SUBHASH CHANDRA
One would be surprised to know that a one time rice trader is now one of the biggest media mogul. He is Subash Chandra, the man who gave birth to the first Hindi satellite channel (Zee tv, ZeeC Entertainment Enterprises) . He is also the promoter of ESSELGroup, which runs diversified businesses like Amusement parks (to tell you Essel world in Mumbai is the largest amusement park in Asia), Media and Entertainment (DISH tv), Retailing (Asian Sky Shop is India’s leading telemarketing company), packaging, Gaming (Playwin), Telecom and IT etc. He is now under the Top 20 richest Indians in Forbes list and that too in the ’self-made’ wealth category.

1992, THE STORY

This was the year when Subhash Chandra launched Zee TV in INDIA. . This was no ordinary step because at that time all the indian viewers were (may be in other words ‘had to be’) inside the ring of Doordarshan, a non-satellite, government controlled network. He was able to foresee the huge business potential in satellite channels and television media. Initially, Zee was in partnership with STAR TV. However, the partnership ended when Rupert Murdock’s FOX news corporation acquired STAR TV.

MR. Subhash Chandra now has about 65% of the post-deal stake in Zee Telefilms ltd.,

THE REAL ENTREPRENEUR

Subhash chandra had two qualities in abundance… Courage and a ‘No-Compromise’ attitude in achieving his goals.
In 2003, Zee telefilms bid for the rights to telecast the cricket world cup. It ended up in the highest unsuccessful bid, ever. Again in 2004 and 2006 he tried to bid for the telecast rights but in vain. And then, in 2007, he launched ICL, Indian Cricket League, which shook BCCI severely and it started IPL immediately to compete with it.
“They denied us the cricket content, so we had to create the content” was how Himanshu Modi, the Business head of ICL and ZEE sports channel, put it.

ACTIVITIES

  • He founded Transnational Alternate Learning for Emancipation and Empowerment thorough Multimedia (TALEEM), a foundation creating access to quality education , helping research in Communication and Media, Health etc..,
  • He is the president of Global Vipassana Foundation, which is a philosophical organisation that spreads spritual teachings .
  • He is also the chairman of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India that runs a non-formal one-teacher schools all over india.

AWARDS
Mr. Subhash Chandra bagged lots of awards and honorary degrees. A few among them are

  • Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Ernst & Young in 1999.
  • Business Standard’s Businessman of the Year’ in 1999.
  • ‘Global Indian Entertainment Personality of the Year’ by FICCI for 2004.
  • Almost forgot to mention, he is ranked 16 in top 40 Indian Richest Business men by FORBES and 4th richest Asian in Britain by THE SUNDAY TIMES.

Popularity: 14%