I am fearless and adventurous as a person : Siddharth Kumar Tewary

Siddharth Kumar Tewary is one dynamic personality. Founder and creative director of Swastik Pictures, the man has a keen eye for quality and has mastered the art of entertaining TV viewers. Ever energetic and perennially searching for better concepts, Siddharth’s programming philosophy is, “If you are just like others…then why are you here?” In an exclusive chat with Tellychakkar.com, Siddharth shares his professional and personal journey. Excerpts: Did you always want to be a part of the entertainment industry? Oh, it’s a long story. Do you really want to hear it? Well, I hail from a family which does not like the glamour industry much. But my mind was fixed and I knew I had to enter the entertainment industry. So, I took admission in Symbiosis Institute, Pune and studied Mass Communications. But after the course ended, jobs were not available. So I joined the sales department in India Today but quit in twenty days. I knew I could not do this. Then I took up advertising with Euro RSCG. I was part of the creative team and won many awards. Finally, I started working for Sony Max. Continue… After all the awards and accolades, I decided to do something on my own. I quit my job and started searching for work in TV production. After a lot of struggle, finally I launched Swastik Pictures along with Vikas Seth in 2007. How is your rapport with Vikas Seth? Well, he is more of a family than friend or a business partner. He was with me in Sony and we both shared common zeal and goals. He is the managing partner of Swastik Pictures and we both are doing well (smiles). Tell us something about your current shows, Navya, Phulwa and Shobha Somnath Ki? How do you rate them? I want to say that I am never satisfied with the kind of work I am doing. Yes, I am happy with my current shows but I ideate and execute constantly. Phulwa is the most challenging show of my life till date. It is unique and hard-hitting. Navya on the other hand is a Mumbai-based young love story. People can relate to it more. Both the shows are different and have their own specialities. Yes, there is something called ratings, but for me, it is about a pat on the back for a job well done. You should be honest to yourself and work to the best of your abilities. The outcome is not in your hands. What about Shobha Somnath Ki? Swastik Pictures took it over from Indira Media and Candlestick? Yes, there were some problems with the production houses. The show was not doing that great. Furthermore, I have a special rapport with Zee TV. I could not say no when the channel approached me to handle it. We took over and sorted things out. The show is doing well now. What’s the creative strategy of Swastik Pictures? Why should I tell you? (laughs). See, in the TV business you cannot have a constant business plan. It’s not possible. You have to constantly ideate. Come up with unique concepts and execute them aptly. That’s the strategy. What about reality shows? We did produce a reality show Saas v/s Bahu…Kaun Kisse Nachayega in 2008. Currently, we have finalised a concept and by next month viewers will get to see a new reality show by Swastik Pictures. I can’t really comment any more about the show at this point of time. You are into events as well? Yes we are. We handled Stardust Awards last year. See, basically we are a production house that wants to do a lot of things. We have a proper bifurcation in the organization wherein each department has its own precise set of responsibilities. It’s not like one person is doing everything. So, it’s teamwork. So, how has the professional journey been till date? Fabulous! I don’t know what else to say. I think I am really blessed. The journey has been amazing and enriching. Are you very ambitious as a person? Can you take failures and criticisms? (laughs) Yes, I am very ambitious. Of course, on meeting failures or being criticized, I feel hurt and go through a wide gamut of emotions. But then I pull up my socks and get up to fight back. This is how I am. Any insecurities? Ahhh… Insecurities are part and parcel of anyone’s life. Personally, I am fearless and adventurous as a person. I don’t think twice before skydiving. So, I am not so insecure that it affects me. Yes, there are responsibilities. It is always a challenge to handle a team and deliver every single time. It is also a challenge to live up to the ever-growing expectations of viewers and people from the TV fraternity. Insecurities will always be there, but one has to overcome them and move ahead. Fair enough. What about your personal life? I am married. It’s been two years now. I met Gayatri during my show Mata Ki Chowki. She was the scriptwriter. We met, fell in love and got married. The TV industry has given me everything in life. What are your hobbies? I am a very boring person. I work and then go back home (smiles). Sometimes, kabhi mood hua to, I go out with close friends and chill out. What are your future plans? As I told you, a reality show by next month. Other fiction shows are also in the kitty. Movies, yes definitely, but I will talk about it when the time is right.