
and get to know people from all the
verticals is something I look forward to.
The visual stories I design allows the
viewer to have their own perspective and
interpretation. These things are a part of
their daily lives and I get to be a part of
their conscience. The best part is to make
people believe in my fantasies and
making their dreams come to life!
Please tell us about your future
prospects and plans in the industry.
Future’ is a big word. But my goal as of
now is to glorify ‘ikat’ and experiment
with a neoteric edge. Ikat, I believe is the
underdog in the world of fashion and I
want to learn and spread awareness about
it with visual campaigns.
I am also looking forward to
collaborating with production designers
to promote my textiles and
craftsmanship. Odisha is the land of
handloom and this collaboration would
give my weavers the spotlight that they
deserve and would help us to experiment
more with this art form.
I am also excited about applying for the
Lakme Gen Next in the near future.
46 | APRIL 2021