MAM
Weekend Unwind with: Chalkboard Entertainment co-founder Shujaat Saudagar
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 business 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 Chalkboard Entertainment co-founder Shujaat Saudagar.
Saudagar fell into the rabbit hole in 1999 where he mentored under Prahlad Kakkar, also known as the Godfather of Indian advertising. He moved on from Genesis and directed an award-winning short film, Bali, along with the biggest ad campaigns for Pepsi, Lava Mobiles, KFC and Datsun. He stepped into the world of features with his debut directorial, Rock On 2!
Saudagar helms Rabbit Hole Films and has directed an Amazon Original series called Bambai Meri Jaan, based on a best-selling book by Hussain Zaidi. He recently directed an experimental feature, The Underbug, which won the Grand Jury Award at The Slamdance Film Festival 2023.
So, without further ado, here it goes…
● Your mantra for Life
Live for the moment
● A Book you are currently reading
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
● Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Eat when hungry not when bored
● Your comfort food
Mutton biryani
● When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
“You never know how much time you have left.” Martin Scorsese
● Your guilty pleasure
Bread pudding
● When was the last time you tried something new
2 days ago, Vietnamese Coffee, amazing!
● A Life lesson you learnt the hard way
Trust actions, not words
● What gets you excited about life
Movies
● What’s on top of your bucket list
Playing my film at the Lumiere Theatre
● If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be
Spend less!
● One thing you would most like to change about the world
Increase literacy
● An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Riding my bike
● What lifts your spirits when life gets you down
A story told honestly
● Your go-to stress buster
My cats
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
