MAM
Weekend Unwind with: Locomotive Global Media business affairs head Kanupriya A Iyer
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of corporate executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have Locomotive Global Media’s business affairs head and senior producer Kanupriya A. Iyer.
As head of business affairs and senior producer, Kanupriya works closely with co-founder and principal Sunder Aaron to lead Locomotive Global Media’s film division as well as oversee all business operations. Iyer is responsible for driving the company’s growth through all aspects of content development and production required to scale up the company’s position and meet its objective to become the leading content production company in India.
With an experience of 12 years in the Indian entertainment industry, both as a management executive and producer, Kanupriya combines her sharp business acumen with a belief that the world can be changed, one film at a time. Her in-depth expertise in content and business development makes Kanupriya a key asset for Locomotive Global Media.
So, without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life
Very little is needed to make a happy life; everything else is a bonus.
A book you are currently reading / plan to read
I am rereading “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
I believe yoga is best for both body and mind.
Your comfort food
Anything warm and vegetarian served in a bowl.
When the chips are down, a quote or philosophy that keeps you going.
It won’t matter in five years.
Your guilty pleasure
Big tub of popcorn and a cheesy Bollywood film.
When was the last time you tried something new?
I tried artificial nails yesterday 🙂
A life lesson you learnt the hard way
Every story has multiple perspectives; yours is one of them.
What gets you excited about life?
I acknowledge my privilege to be able to make choices every day that shape my future.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Northern lights in all their glory.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t waste time impressing people; just have fun.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Living life like a checklist with complete disregard to nature.
An activity that keeps you motivated or charged during tough times
I love reading and playing video games.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Cooking a multi-course meal for the family.
Your go-to stress buster
Binge watching tele-shopping ads.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
