MAM
Weekend Unwind with Gargee Designer’s Ravi Gupta
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 Gargee Designer’s creative director Ravi Gupta.
Gupta is a fashion designer and the creative director of Gargee Designers. He honed his skills by completing his B.A. in Design & Technology, during which he actively participated in renowned competitions worldwide, including “WOW” in New Zealand, “The Debut” by Wills Lifestyle in Delhi, “Haining Warp Knitting Fashion Design Competition” in China, and “Swatch Alternative Fashion Week London.” These experiences served as a stepping stone for his journey into the world of fashion.
So without further ado here it goes…
1.Your mantra for life
Ans: My mantra in life is to Don’t tell what you cannot show. This is what pushes me forward in life.
2. A book you are currently reading or plan to read
Ans: One book that I am currently reading is The 12-Week Year. It’s reshaping my approach to productivity and goal-setting, emphasizing the power of consistent action and strategic execution.
3. Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Ans: My fitness mantra has always been to wake up early in the morning meditate and do yoga and even during the pandemic this was the fitness mantra I solely followed.
4. Your comfort food
Ans: When it comes to finding solace in food, nothing compares to the comforting embrace of a warm, flaky paratha generously slathered with creamy butter and paired with tangy pickles.
5. A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
Ans: “Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.” Thankful for whatever we have rather than focusing on misfortunes.
6. Your guilty pleasure
Ans: Indulging in Big Chill’s desserts is my ultimate guilty pleasure whenever I crave something sweet. From their decadent cakes to their creamy ice creams, each bite is a delightful treat for my taste buds, satisfying my cravings like no other.
7. The last time you tried something new
Ans: A very recent thing that I tried is Chat gpt4, as the world is getting technologically advanced chat gpt has become one handy tool which has become a necessity in today’s time.
8. A life lesson you learned the hard way
Ans: “The greatest wealth is health” highlights the value of good health. Effective communication and transparency build trust, collaboration, and goal alignment. Active listening, clear expression, and feedback are key. I aim to foster open dialogue and problem-solving.
9. What gets you excited about life?
Ans: What excites me about life is the daily opportunities to meet new people, and engage in novel experiences, particularly those involving creativity, which ignites a spark
10. What’s on top of your bucket list?
Ans: At the top of my bucket list is to visit Japan. The place is known for its traditional clothing, especially the kimono.
11. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Ans: Embrace learning and growth, trust your abilities, and persevere through challenges. Stay passionate, and resilient, and cherish the journey ahead.
12. One thing you would most like to change about the world
Ans: One change I aim for in the world is to advance sustainable practices across all industries. Our planet confronts various environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. To enact meaningful change, global systemic shifts are imperative.
13. An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
Ans: Dedicating time to read motivational literature, and engage in conversations with supportive individuals who uplift, inspire and create a positive mindset amidst challenging circumstances.
14. What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Ans: Learning from past experiences and understanding life’s inevitable ups and downs is what lifts my spirits, it helps break the monotony, fostering peace and rejuvenation.
15. Your go-to stress buster
Ans: My go-to stress buster is spending time at the club, where I can unwind, socialize, and enjoy music and dancing.
AD Agencies
Abhay Duggal joins JioStar as director of Hindi GEC ad sales
The streaming giant brings in a seasoned revenue hand as the battle for Hindi television advertising heats up
MUMBAI: Abhay Duggal has a new desk, and JioStar has a new weapon. The media and entertainment veteran has joined JioStar as director of entertainment ad sales for Hindi general entertainment channels, adding 17 years of hard-won revenue experience to one of India’s most powerful broadcasting operations.
Duggal is no stranger to big portfolios or bruising markets. Before joining JioStar, he spent a brief stint at Republic World as deputy general manager and north regional head for ad sales. Before that, he put in three years at Enterr10 Television, where he ran the north region for Dangal TV and Dangal 2, two of India’s leading free-to-air Hindi channels. The north alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of total channel revenue on his watch, a number that tends to get attention in any sales meeting.
His longest stint was at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, where he spent over six years rising to associate director of sales. There he commanded the Hindi movies cluster across seven channels, owned more than half of north India’s revenue across flagship properties including Zee TV and &TV, and closed marquee sponsorships across the Indian Premier League, Zee Rishtey Awards and Dance India Dance. He also handled monetisation for the English movies and entertainment cluster and the global news channel WION, a portfolio that would stretch most sales teams twice his size.
Earlier in his career Duggal closed what was then a Rs 3 crore single deal at Reliance Broadcast Network, one of the largest in Indian radio at the time, before that he helped launch and monetise JAINHITS, India’s first HITS-based cable and satellite platform.
His edge, by his own account, lies in marrying data and instinct: translating audience trends, inventory signals and client demands into long-term partnerships built on cost-per-rating-point discipline rather than short-term deal chasing. In a media landscape being reshaped by streaming, fragmented attention and AI-driven advertising, that kind of rigour is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable.
JioStar, which blends the scale of Reliance’s Jio platform with the content firepower of Star, is doubling down on its advertising business at precisely the moment the Hindi GEC market is getting more competitive. Bringing in someone who has spent nearly two decades doing exactly this, across some of India’s most watched channels, is a pointed statement of intent. Duggal has spent his career turning audiences into revenue. JioStar is clearly betting he can do it again, and bigger.
