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Sanjiv Sharma
Sanjiv Sharma is an Indian advertising filmmaker, television producer, and entrepreneur known for his extensive work in advertising, television entertainment, and branded content. He founded Palette Communications, Optimystix Entertainment , and O4 Digital , significantly contributing to the Indian media and entertainment industry.

Early Life and Education
Education for Sanjiv Sharma started with kindergarten at Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School. Sanjiv then moved to the Bombay Scottish School and was there till 1971. From there, Sanjiv moved to Ajmer to study at Mayo College. Sanjiv moved back to Mumbai to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics at Bombay University. Finally, he completed a post-graduation Advertising and Marketing course at the Xavier Institute of Communications.

Advertising
In 1979, Sanjiv Sharma joined Ogilvy in the Film Department and eventually led the film division. By 1984, he started producing and directing advertising films independently under Palette Communications. Over the years, he collaborated with major advertising agencies like Ogilvy, JWT, Contract, Re-diffusion , Lintas , and many others, producing and directing over 600 TV commercials for brands such as Hindustan Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Cadbury's, Asian Paints, Philips, Virgin Airlines, Marico, Britannia, Titan, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Colgate.

Television Ventures
In 2001, Sanjiv Sharma founded Optimystix Entertainment, a production company specializing in television programming. Notable achievements include:


 * Khullja Sim Sim: Adapted from "Let’s Make a Deal," this show aired on Star Plus for two years.
 * Kismey Kitna Hai Dam: A celebrity karaoke show based on the UK series "Night Fever," which aired on Star Plus.
 * Indian Idol Season 1: An adaptation of "Pop Idol," which became a massive success on Sony Entertainment Television, garnering record viewership and votes.
 * Comedy Circus: A long-running comedy show that became a definitive platform for non-scripted comedy in India.
 * Crime Patrol: A widely acclaimed crime show that has been on the air for over five years, becoming synonymous with crime programming in India.

Content for Brands
Forging a partnership with Group M called Mash Up , Sanjiv Sharma was a pioneer in branded content creation through O4 Digital, working with brands like Ford, Honda, Airtel, Škoda, Google, Volkswagen, and OLX, producing over 2000 digital assets. Notable projects include:


 * Ford EcoSport Launch: Introduced a TV reality show approach for pre-launch excitement, involving multiple teams and creating numerous videos within a short timeframe.
 * Honda Mobilio Launch: Leveraged the influence of comedian Kapil Sharma to create engaging brand-centric content.

Current Focus and Initiatives
Sanjiv Sharma is consulting and collaborating with creative talents across various disciplines, focusing on writing and creatively guiding limited-episode series. He is actively involved with Sakshi, a nonprofit organization dedicated to gender equality and preventing child sexual abuse, serving as a board member.

Personal Life and Advocacy
Sanjiv Sharma is committed to initiatives like the Rakshin Project, aiming to train millions of youths to combat gender-based violence in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

Recognition
Sanjiv Sharma has been the jury at the Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity, and his contributions have received widespread recognition within the media and entertainment industry, impacting advertising, television, and branded content in India.