Some 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.
- 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!
- 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 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
