Draft:Amita Madhvani

Amita Madhvani is a business head of a multi faceted companies Equinox films, Ram Madhvani Films and Equinox Virtual in India. Producing commercials, feature films, web series and recently gaming / immersive content. Ram Madhvani husband, film maker and co producer, co business owner bring their best learnings to creatively protect environment to produce some award winning product.

Early Career

A Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology combined with a diploma in Social communications Media from Sophia College she joined as a production intern with Equinox Films a leading Production house known for Producing creative commercials in 1986. Building projects from ground up has been her passion. The need to learn the other side of the business got her to join Advertising agency Leo Burnett ( Chaitra) in 1987 as a film executive, client liaison and working with multiple production houses to create commercials from client brief, to script till release was a complete learning of the business cycle of advertising. A natural progression to Ogilvy advertising agency as a film executive expanded the learning scope in 1988, exposure to more diverse brands and multi national companies as clients.

Career Milestones

Challenges to learn and move tracks to learn new skills continued -

Back to Equinox Films in 1991 a stint as a research assistant to produce a documentary on a Zakir Hussain “ The Speaking Hand” directed by Sumantra Ghosal, Equinox Films first attempt at TV was a"Pehchan" with Sumantra Ghosal, where she wrote 13 episodes in Hindi.

In 1997, India’s 50 years of Independence Amita joined the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) under Vijay Mehta, Sponsorship and event management were quick learning as the entire year had stalwarts from the Arts - Musicians, Dance like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustaad Allah Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Channulal Misra, Bismillah Khan Saheb and many more performing to celebrate the event. Continuing with events at NCPA and also to co ordinate the NCPA theater performance scheduling enhanced the learning of the massive art, theater and creative community.

Her entrepreneurial spirit came to the fore in 2004 when she curated Bollywood-themed events for foreign tour groups, showcasing the vibrant culture of Indian cinema to international audiences. Her innovative approach and attention to detail earned her acclaim, paving the way for future ventures in event management and curation.

In 2010, Madhvani established Dance Bazaar Pvt Ltd and launched BALANCE a first of its kind. A multi-curated studio space offering a diverse range of activities including dance, music, yoga, and martial arts. BALANCE quickly became a hub for wellness and self-expression, reflecting her commitment to providing a nurturing environment for individuals to explore their passions.

Film Production

“Lets Talk” in 2002 Ram Madhvani’s first English feature as writer, director and producer. This was Amita’s first exposure to film marketing and distribution for India. The film won many awards and travelled globally, Mill Valley, Locarno & London Film Festival to name a few, this was a good exposure to the film festival management when the exposure was very limited.

As a Producer Ram Madhvani Films was set up for feature films and web series .The critically acclaimed film "Neerja" starring Sonam Kapoor & Shabana Azmi, in 2016. The film received National Award as best film and won most of the awards in various categories, widespread praise for its compelling narrative and stellar performances.

2020 to 2024 Streamlining business with systems for longer formats financially, legally, studio/ platforms, talent management, marketing, PR and handling multiple projects at various stages of production were the fastest learning during Covid.

Amita continued her successful streak with productions like International Emmy Nominated web series "Aarya" starring Sushmita Sen and "Dhamaka," starring Kartik Aaryan and Mrunal Thakur, showcasing her ability to deliver engaging content across different genres and yielding further successes, with projects like "Aarya 2" and "Aarya 3" garnering international recognition and accolades. Streamlining business with systems for longer formats financially, legally, studio/ platforms, talent management, marketing, PR and handling multiple projects at various stages of production were the fastest learning during Covid.

As a co-founder & co-producer at Ram Madhvani Films, she has been instrumental in bringing stories to life that resonate with audiences on a profound level. Her upcoming project, "The Waking of a Nation," is poised to captivate viewers with its exploration of colonialism against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre—a pivotal moment in Indian history. This poignant narrative promises to shed light on a dark chapter of the past while offering insights into the resilience and spirit of the Indian people.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

In addition to her achievements in film production, Amita Madhvani has also made significant strides in entrepreneurship, particularly in the realm of virtual production and gaming. Her establishment of Equinox Virtual and the production of "GuruDharma" underscore her commitment to embracing emerging technologies and creating immersive experiences for audiences.

In 2024, Madhvani continues the role of Business Lead for her three companies growth and moves into future expansions into the immersive technologies, signalling her continued dedication to driving growth and innovation in the entertainment industry and futuristic technologies.