THE HUMAN , THE RAJAT SHARMA

Kuch hi dino key andar;

Rajat Sharma;

will become;

PADMA BHUSHAN Rajat Sharma;



He is the one who gave me a break into Television;

He is the one who took personalised efforts to send me to Mumbai;

He is the one who taught me the importance of clothes in the Screen Worlds;

He is the one who sent me on my first reporting assignment to Aligarh;

He is the one who told me about Mumbai;

He is the one who tried to transfer his old MTNL Mumbai phones to me;

He is the one who spoke to Subhash Ghai…For Me;

He is the one whom I always called first whenever I landed in Delhi;

He is the one who personally  showed  me his Amar Ujala Newspaper cuttings to encourage me on Hindi;

He is not only a National Personality;Owner of a News Organisation;

He is beyond that;

Remembering my journey with him;

I want to tell the world about the unknown Rajat Sharma;

The Real Rajat Sharma!!!!

 

Scene 1  &  The Rajat Effect

October ,1994;

During the early morning hours,Rajat Sharma at his house in Delhi receives a call on his Landline phone;

An unknown boy speaks to him in Hindi for Ten Minutes;

Explaining what he wants to do,clarifying his abilities and dreams;

Rajat Sharma was a celebrity even then;News and Current Affairs Director of Zee TV in Delhi;

He did not interrupt the boy,Just listened,Gave him his office number and asked him to call him after few days after he finishes the shoot; (He was shooting for Aap Ki Adalat during those days)

This boy had searched the Directory of Delhi MTNL and found 28 Rajat Sharma listed in it;

He tried to call all of them,and finally got the one whom he wanted to get on phone;

Rajat Sharma did not know about these efforts,about the boy

He just invested his 10 Minutes on phone for a stranger;

And a professional was born;

Myself!!

 

Rajat Effect of Scene 1

 

How many of us remain open or accessible to new talent!!!How many of us even take phone calls of not usable people!!! (Sad but the reality)

How many of us don’t even dump old relationships in the graveyards of our successes!!!

Rajat Sharma was and is an exception;

Remain Accessible to people;

Mostly Unpracticed Need of the Media and Entertainment industry;

Even Today;

He replies,He answers,He remains available!!!

He is much bigger than so many successful people around,

But;

He is also much bigger a person!!!!

 

Scene 2 & The Rajat Effect

 I was told to wait;

He was checking my Patience; (This I later realised)

After a long wait of 8 Hours at the reception of  Zee TV office at J 27,South Extention 1 in New Delhi;

Rajat Sharma appeared in a bright yellow shirt;

Haa Batao;

And I spoke at length;

Aap Ki Adalat is a great programme but I don’t like Helpline as It helps only a few people,It does not serve the larger purpose,But I want to work for Aap Ki Adalat;

Khalid;Would it not be better to work on that which you feel is not good enough,You can make it better.

I was neither sent to Aap ki Adalat not to Helpline;

He sent me to Umesh Upadhyay to work for his show “Insight”

 

Rajat Effect of Scene 2

 

He knew how to give a clean slate to a newcomer to perform without any bag and baggage;

He gave me a sentence also : I cant give you a job but an oppurtunity to proove yourself in 15 days!!

How many of us know the Science of igniting the hidden energies of newcomers!!!

Rajat Sharma allways knew it;

Later;

Most of the Biggest names of News Television today were appointed  as newcomers by Rajat Sharma in Zee TV;

Some people can forget,I can never forget;

Rajat Sharma has got an instinct to choose and appoint people;

He does not go by CV,He goes by his instinct.(He himself told me once)

How many of us can take chances with people like this!!!

Rajat Sharma takes chances with people;

And it gives us professionals!!!

Hundreds of people should be thankful to him.

 

Scene 3 & The Rajat Effect

 

I worked for him in Aap ki Adalat also; (He was noticing my notes made on Newspaper Cuttings)

Finally;

13^th March,1995 :Zee News was launched at 10 PM on Zee TV!!!

He will come at 10 AM for the Editorial meeting,He will come at 8.30 PM again for the Mastering of the News Bulletin.(Those were the different days for News)

Sometimes,He will visit the Newsroom during the daytime also;

One lazy afternoon;

The PTI Ticker gave us a news :Riots in Aligarh!!!

Aligarh me Danga ho gaya ji , Said Umesh Upadhyay.

Kisi ko bhej do,Kisko Bhejey,

He looked around,He looked at me,Isko bhej do

After sometime;

A News Researcher was travelling to Aligarh with an Ex Wedding Photographer-Cameraman to cover the Aligarh riots;

I became a News Reporter in few hours.My fellow Cameraman became a News Cameraman in few hours.

 

Rajat Effect of Scene 3

 

I have always realised that he walks slowly but he thinks very fast;

He notices minute things without letting others realise this;

He creates opinions after observations;

And he throws people in a situation;

Where they have to perform;

They have to become what they deserve to become;

How many of us learn this HR attitude of working in our daily practices!!!

Rajat Sharma does it;

He believes in First Time Efforts;

Because he himself made it that way;

Got into Television without any background in Television!!!

WOW!!!!

And the man has created a News Empire today!!!

 

Scene 4

He called me to his small room.

Have you got your salary? / Yes Sir / Go and buy new good clothes today. / He said;I also used to wear Khadi once upon a time but we need to change ourselves to suit our surroundings.

The Rajat Effect:Get involved with your people up to that extent where you advice them on their clothes.How many of us get so involved with the life of our Co Workers!!! Its not a Science,Its an art!!!

 

Scene 5

See these News Clipping. / I looked at a file full of old Newspaper cuttings in Hindi / These were Rajat Sharma’s writings for Amar Ujala in Hindi / I looked at him / He said;I too used to to write in Hindi but English is equally important / Learn Fast / And I learnt!!!!!

The Rajat Effect:Train your people with personalised efforts.How many of us have taught our people like this!!!!Rajat Sharma becomes a friend!!!He could be the best friend if we remain best to him!!

 

Scene 6

When the whole world did not know his plans beyond Zee TV;

One Fine Morning,In his small room;

I am leaving Zee TV very soon.You go to Mumbai before I leave as someone else might not transfer you to Mumbai once I leave!!

WHY!!!!

The Rajat Effect : Keep your Commitments.He had promised me to send to Mumbai which I always wanted and he wanted to fulfill his promise before he leaves.

How many of us remember our promises,And that too made to a young new employee!!!

Rajat Sharma was true to his words.Its a rare quality in him.

 

Scene 7

Rajat Sharma came to me in Newsroom and sat just behind me;

Almost Whispered in my ears;

Khalid Mohammad;I have spoken to Subhash Ghai,You go to Mumbai and work with him.

 Later He draws a map of Mumbai on paper,Explains about Mumbai;

He speaks to someone in Mumbai,If his old Landline numbers of Mumbai are still activated,They can be given to this young boy!!!

Rajat;Why don’t you send him to Nitin Keni,asked Ritu Dhawan!!!

And he did all that he could do;

 The Rajat Effect: Corporate life exists beyond Corporate responsibilities also.Help People and he always moved beyond the Corporate dimentions to help new people.

 

I came to Mumbai.

Later I resigned to join Rajat Sharma’s IMPL.

I shared the Defence Colony days of him when there was no India TV;

And he got busy in creating his News Empire;

I got busy in creating my life in Mumbai;

Zee TV,IMPL,Hinduja Group,Journalism,Corporate,Daily Soaps,Scriptwriting,Ekta Kapoors and RonnieScrewwalas,GEC,HeadingCompanies,Indonasia,Dubai,Pakistan,Consultant,Digital,Producership,Enterpreneurship

This all belongs to that phone call that I made to Rajat Sharma in October 1994;

Choosing those 28 names and calling all of them;

In search of Real Rajat Sharma of News;

I found out the real one;

But many people still have not found out the real one;

They talk about Rajat Sharma-the Newsmaker of India,They talk about India TV,They write good or bad things about him on Facebook and Twitter,They follow or Unfollow him;

But there is allways something which not many know;

We need to travel with the person on a journey ;

I was fortunate enough that I travelled with him for sometime;

I could understand him through my understanding of him;

 

I shall post this piece online;

I am surely going to tell him about this post;

Sharing with  him;

That I wrote not on the Chairman of India TV;

I wrote on “him”

I know,Sometimes It will be difficult for him to keep alive this “him” in the political atmosphere of Delhi;

But;

Please keep this alive;

 

This "him" is more important;

 

This "him" in you inspires a Khalid to remember every thing of you even after 20 long years;

 

I am sure,This "him" of him will stay alive for years to come;

And;

There will be so many Khalids  in coming years to write on;

THE HUMAN,THE RAJAT SHARMA!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TV DREAMS @ 2015

·         Masters of Television business analyse the trends and predicts the future trends ,So it’s a thing being already taken care of.No need to guess or predict what might happen in Indian Television in 2015.

·         We would rather share our personal Wish List for 2015.Though It’s a personal wish list,It will pass through the professional dimentions of Television industry reflecting the needs and the desires!!!

·         Where to start!!!

·         From the point when it all began :

·         Hum Log –India’s first soap opera;

·         Lets remake that.

·         Allready,The age of Remaking has started in Television;

·         Pavitra Rishta , Sasural Genda Phool , Satrangi Sasural on Zee TV recently;

·         Why not the selected old classics from the Doordarshan era!!!

·         Buniyaad , Rajni , Malgudi Days , Ye Jo Hai Zindagi , Charitraheen , Chunouti , Neev ,  List is endless.

·         For this ,We need a business model;

·         There are so many to create a great business model for this.

 

·         What else!!!!

·         Lets try to innovate a new method of story telling and its execution;

·         Lets create a multi dimentional programming stream;

·         Lets attempt to create an eco system where on air experiments are possible;

·         Lets decide finally:What works in Television :Gut or Research!!!

·         Lets search for the tools  to create a less pressurized work atmosphere ,Pressures affects creative output;

·         Lets get better and open  communication between various stake holders;

·         Lets make things more transparent;

·         Lets not build only houses;Lets build companies; (We are impressed with the way Shashi Sumeet Productions is moving , They are building the company)

·         Lets bring BARC this year. (What do we do with TAM!!!)

·         Producers!!!! Lets talk more to each other;

·         Lets resolve the all Copyright issues at FWA and for producers;

·         Lets create institutions around Television business; (A direct request to you Mr Uday Shankar)

·         India hears to  Dr Subhash Chandra Show;

·         Lets hear from him on Television continuously,He could be the best teacher. (Please make a request to him on our behalf ,Mr Punit Goenka)

·         Where is Ronnie!!!

·         He Tweets on whole of India;

·         Lets get him back somehow in Indian Television also ;We need him;

·         Oh!!!! Off Course,We need Zarina also;

·         Lets respect and honour the efforts of a man –Mahesh Samat of Epic;

·         Lets create a new programming around sports. (Training Required!!!!)

·         Lets be aware of the new language –The language of the Digital Content :Just see that :Its fresh!!

·         Lets write on contemporary Television;

·         Lets express ourselves (Without fear of losing businesses);

·         Lets appreciate people like  Mr Anand Mahindra and  Mr Mukesh Ambani who have arrived to change our Eco Systems : Take Over of Network 18 and Viacom 18 : Launch of Epic!!!

·         Lets send flowers to NMA – As Mrs Nita Mukesh Ambani  is called within the RIL – For her great display of support to various Television ventures;

·         Lets send best wishes to Mr Amir Khan – For using his brand value to give us a usefull Television show;

·         Lets hear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi more on Television please,Our own version of MAN KI BAAT!!!

·         Lets make a Show for the needs of the nation – Not for the TRPs;

·         Lets ask  Rajat Sharma Sir –My Mentor – to give us a new channel;

·         Lets innovate Doordarshan. (Thank You Mr Arun Jaitley for meeting the producers.)

·         Oh!!!!Lets see Farmers Channel of the government. (My friend Junaid Memon has already launched a channel for farmers :GREEN TV : Congratulations!!!!)

·         Lets welcome Vinod Kapdi into the entertainment industry. (My old collegue and friend from News who has sold his directorial debut film to Star Plus,He proves that anyone can do anything :Best Luck for Miss Tanakpur Hazir Ho)

·         Lets encourage those TVwalaas who are independently creating entertainment content for Web :Creating Future today;

·         Lets see new anchors on News Television;

·         Lets create bridges between Regional and National Television;

·         Lets educate ourselves more on Technology;

·         Lets create some Hot Lines systems within Television Industry,Where voices could be heard;

·         Lets force  Anirudhdh Pathak to continue with his strong ventures like Mahadev and Mahakumbh;

·         Lets expect to see Anil Kapoor’s 24 this year. (Requesting Ms Manisha Sharma and Mr Raj Nayak very strongly)

·         Lets continue to see Mr Bachchan in KBC;

·         Lets support Siddharth Tewari ; He brought a new element in Television –An Elephant!! (WOW!!!)

·         Lets request Ekta to give us some nation shaking show;

·         Lets go to Uday Shankar,Lets hear him on various things of life,It all is usefull for people in Television;

·         Lets attempt a studio model in Television;

·         Lets continue to have high hopes from a leader who works silently :Mr Punit Goenka!!! (Like Father,Like Son!!!)

·         Lets continue to react on : The Nation Wants to Know!!!! ( His Energy is inspiring!!! Remember my words : He can be the next Uday Shankar in Entertainment world , If he decides to venture into.)

·         Lets have Musical Fictions on Television;

·         Lets have a great Trade Magazine of Indian Television; (Few exists but not so good)

·         Lets create the most hated Reviewers for Television too; (Requesting Khalid Mohammed to attempt here.)

·         Lets stretch our time bands please;

·         Lets get the morning and afternoon band back please. (Requesting Business Heads to give us a model)

·         Lets attempt Revenue Share model in Television;

·         Lets create Sports Entertainment Professional. (Only Mr Uday Shankar can do that)

·         Lets see more from Animation Experts!!! (Where are you Guys!!!! Please arrive!!! )

·         Lets have Apps for the industry;

·         Lets have Apples for our Kids who sometimes get ignored because of our work;

·         Lets sit and think –Where we all are heading to!!!

·         Lets give more time to our families;

·         Lets spend sometime in reading books;

·         Lets create  for our own.

·         Shashi and Sumeet Mittal – We heard your old poem..Write Again please , Saurabh Tewari,Please have a Baithak for Recitating Poems , Nirav Vaidya – Get your poems out in public,Sing them aloud please,You have got a beautifull voice,Let the world know…Samidha Khalid..Ourselves…Please Compose Music,Sing,Write Lyrics..Publish your Fiction Novels and Non Fiction Books now..Sudhir Sharma..We want to see your great photography..Kinnari Mehta..Please share your paintings with us..JD Majithia..Give us a new play please..Why have you stopped doing that..Shanti Bhushan..You taught Bhojpuri to Amir Khan for PK,You can give all of us a lot more.

·         The list will not end;

·         Lets rediscover our personal creativities;

·         Lets enjoy that too;

·         We all have been Creative People;

·         Lets live happily;

·         Lets live Creatively;

·         Lets live purposefully;

·         With our Industry;

·         With our Families;

·         With our Nation;

 

·         Lets enjoy the arrival of 2015 on the night of 31^st December;

·         And sleep;

·         To see;

·         TV DREAMS @ 2015 !!!!!!