tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500180394780891262024-03-19T09:51:20.963+05:30Bollywood PRUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-91591436841270302202017-11-21T00:51:00.001+05:302017-11-21T15:46:21.181+05:30How a PR manipulates (A tip)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8vApQwSjAWvHet8zqhBK7zLXKyXcPKIjU2oQFhn5XzlIrnqbehfVDGMpGHbEzFi1BLV9_Egax-fdVkC6t0nBy8ZqWT9xHf5Z7DwUDx0ZZunupmXyRwLiW0IuAEZgnOXNt6pols_MPV7d/s1600/Dale+Bhagwagar+holds+a+Press+Conference+in+Mumbai+to+defend+Shilpa+Shetty+while+she+is+in+Big+Brother.+-+Pic+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8vApQwSjAWvHet8zqhBK7zLXKyXcPKIjU2oQFhn5XzlIrnqbehfVDGMpGHbEzFi1BLV9_Egax-fdVkC6t0nBy8ZqWT9xHf5Z7DwUDx0ZZunupmXyRwLiW0IuAEZgnOXNt6pols_MPV7d/s400/Dale+Bhagwagar+holds+a+Press+Conference+in+Mumbai+to+defend+Shilpa+Shetty+while+she+is+in+Big+Brother.+-+Pic+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I remember an instance, when long ago I had messaged the editor of Mid-Day's film supplement Hit-List for a story on one of my PR clients, Pakistani actress Meera. When I followed up, the Ed curtly messaged back, "Mid-Day won't carry the story." I was irked by that statement, as the editor was only the editor of Hit-List... and not all of Mid-Day. To me, the statement also smacked of typical media arrogance, which once used to be a part-and-parcel of the attitude of old-school media persons. There and then I decided, this had to change, or at least, I had to be an exception.</div>
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That evening, I contacted an on-the-ball News Desk journo friend
from Mid-Day and offered two separate scandalous scoops with exclusive pictures
to support. These two scoops were an offer in return for pitching and pushing
the Meera story for nothing less than 'Page 1' of Mid-Day. I had added a
current affairs angle to it to suit the main paper and did not mention that I
had pitched the same story to the Hit-List editor earlier in the day.</div>
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The journo loved the story and the carrot of two huge scoops.
He asked me to be patient — as two days later, his senior had a weekly off — and
on that day, maybe he could push the story. I was repeatedly assertive about it
with the journo and then waited the wait. The story finally appeared on Page 1
with an elaborate continuation on an inside page.</div>
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That morning, I messaged the Hit-List editor about it, with
a rejoinder: <i>"Sher ke mooh mein
haath daloge, toh sher kaatega toh sahi."</i> (with a wink emoticon in the
end). Though later, I felt a bit bad about that message (though not about the
manipulation). <i>Aisa laga, ke thoda zyaada
ho gaya.</i></div>
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<b>BTW:</b> As a bonus,
instead of the promised two scoops, I gave my journo friend three controversies
to cover for the next fortnight. He was thrilled.</div>
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<b>Moral of the story:</b>
Only media-fearing PRs can be put in place, not the ones who understand spin.
After all, PRs aren't called 'spin doctors' for nothing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE_gpxbzuyxkBOqBpluUtKVU0UH8FwMlC5pMF5cBniZ5ZCRO2oPBlhg1Vg89N2rVFeL4dBZSCSerBTanH8TwLV0h_-5UFbo-ngUXEGN_uvhu19L-Z_910qBwv-tVLBly0f0W3FHoPdO5i/s1600/Dale+Bhagwagar+conducts+a+guest+lecture+for+media+students..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYE_gpxbzuyxkBOqBpluUtKVU0UH8FwMlC5pMF5cBniZ5ZCRO2oPBlhg1Vg89N2rVFeL4dBZSCSerBTanH8TwLV0h_-5UFbo-ngUXEGN_uvhu19L-Z_910qBwv-tVLBly0f0W3FHoPdO5i/s400/Dale+Bhagwagar+conducts+a+guest+lecture+for+media+students..jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Takeaway for PRs,
budding PRs and BMM students:</b> A publicist has a whole world of print,
television, radio, internet media and even citizen journalism via social media
in his/her scheme of things. If the PR really decides to play the game, there
is no way any media person can stop a spin doctor from doing what he/she wants
to do. Just decide to be unstoppable and the possibilities are endless.</div>
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<b>Note of caution:</b>
PRs can create upheavals like nobody's business as they can plot, plug and plant
stories or rumours in trade or any media. So they must always remember, that
with great influence comes great responsibility. Stay nice. Be ethical.</div>
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<b><i>About the Author:<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqwT-TdsQjZaJWswFcXMetENM38KHYIUAj6fsbyl0SiCtpQKV7gK8lcVLZ7FYQj26j08MjFEG75OK3T8iJCXagi8rjQ2iJcAC7FvPwF7f5Q0p4EcOKGno9Nwv2NHBaQxtF2ZrFrciKCt2/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #4d469c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqwT-TdsQjZaJWswFcXMetENM38KHYIUAj6fsbyl0SiCtpQKV7gK8lcVLZ7FYQj26j08MjFEG75OK3T8iJCXagi8rjQ2iJcAC7FvPwF7f5Q0p4EcOKGno9Nwv2NHBaQxtF2ZrFrciKCt2/s1600/1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<i>Dale Bhagwagar is a PR specialist with branding, image consultancy, strategizing, media manipulation, crisis management and mentorship for media students. He has handled the publicity for more than 150 Bollywood actors and 30 movies, apart from being a spokesperson and publicist to 20 Bigg Boss contestants.</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-88036212837268132062017-11-11T15:28:00.001+05:302017-11-11T15:28:22.162+05:30Thor going the James Bond way?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo06MD8L-_v_MlbL6CQI_fUKvYgQYuqr8Z0RlT2VaHY7INnd3qAHx-nZt3oB2xhfLQ9cA0Kvyzin-L0SEFUgPd2NxO9rewT4kl8vTkl0o_xMhSaJ28ejhK-8oa4MHa9B8AhIthRBccMcmM/s1600/James+Bond+Daniel+Craig+and+Thor+Chris+Hemsworth+%2528Image+courtesy+-+Google%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="709" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo06MD8L-_v_MlbL6CQI_fUKvYgQYuqr8Z0RlT2VaHY7INnd3qAHx-nZt3oB2xhfLQ9cA0Kvyzin-L0SEFUgPd2NxO9rewT4kl8vTkl0o_xMhSaJ28ejhK-8oa4MHa9B8AhIthRBccMcmM/s320/James+Bond+Daniel+Craig+and+Thor+Chris+Hemsworth+%2528Image+courtesy+-+Google%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First, Hollywood screwed up with James Bond's characterization and made him brooding, serious and a punchy muscular fighter (traits he never had for decades).<br />
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Now it's screwing up Thor's characterization by making him caricaturish, taking away his famed hammer, giving him additional Superman-like superpowers and making major changes in his looks.<br />
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Bond movies lost the repeat-viewing value... which is still there with the old Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan flicks. And I have a feeling, the same might happen with the Thor franchise.<br />
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<b><i>About the Author:<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqwT-TdsQjZaJWswFcXMetENM38KHYIUAj6fsbyl0SiCtpQKV7gK8lcVLZ7FYQj26j08MjFEG75OK3T8iJCXagi8rjQ2iJcAC7FvPwF7f5Q0p4EcOKGno9Nwv2NHBaQxtF2ZrFrciKCt2/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqwT-TdsQjZaJWswFcXMetENM38KHYIUAj6fsbyl0SiCtpQKV7gK8lcVLZ7FYQj26j08MjFEG75OK3T8iJCXagi8rjQ2iJcAC7FvPwF7f5Q0p4EcOKGno9Nwv2NHBaQxtF2ZrFrciKCt2/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Dale Bhagwagar is a PR specialist with branding, image consultancy, strategizing, media manipulation, crisis management and mentorship for media students. He has handled the publicity for more than 150 Bollywood actors and 30 movies, apart from being a spokesperson and publicist to 20 Bigg Boss contestants.</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-14382688657216464042016-06-14T09:17:00.000+05:302016-06-14T09:25:00.723+05:30Why Mobile Space is more powerful than Print and Television Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As in other parts of the world, media consumption in India has
shifted decisively online, with 375,000,000 Internet users in 2015, or 30% of
the population. Meanwhile, more than 50% of the population owns a mobile phone
and around a third of these own a smartphone. Newspaper and magazine print
circulation has been declining steadily for over the last six years.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1bsL6R5EiZ5-r0qFm-wAfWXNyINx2CnIpJQBFr2YG5-BRd8hHg4c0mJTfFmzmeF225HBM3yRMYmcqLpGRxc-M4MhTJt21gFhjcODXKGxl6VizL3vdO7WE_vtIr0MzjaXk2vavebjd47i/s1600/new+media+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1bsL6R5EiZ5-r0qFm-wAfWXNyINx2CnIpJQBFr2YG5-BRd8hHg4c0mJTfFmzmeF225HBM3yRMYmcqLpGRxc-M4MhTJt21gFhjcODXKGxl6VizL3vdO7WE_vtIr0MzjaXk2vavebjd47i/s400/new+media+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image courtesy: Google</i></span></div>
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In the next 5-7 years, when mobiles will fully overtake laptops
and desktops in the access of the internet, there will be a great shuffle in
the media order. Mobile Space will be the No.1 media. Internet on desktops,
tablets and laptops will come at No.2. Television will come at No.3. Print and
Radio will compete with each other for Nos. 4 and 5.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8masowFaqzYgjgsp5O0Bo1E0DTYubGVNolNg8gU7Qn7jg_B3MxEMqmmP9OCXpSOaoA_1pCl03_Qga-b-lEePNYZSJv40hkV2TrbZvIIJ2nsaTaDcM4DZEZMBP3f9q_M8XRBphFvGX0aD/s1600/new+media+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8masowFaqzYgjgsp5O0Bo1E0DTYubGVNolNg8gU7Qn7jg_B3MxEMqmmP9OCXpSOaoA_1pCl03_Qga-b-lEePNYZSJv40hkV2TrbZvIIJ2nsaTaDcM4DZEZMBP3f9q_M8XRBphFvGX0aD/s400/new+media+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy: Google</span></i></div>
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This order with Mobile Space as No.1 may come as a surprise
to many. But please understand that Print Media can converge on to the Net with
their Online websites and E-papers. Television can converge on the Net with live
broadcasts and YouTube video capsules. Radio can converge on the Net with
broadband and podcast capsules. And finally the Net converges onto your Mobile
phone, which makes the Mobile Space the most powerful media... even more
powerful than Television, Print, Radio and regular Online media.</div>
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<b><i>About the Author:<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqwT-TdsQjZaJWswFcXMetENM38KHYIUAj6fsbyl0SiCtpQKV7gK8lcVLZ7FYQj26j08MjFEG75OK3T8iJCXagi8rjQ2iJcAC7FvPwF7f5Q0p4EcOKGno9Nwv2NHBaQxtF2ZrFrciKCt2/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqwT-TdsQjZaJWswFcXMetENM38KHYIUAj6fsbyl0SiCtpQKV7gK8lcVLZ7FYQj26j08MjFEG75OK3T8iJCXagi8rjQ2iJcAC7FvPwF7f5Q0p4EcOKGno9Nwv2NHBaQxtF2ZrFrciKCt2/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Dale Bhagwagar is a PR
specialist with branding, image consultancy, strategizing, media manipulation,
crisis management and mentorship for media students. He has handled the
publicity for more than 150 Bollywood actors and 30 movies, apart from being a
spokesperson and publicist to 20 Bigg Boss contestants.</i></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-32764609418790897662016-05-14T22:03:00.003+05:302016-05-15T08:55:40.215+05:30Remembering naughty Freud and spin doctor Bernays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week was the birth anniversary of Sigmund Freud
(1856-1939), the father of psychoanalysis. And Google rightly devoted a doodle
to him.</div>
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Freud had a lot of controversial accomplishments, some of
which are highly debated even today. But what people sometimes fail to
acknowledge, is the indirect impact Freud has had on almost everything we as a
people witness in today's times.</div>
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Now now! Doesn't that make him an extremely interesting man
to study! And you may ask how he has influenced us so much. So let me take you
back in history a bit and explain the phenomenon in the crispiest way possible.</div>
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Sigmund Freud's nephew Edward Bernays combined the ideas of
'crowd psychology' along with the psychoanalytical ideas of his uncle, to
invent 'propaganda'. In contemporary times, we know 'propaganda' as 'Public
Relations' (PR).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86lrYVemYaee9WIcpf4Ib5Qc_JUdbxat3aC6Fxk1_zAHGNzcWB6OBVtRyg93AUBjlTUhfTvZj6xRVdIp0L2uqxFP_kr4PTV2D3Ss-dB-uScYlSRJXk-51XoFDHJ_AUOLsFiUH9iyJoHa8/s1600/Sigmund+Freud+and+Edward+Bernays.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86lrYVemYaee9WIcpf4Ib5Qc_JUdbxat3aC6Fxk1_zAHGNzcWB6OBVtRyg93AUBjlTUhfTvZj6xRVdIp0L2uqxFP_kr4PTV2D3Ss-dB-uScYlSRJXk-51XoFDHJ_AUOLsFiUH9iyJoHa8/s400/Sigmund+Freud+and+Edward+Bernays.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Sigmund Freud (left) and Edward Bernays</i></span></o:p></div>
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As a publicist, I often say, we are living in a world where
perception is reality. Think about it. Don't we all blindly believe in what we
read and are told. Who has the time to research and investigate facts!</div>
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Earlier journalists used to do that as the torch-bearers of
society. But in times of paid media, combined with research via the phone and
Google (and less of field work), contemporary journalists are fast losing those
traits. So let me take the liberty to repeat my favourite line: We are living
in a world where perception is reality. A world driven by PR.</div>
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And who started the fire? Naughty Freud and spin doctor
Bernays. ;-) #FoodForThought</div>
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<b><i>About the Author:<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBbVyYQr40-X0mrUDSKuFKcXP16AIMzmXmiYRDVUAnJ05dYuOtpGhGfRZ_L9amMnvA5aSv-KuMfTPmfk4AbDPC35BMxSERPP39IQ8IXDIs7Dy7MDIrWGGQtULFNBtZZ50mKnyUH2_FKX8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBbVyYQr40-X0mrUDSKuFKcXP16AIMzmXmiYRDVUAnJ05dYuOtpGhGfRZ_L9amMnvA5aSv-KuMfTPmfk4AbDPC35BMxSERPP39IQ8IXDIs7Dy7MDIrWGGQtULFNBtZZ50mKnyUH2_FKX8/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Dale Bhagwagar is a PR
specialist with branding, image consultancy, strategizing, media manipulation,
crisis management and mentorship for media students. He has handled the
publicity for more than 150 Bollywood actors and 30 movies, apart from being a
spokesperson and publicist to 20 Bigg Boss contestants.</i></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-56642590007855916342016-05-03T20:06:00.000+05:302016-05-03T20:13:40.495+05:30Raaj Kumar was something else only! ;-)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTOAsE5RC5Wm3prtnFSL-N4Hy_KjdVgeiZJhPOtW34_uxTQERZuKf2Hl1Jd0p03p1NMUsExInVj2-p-T-2GLzJfWvy3_PAL59Kl4riXcWyEtM9nD0SCw5OB3180bf-7rKUxdr2utQkg4O/s1600/Raaj+Kumar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTOAsE5RC5Wm3prtnFSL-N4Hy_KjdVgeiZJhPOtW34_uxTQERZuKf2Hl1Jd0p03p1NMUsExInVj2-p-T-2GLzJfWvy3_PAL59Kl4riXcWyEtM9nD0SCw5OB3180bf-7rKUxdr2utQkg4O/s400/Raaj+Kumar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Jab main naya naya Mumbai mein aaya tha... being a journalist then, ek baar ek party mein I approached Raaj Kumar for a quote on something... he had one piercing look at me and said, "Jaani, tum abhi bachche ho. Jaao."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfJaoYGcwgi-MGxZoSX9EJs4JTiv2EfMsDmR787c3kHB0xzGIKVG2WI3fGYB_avmkvtr5YmvQ8eCTgH1pyTEpSdzzN5ewQ3iyK4_In0RHUW22WsUVHeHMmZsDRk9eTvRO-2Z-c9bEeRyJ/s1600/Raaj+Kumar+Amitabh+Bachchan+Dilip+Kumar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfJaoYGcwgi-MGxZoSX9EJs4JTiv2EfMsDmR787c3kHB0xzGIKVG2WI3fGYB_avmkvtr5YmvQ8eCTgH1pyTEpSdzzN5ewQ3iyK4_In0RHUW22WsUVHeHMmZsDRk9eTvRO-2Z-c9bEeRyJ/s400/Raaj+Kumar+Amitabh+Bachchan+Dilip+Kumar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
When I tried to rephrase my question, he again said, "Kaha na, tum bachche ho, side mein ho jaao." I felt intimidated and decided to move on. I could even make Amitabh Bachchan relent to persuasion, but not Raaj Kumar. ;-)<br />
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<br />
Kam se kam, I could pester and convince Big B into <a href="http://bollywood-pr.blogspot.in/2014/01/when-bollywood-publicist-dale-bhagwagar.html" target="_blank">THIS</a>.<br />
<br />
Later in my career as a PR, I got to meet Mr Kumar's son Puru Raaj Kumar a couple of times. Must say, both father and son have been unique in their own ways. Charming and impressionable.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-70692795974528989372015-08-02T23:00:00.000+05:302015-08-03T06:24:24.445+05:30RIP: My tribute to Gunjan Kapur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tears are rolling down my cheeks, as I begin to write this as
a tribute to the wonderful person <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gunjankapur1" target="_blank">Gunjan Kapur</a>, who lost her life this evening,
battling for it in the ICU for almost a week.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">A degree from London...</span></b></h3>
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I first interacted with Gunjan over the phone in 2009, when
she was studying in London. She did her <a href="https://dalebhagwagarmediagroup.wordpress.com/thesis-dissertation/" target="_blank">dissertation</a> for her M.A. Degree in
Public Relations at the University of Westminster, London, with me as her guide
for it. </div>
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The topic she chose for her thesis was, ‘How Shilpa Shetty
became an iconic brand’ during and after the Celebrity Big Brother show in UK,
which catapulted the Bollywood actress to international fame. The purpose of
this study was to explore how the blend of strategic PR and branding,
contributed in creating Brand Shilpa Shetty... and I have to say, Gunjan covered
the subject exceptionally well.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Making me proud...</span></b></h3>
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Returning to India after her graduation, Gunjan worked at a
PR agency in Delhi, and quit that job and joined <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/PROP-workshop/115737861809074" target="_blank">PROP (PR Orientation Programme)</a>, a 20-day workshop, which I conducted with around 10 students at my
office in Mumbai in 2010. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">When I had asked her, why she quit a full-fledged PR job, to
join the workshop, she'd said, she wanted to learn more about PR. After the 20-day
workshop of 3 hours a day, Gunjan gave me a great compliment. She told me,
"I learnt more at PROP than what I learnt working at the PR agency in
Delhi." I felt so proud hearing that.</span></div>
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At PROP, Gunjan was always a sparkling and smiling student
and would listen to the lectures and talks of all the speakers including me, with
unwavering concentration. She would also ask some very intelligent and
thought-provoking questions in the Q&A sessions and had good team spirit.</div>
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After the workshop, I didn't get to interact with her,
except on Facebook where she would like or comment on pics and status messages
at times.</div>
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Meanwhile, Gunjan changed a few jobs and cities, and one day
messaged me that she was starting her own PR agency in Mumbai. She had given me
another reason to feel proud. The girl who did her <a href="https://dalebhagwagarmediagroup.wordpress.com/thesis-dissertation/" target="_blank">thesis with me</a> as the guide and learnt more from a workshop conducted by me, was now
going to have a PR agency of her own. Sometime later, I learnt that Gunjan stopped working as an independent publicist, to work for the reputed Zee group's music division.</div>
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Around two weeks ago, Facebook intimated me about her
birthday and I sent her birthday wishes on WhatsApp. Next day, I spoke to her
and helped with an issue regarding her past phone number. In her brief chat,
she told me she was happy working with Zee Music and that she had a great time celebrating
her birthday a day ago. I was happy for her. The newbie I'd guided in whatever
little way in PR, was now on her own feet and growing amazingly.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">And then... suddenly... </span></b></h3>
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And then... suddenly... after a few days, I got a call from
one of my PR friends Pritam Sharma (who was a speaker at PROP) saying, he read a
newspaper report stating Gunjan had an accident. My friend Akshaye Rathi too (who
was also a speaker at PROP) got to know about this and we were so shocked and
pained to hear about it. I managed to speak to Gunjan Kapur's friend and
namesake, Gunjan Wathodkar, who gave me more details. </div>
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Apparently, she had fallen from the 4th floor of her apartment,
which did not have a protecting grill, and landed on a car parked below. It
sounded horrific and disturbing to think of... kind of stuff we only see in the
movies.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Raw deal...</span></b></h3>
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I googled and read <a href="http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Versova-woman-critical-after-fall-from-4th-flr-flat/articleshow/48219872.cms" target="_blank">the news</a> in the Mumbai Mirror tabloid, though
later, her family informed me of discrepancies in the report. Also, I found no
mention of the incident in any other media. The very media she catered to on a
day-to-day basis as a PR, seemed to have given her a raw deal in her time of suffering.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Surprisingly, (and as per statements to Police) none of her
friends present at her residence while this happened, saw her falling.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I visited her family at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
& Medical Research Institute, where they were going through a tough time. Felt
great pain and helplessness to see them going through the trauma of their
daughter's state.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She was in the ICU... was declared brain dead by the doctors... but
was breathing on ventilator. I was also told about some delays and indifference
of some hospital staff which made matters worse for the family in agony.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">For her friends, Friendship
Day will never be the same again...</span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gunjan's mom, father, brother, her colleague Neha Titus and
some friends were there. I sat with them for a while, sometimes discussing,
sometimes in silence, and sometimes thinking about how smart and intelligent
Gunjan always was.</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today (Friendship Day) evening, I got to know that Gunjan is
no more. Life is strange to some nice people. One moment its showering blessings.
Next moment, it takes them all away.</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">A life of learning and
achievement...</span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As the days and years pass by, life will go on for her
family and friends... but the pain of life being cruel to a wonderful
27-year-old person will stay forever.</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gunjan lived a short life, but from
whatever I knew of her, I can say that she lived a life of constant learning; a
life of achievement.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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She took off like a bird, flew high in her profession and
has now flown speedily to God. May His company give her peace now and forever.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<i>-Dale Bhagwagar</i></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1CM0oniJb99mnEhYy-5S6ngYd7s-TBRXFe98ADgcjiOq8BgATpWKRrJzaXhDOKd-JBGrOlVZxzcaAI5yO47-CEuwSb6sRU5YOs-k9Zc3N3iDYA96h0XQ2Jk6cOuCBppP_WLq2t3Fay6b/s1600/Gunjan+Kapur.+Image+Courtesy+-+Facebook.+Pic+2..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1CM0oniJb99mnEhYy-5S6ngYd7s-TBRXFe98ADgcjiOq8BgATpWKRrJzaXhDOKd-JBGrOlVZxzcaAI5yO47-CEuwSb6sRU5YOs-k9Zc3N3iDYA96h0XQ2Jk6cOuCBppP_WLq2t3Fay6b/s320/Gunjan+Kapur.+Image+Courtesy+-+Facebook.+Pic+2..jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-57948739450410218762015-07-04T14:17:00.000+05:302015-07-04T14:17:13.481+05:30Trial by Media on Hema Malini?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Media, did you 'see' WHICH car was "speeding" or "overspeeding"?<br />
<br />
Do any of the cars have a mechanism to check the last-driven speed?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElohAj19TMVUD7IOCGk3txX17PXnh-_wH1esxSwFBxiTaMT3EKZJCJr0IIRY9XmE3WFaUcuOQaDb1bOACu0w1GPSC8DlqXyxK2dwr2BjFfxg1EyJaJciN8aZtu4isrC_z51JfHGM3KCMr/s1600/HemaMalini1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElohAj19TMVUD7IOCGk3txX17PXnh-_wH1esxSwFBxiTaMT3EKZJCJr0IIRY9XmE3WFaUcuOQaDb1bOACu0w1GPSC8DlqXyxK2dwr2BjFfxg1EyJaJciN8aZtu4isrC_z51JfHGM3KCMr/s320/HemaMalini1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Are you pointing fingers at Hema Malini's driver just because he was driving a celebrity?<br />
<br />
Just because her car was a Merc, does it make it more responsible than an Alto?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx4vnMzPFMBgbWjJqfYrIPcw-1rTFgEt-OecVVrNV5gWyJwbHNToG7xGO-HLlyo32RO5i_uf5jmbHMYABv3a-aJzKzP50cdPJNtPCezPLjgVrOhb7HzEaXdzgn6CAZNKTphQr36sbi6lf/s1600/HemaMalini2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx4vnMzPFMBgbWjJqfYrIPcw-1rTFgEt-OecVVrNV5gWyJwbHNToG7xGO-HLlyo32RO5i_uf5jmbHMYABv3a-aJzKzP50cdPJNtPCezPLjgVrOhb7HzEaXdzgn6CAZNKTphQr36sbi6lf/s320/HemaMalini2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If the Alto driver files an FIR first, does it make him innocent?<br />
<br />
All this is not to underestimate the sad loss of an innocent life. An accident is always saddening.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYeO35Kgp8dh6K9IQ61nyi3HCgTm-AiVOZ_5NiRAK9yVsl32cGZpsnpMcZPRR0oyRbQ3nV1El8D5jot7O7BU6MwMXkFFIUJ_yGJ1ez-Zy2c0BXjfjM1CUGn0XOQlB7gwFaoULDvQ7d0iE/s1600/HemaMalini3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYeO35Kgp8dh6K9IQ61nyi3HCgTm-AiVOZ_5NiRAK9yVsl32cGZpsnpMcZPRR0oyRbQ3nV1El8D5jot7O7BU6MwMXkFFIUJ_yGJ1ez-Zy2c0BXjfjM1CUGn0XOQlB7gwFaoULDvQ7d0iE/s320/HemaMalini3.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<br />
But isn't the way our media handles such issues related to celebrities, questionable? Doesn't it try to behave like private detectives, Police, moral Police and even a Judge? Doesn't it do a 'trial by media' and pass TRP-centric verdicts even before Police can investigate or a Court can sit to judge?<br />
<br />
Is this behaviour of our Media, fair on the delicate image and easily dentable brand of a celebrity? #HemaMaliniCarAccident<br />
<br />
<i>Images Courtesy: Internet</i><br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-9204688199971521672015-07-01T23:05:00.000+05:302015-07-01T23:13:01.715+05:30Celebrity PR clients need even better hand-holding and guiding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
The PR spectrum is continually changing and expanding,
but some entertainment publicists are not changing with the times. They seem to be ignoring
the dictum: Evolve or perish.<br />
<br />
Traditional PR tactics are phasing out, and
making way for professional handling of crisis management on web and mobile
space, even if it requires <a href="http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4244271" target="_blank">guerilla tactics</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhdRiKAfJop0TXgEvTYMQIGXIOQ9XBxf6s0Vz7x6yTd_CjF6F9mQj1UAtr1mvhUA8-jVqejCwD-3EdbwBCBtVKM_FC-sPKO6Q9J60l3qNKmQN1Hv5qM_RITwD__xg2e_xngy0xeQEQxis/s1600/evolve+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhdRiKAfJop0TXgEvTYMQIGXIOQ9XBxf6s0Vz7x6yTd_CjF6F9mQj1UAtr1mvhUA8-jVqejCwD-3EdbwBCBtVKM_FC-sPKO6Q9J60l3qNKmQN1Hv5qM_RITwD__xg2e_xngy0xeQEQxis/s320/evolve+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bollywood celebrity clients need even better
hand-holding and guiding in this <a href="http://indieicons.com/dale-bhagwagar/" target="_blank">changing world of public relations</a>.<br />
<br />
Contemporary
PRs need to understand this, adapt and adjust... and real quickly. It's a new
mindset taking over the industry; demanding a paradigm shift from publicity professionals.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-68084533299498339962014-01-20T21:14:00.004+05:302016-12-01T13:29:59.101+05:30When Bollywood publicist Dale Bhagwagar applied the power of persuasion on Amitabh Bachchan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 23.636363983154297px;"><b>Whistling Woods International (WWI) </b>featured my experiences with megastar <b>Amitabh Bachchan</b> in their newsletter called <b>Stamp</b>. While everyone else got half or one-page articles, two pages were devoted to mine. Feels nice... kinda leaving a king size stamp on time, eh! ;-) Gee! Thanx <b>WWI</b>, <b>Priyanka Pai</b>, <b>Alison Dcruz</b>, <b>Aditya Mandre</b>, <b>Karn Gupta</b>, <b>Saili Kocharekar</b>, <b>Niviya Augustine</b>, <b>Pooja Doke</b>, <b>Jaison Chacko</b>, <b>Sumedha KS</b> </span><span style="font-size: 23.636363983154297px;">& <b>Team</b>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqP_Ice71ohruhSirRfvYxWECaoQgtZNYmaIH6ftJfdAnH-ykTdt2k4zXBVgb4uQ0kjEgDCqrVHqcYUuQKf39h4IYBm3afnJ5Ng5v51zhzPfDNdaOStxWDm2JpkWI4LJvQEDb-Aj3cWSeO/s1600/Whistling+Woods+Newsletter+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqP_Ice71ohruhSirRfvYxWECaoQgtZNYmaIH6ftJfdAnH-ykTdt2k4zXBVgb4uQ0kjEgDCqrVHqcYUuQKf39h4IYBm3afnJ5Ng5v51zhzPfDNdaOStxWDm2JpkWI4LJvQEDb-Aj3cWSeO/s1600/Whistling+Woods+Newsletter+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BELOW: REPRODUCING THE ARTICLE VERBATIM FOR YOUR EASY READING... ALL GREEN LIGHTS, CHEERS...</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: orange; font-size: 20pt;"><span style="color: white;">The power of persuasion</span></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="background-color: orange; font-size: 18pt;">(Applied on Amitabh
Bachchan)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b style="background-color: orange;">In the words of Bollywood’s only PR guru Dale Bhag</b><b style="background-color: orange;">wagar<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">Today, I am a leading publicist in Bollywood. But I was less
than 25 and just out of college, when I first spoke to Amitabh Bachchan in
1995.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">Back then, with great encouragement and support from my
mentor grandpa, I had come down from my relatively quiet hometown, <st1:city w:st="on">Nagpur</st1:city>, to the concrete jungle of Mumbai (then <st1:city w:st="on">Bombay</st1:city>) as a journalist,
and joined the Bollywood magazine Cine Blitz magazine as Chief Sub-Editor and
Reporter, just a day before this incident.</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">Amitabh Bachchan was my screen idol and I’d grown up
watching his films like Satte Pe Satta, Aakhree Raasta, Naseeb, Amar Akbar
Anthony, Agneepath and my favourite Main Azaad Hoon; the one which dealt with
the media.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">It was my second day in office, when one of my seniors told
me about an ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited) Press Conference to
take place same afternoon, for announcing a corporate tie-up of the company.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">Since Cine Blitz is a gossip magazine and there is not much
that corporate Press Conferences contribute to gossip, the interest levels
amongst staffers to cover it were low. Moreover, they expected the CEO of ABCL
to address it, and not the mega star himself. “Big B will not be there, but you
can go and cover it anyway,” they told me almost sarcastically, while I
enthusiastically jumped at the opportunity.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">Of course, being new in Mumbai and just having joined the
office a day ago, I wanted to take all the chances and explore every
opportunity life threw towards me. Bachchan was too big a one to miss; in fact,
the biggest, especially for a teen just out of college.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">Happily and in hope, I reached the hotel where the event was
to be conducted. Soon, it was announced, “Mr Bachchan is held up in traffic and
would be about 25 minutes late.” What? Did I hear, “Mr Bachchan”? Oh yes! He
was coming.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">My joy knew no bounds when the mega star finally arrived,
but I did not ask him a single question during the entire Conference. Instead,
I was carefully noting my points and making a few exclusive questions which the
150-odd media men at the event seemed to have missed.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">As soon as the Conference was over and we broke for tea, I
waded my way through a sea of around 40 over-enthusiastic photographers, who’d
rushed towards the stage, to click candid pictures of the biggest star our
country has ever witnessed.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">In those days, Amitabh Bachchan hardly gave exclusive
interviews, neither was there any show like Kaun Banega Crorepati, or a blog,
where you’d see or read him often. Then, it was terribly difficult for a
journalist to get an exclusive interview with Big B, and next to impossible for
a teen journo like me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">But where was I to give up!!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: orange;">Finding my way through the photographers, I reached the
stage just in time before he left. I looked small in front of the six-footer,
but stood rock solid, refusing to move, till he noticed. Giving a look of
amusement, as he glanced at me, I felt, as if I’d managed to win my first
battle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIIgYa9emM_AGHg-nIYkFeWOfIYIk7Gg9vumoipthR1vLDhb9wyPtwgwEeonk3dPt09b4DDKA9ByFNbLiBWS812wasKteGXUptKT6t5dQllEnZCR2MjvSjVvnGSCHuO5DEBY91GdO-xE8/s1600/During+his+journalism+days,+Dale+Bhagwagar+managed+to+persuade+Amitabh+Bachchan+to+give+an+'exclusive'+interview+to+him+at+a+Press+Conference..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIIgYa9emM_AGHg-nIYkFeWOfIYIk7Gg9vumoipthR1vLDhb9wyPtwgwEeonk3dPt09b4DDKA9ByFNbLiBWS812wasKteGXUptKT6t5dQllEnZCR2MjvSjVvnGSCHuO5DEBY91GdO-xE8/s1600/During+his+journalism+days,+Dale+Bhagwagar+managed+to+persuade+Amitabh+Bachchan+to+give+an+'exclusive'+interview+to+him+at+a+Press+Conference..JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange; text-align: justify;">Having caught his attention (even if it was for a second), I
immediately introduced myself and shot, “Sir, I need four minutes of your
precious time.” Hearing this, Bachchan gave me a very surprised look! “Why
didn’t you ask me your questions during the Conference?” he inquired in his
baritone voice, which was almost unnerving for me then. “Sir, because I wanted
an exclusive interview,” I replied as boldly as I could.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">Now, anyone who is aware of journalism would know that
exclusives are next to impossible at Press Conferences. But this was exactly
where I was keen to score. So I pushed him again, stressing, “Sir, I won’t take
more than four minutes.” At this time, Bachchan gave a strong look at me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">‘Does this kid think he can walk into a Press Conference
with 150 scribes and walk out with an exclusive’, he might have thought. I
repeated my plea, almost refusing to budge. “Speak to my secretary tomorrow and
take an appointment,” he said, as if wanting to evade and pass through me.
“Four minutes; only four minutes, sir,” I requested again with a smile this
time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">Wonder if it was my smile or the power of persuasion that
worked. Cause Bachchan gave me the last of those stern looks that fine day, as
he gave up and said, “Ok son, your time starts now”. One after the other, I
quickly shot my questions, while all the photographers circled us, clicking
away.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">Thoroughly engrossed in the interview, Bachchan answered
each and every query in his characteristic style. When all my questions were
over, he looked at his watch, then at me, and smiled. “You took fifteen
minutes,” he remarked. Thanking him, I smiled back, knowing well that he ‘gave’
them to me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">I went back to my office and proclaimed, “I’ve managed an
exclusive interview of Amitabh Bachchan”. Everyone laughed! I knew they
wouldn’t believe me, so I took out my tape recorder and made them hear the
conversation. Their jaws dropped.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgZiMusQsus1glWEIg0GJi6f0oPopwl7ZEOLy7-0zxa3zG0WbHPCrtDm8AAP1PPXMJNT-mJEULnQArYCOmyhTehRGWD77FSLUuus6DYAEe8DVFnLDPevqbTtnmvHijmo1eZjEdmQOvA3_/s1600/Bollywood+Publicist+Dale+Bhagwagar+has+an+eye+on+the+media+as+it+interviews+Amitabh+Bachchan+for+a+film+he+did+PR+for..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgZiMusQsus1glWEIg0GJi6f0oPopwl7ZEOLy7-0zxa3zG0WbHPCrtDm8AAP1PPXMJNT-mJEULnQArYCOmyhTehRGWD77FSLUuus6DYAEe8DVFnLDPevqbTtnmvHijmo1eZjEdmQOvA3_/s1600/Bollywood+Publicist+Dale+Bhagwagar+has+an+eye+on+the+media+as+it+interviews+Amitabh+Bachchan+for+a+film+he+did+PR+for..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: orange;">Our footnote: Two
years after this incident Dale Bhagwagar quit journalism and moved to Public
Relations. A few years later, he handled PR for two of Bachchan’s movies namely
Boom and Aetbaar and had various interactions with the megastar.</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><i>-- Article, as appeared in</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><i>the Stamp newsletter</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><i>of Whistling Woods International</i></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-43243767063851161272014-01-19T21:09:00.001+05:302014-01-20T04:18:57.229+05:30Best Bollywood PR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Public
Relations on a roll</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">From
what a PR gets, he might make a living. But from what a PR gives, he might make
a life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Cy8dRubXB0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">PR's have been media kings from quite some
time. Almost from the time I gave <a href="http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=s041408095043" target="_blank">this interview</a> three years ago.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXLMiK_4EWVwmvVaGx4oMK2apSIYEmo4Qnj0t4R-yeQqNLdbxhzgn9-F0CMbgqtX-p81Aa7AxU97Ks1r0DOk1y7eCAILOiY_8BRRKvEg8RtLk2wN4BUI1mIYDs3eOiI0hT1TU72r00IHG/s1600/PROs+Dale+Bhagwagar+make+the+thumbs+up+sign+as+prominent+publicists+gather+for+the+launch+of+a+new+magazine..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXLMiK_4EWVwmvVaGx4oMK2apSIYEmo4Qnj0t4R-yeQqNLdbxhzgn9-F0CMbgqtX-p81Aa7AxU97Ks1r0DOk1y7eCAILOiY_8BRRKvEg8RtLk2wN4BUI1mIYDs3eOiI0hT1TU72r00IHG/s1600/PROs+Dale+Bhagwagar+make+the+thumbs+up+sign+as+prominent+publicists+gather+for+the+launch+of+a+new+magazine..JPG" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
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I entered PR sixteen years ago after being
a journalist for eleven years prior to that (since my school days). Then, I
shifted from journalism to PR mostly because PRs are better paid than
journalists.</div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Journalism v/s PR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This
is because journalism is a profession, while PR is a business. </span><span lang="EN-GB">But mind you, not all PRs are able to make good monies. Many who are
not able to adjust and adapt to changing times also fade away. There are also
many journalists and editors who have entered PR from time to time, but haven't
been able to sustain.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_mwjRgwDG9Pzq9pU5iWQfqnTBcctLAH2T1PAIJgg64953w_ou3sk_31WZJcbo58tcdeaiRZ6Fnm8Koc4wcNf08P4qYmVgnuQsGnc-g_NutWGgXt5mXJI8pmJPKDfO8meJPVBfaHod0ot/s1600/PROs+all...+Dale+Bhagwagar+(sitting+extreme+left)+along+with+most+top+of+the+line+publicists+of+Bollywood..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_mwjRgwDG9Pzq9pU5iWQfqnTBcctLAH2T1PAIJgg64953w_ou3sk_31WZJcbo58tcdeaiRZ6Fnm8Koc4wcNf08P4qYmVgnuQsGnc-g_NutWGgXt5mXJI8pmJPKDfO8meJPVBfaHod0ot/s1600/PROs+all...+Dale+Bhagwagar+(sitting+extreme+left)+along+with+most+top+of+the+line+publicists+of+Bollywood..jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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This is simply because the profession is
extremely demanding. It takes a lot of passion to stay put. Some think PR is a
lot of stress and builds anxiety like no one’s business. True to an extent! But
a great PR also learns how to handle that and treat his work with media like a
game. Once that feeling sets in, PR is cakewalk and the passion for delivering
impacting service, peaks. And then, he plays.</div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">What
it takes to be a great PR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To be a successful PR, one has to have a
combination of at least the following -- intelligence, knowledge of market,
intellect, street-smartness, contacts, connections, shrewdness, manipulation
abilities, writing abilities, scheming techniques and tact and flamboyance to
spin. And these are only the basics.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AV3w6NqQnknJq1BFkVdWeBv60UWGEn5ynf4H3MOeS996fN-DUXBJvEATSEroZAJHXcAonC7bW4qMzIRlcfjsVjRYEhNyYc3Q6cGwS_j7YPfzYzKW9V0uXG_oB-PcHZNAM5N0KuwJVL8L/s1600/Dale+Bhagwagar+addressing+the+1st+Press+Conference+on+behalf+of+the+Viveka+Babajee+family..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AV3w6NqQnknJq1BFkVdWeBv60UWGEn5ynf4H3MOeS996fN-DUXBJvEATSEroZAJHXcAonC7bW4qMzIRlcfjsVjRYEhNyYc3Q6cGwS_j7YPfzYzKW9V0uXG_oB-PcHZNAM5N0KuwJVL8L/s1600/Dale+Bhagwagar+addressing+the+1st+Press+Conference+on+behalf+of+the+Viveka+Babajee+family..jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's lot more to PR including
spokesmanship, legal knowledge and mass perception management, psychology and
even basic knowledge of psychiatry! Yes, you read it right! There are times, a
PR has to double up almost like a psychiatrist; advising and guiding some
clients who could be jittery about controversies and scandals that crop up in
our gossip-hungry media.</div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">So basically, a great PR is like a
magician; building, promoting and protecting celebrities.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-56086090527867001462009-09-08T04:39:00.000+05:302009-09-09T04:55:26.690+05:30Embrace the winds of change<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Change is not about revolution, as much as it is about evolution. In recent times, technology, gadgetry and internet have taken over our world by storm. Gone are the days when your publicist could make friends with a couple of journalists from select publications and channels and run his business. Now, PR is about a mass communication network. Change is writ all over the place.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Networking is a daily commitment…</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">For a PR specialist, networking is a daily commitment, not a monthly ritual. There are loads of newspapers, channels, websites and radio stations to cater to. I have a total mailing list of 2,500 journalists across </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">India</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and abroad, and though it’s probably the largest mailing list amongst my fraternity, I still feel, I will double it soon.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDvn-Q4AW1iFUIXbSGFwSATq53PyRbMDmkySf113GR1UVdKjABSeUEJ_J-lcxCWc02Hj6rymVa47dk3GqFIMIX580hoR0TOg4wE48FGD6DS-0V2q7GtUSVQpOWM2h-mfy9m2B9E2ndy79/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379238450973444626" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px; " /></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It’s all about control</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I’m often asked how much control a publicist exercises in what the journalists and public hear. Let me tell you point blank, if you are co-operative with your PR, it’s almost ninety percent control. Today, PRs decide where to break exclusive stories, what angles and news pegs to highlight, what pictures to give out and who they want to patronise for exclusive news breaks.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A PR trick</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">On so many occasions, I have broken huge stories on foreign websites catering to NRIs and created extensive impact by spreading the web links, and also through newswire services on the net. Then, I have got the same story picked up by our national television channels, who have given it more importance, just because of its international web presence. This is only one little PR trick. But three years ago, this strategy would have been considered professional harakiri, as then, not many valued the impact of the internet, or trusted its content’s credibility.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGCfg93SiGOISzBJ1rz6An7yE83dEN0cfTftHJWASmrHFK-k9Qj8bquuhUtwk0tVy9wyLcgCHPck4jmBJuw2kICsmU5La0gL2umZ3YbxSFXE7_UL_eaZmEd2wfm4XF_GCoLGuIya7SbTp/s400/3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379238457753483922" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 377px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Understanding the ‘person’ behind the ‘actor’</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As Bollywood goes global, I foresee the ascent of international PR firms in our market. But like that of star secretaries (</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Rikku Rakesh Nath</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> continues to be a success, inspite of several so-called ‘celeb-management’ firms having cropped up); PR too is a personalised job. A ‘client servicing’ rep from a corporate agency cannot understand the moods, ambitions, insecurities and temperaments of our Bollywood stars. But a personal and dedicated independent PR or agency can. So the independent (read indigenous) PRs and the relatively smaller agencies are going to have a better grip on the industry’s propaganda needs, as they also bring in the element of trust, faith and secrecy in their dealings and day to day workings. Any celebrity definitely needs this kind of security and discretion, which the big agencies mostly lack in.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCGmjdBB_vpzrHBuw41mWQYxPri6qF3D6xIEFOHu6Fpew0LAmD0E6IyVdqbOuj2mNBQDC2qr2UYX6KZijfTTCluSK7W42XYJlZ7wQvbf3UXlccrOjN0L8l5jF8mhSUAxs2_xGMj3OshWr/s400/2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379238303400041682" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ram Gopal Varma is a wise man</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Talking about changing times, one can’t ignore the trend of blogging. I feel, blogging is a good and creative habit for many, BUT NOT FOR BIG STARS. For them, it could turn a PR blunder in the long run. See, in today’s times, there is already an overflow of information and news from all quarters. If you are not a celebrity, not many are interested to read what you update on a daily basis. If you are </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Amitabh Bachchan</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, you end up making your daily comments and feelings ‘commonplace’, and can even face the risk of diluting the all-important ‘aura’ because of it. Celebrity blogging will be the in thing for a few more years, and then its shine will begin to diminish. Though, it will continue to have a lot of scope for film promotion, for consolidating the branding of film-makers (</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ram Gopal Varma</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> is a wise man to have understood this soon), product or company promotion, and for teaching. As of now, these areas haven’t been properly explored by bloggers.</span></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-10433277957086521152009-08-26T04:58:00.005+05:302009-09-09T05:20:21.155+05:30‘Brand SRK’ just got bigger! (in case, you haven’t noticed!!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR49YEEwBhROknyDyImE2aEmbRixShJXs8uIhSOV8ogEDYxQUZXtDiK7NuFT23HOqw9SpgdA_D_j5lCu7eH_aCOCpmn0hoW8qiJnI_Q4DfoSxAKiz9mc_tVaBh-xaTWpi9HjF5PCDlp_h/s1600-h/Shilpa+Shetty%E2%80%99s+PC+at+Koparkhirane-7.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSViVpV1_XvChIOZPUYML-9DkwbznFwcmoDnjt-O_-AGxd9vlre7hsz4erdipfZGIHDRqDl8Spauplqmf98w8Aq7I1ghEY9ynbeABu1xqlL3AZ10Px47IiJBHvDRZXrbu0xd5IjQcAX60g/s400/don33-sent.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379245121682464850" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Shah Rukh Khan has always maintained that he has never faced discrimination for being a Muslim. In fact, about two weeks ago, when Emran Hashmi went public with a complaint (which he strangely retracted a few days later) about discrimination by a housing society, citing communal reasons, Shah Rukh gave a statement to the media, saying that in the past 44 years, he had never felt any such discrimination. He also said that the Emran Hashmi case was a one-off incident and should not be seen with communal eyes.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Khant do that!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When SRK was frisked and detained for more than an hour by airport officials in US this week, every media carried his story. “They (the officials) said my name was common to some name that popped up on the computer," SRK stated, apparently referring to his Muslim name.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Following this, there have been debates over the possibility of him trying to milk this episode for the promotion of his forthcoming film ‘My Name Is Khan’ directed by his buddy Karan Johar and reportedly based on a similar subject of community discrimination.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Is2RW3xyX6gXsyZyZidMnfT2CAXax8XxngKPCxxUnwkoEDK6PiAFHEU0HJUjVIXaadWO9l9lxXpOqdPalgzIJhoxznaTrvYMi7s45UESgbvKejpPygnM0YoK-2gNUYLCspSqRkChN8Rg/s400/don5-sent.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379245113860547730" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">‘OSO’ revisited !?!</span></span></span></b></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Even as SRK vehemently denies the charge, there has been widespread speculation, especially among the youth on the internet that the Badshah of Bollywood is leaving no stone unturned to play up this episode for the sake of free international mileage worth crores that his film is receiving. People all over Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, as well as a lot of bloggers and websites, have been wondering aloud whether King Khan is flashing the community card to boost the pre-release hype for his movie.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">PR is an intriguing mind game in a media minefield</span></span></span></b></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR49YEEwBhROknyDyImE2aEmbRixShJXs8uIhSOV8ogEDYxQUZXtDiK7NuFT23HOqw9SpgdA_D_j5lCu7eH_aCOCpmn0hoW8qiJnI_Q4DfoSxAKiz9mc_tVaBh-xaTWpi9HjF5PCDlp_h/s1600-h/Shilpa+Shetty%E2%80%99s+PC+at+Koparkhirane-7.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I remember, when Shilpa Shetty faced racial discrimination in Celebrity Big Brother, the whole of </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">UK</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> rallied behind her.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACMbiLpAmXJ8pC7xBXKnmGlxyruoX0QZt8DMVAF7pwu9kWhuKLcbmnnATv3YwS_dmJw-ziWqX9SonxthAZMIF5zcV6n6-uJ75TVIsShfsmmFnY1WrMz-pB-9m-33288sA0xzm7c_r-zka/s400/Shilpa+Shetty+in+Celebrity+Big+Brother.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379245107443973570" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 288px; " /></span><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR49YEEwBhROknyDyImE2aEmbRixShJXs8uIhSOV8ogEDYxQUZXtDiK7NuFT23HOqw9SpgdA_D_j5lCu7eH_aCOCpmn0hoW8qiJnI_Q4DfoSxAKiz9mc_tVaBh-xaTWpi9HjF5PCDlp_h/s1600-h/Shilpa+Shetty%E2%80%99s+PC+at+Koparkhirane-7.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR49YEEwBhROknyDyImE2aEmbRixShJXs8uIhSOV8ogEDYxQUZXtDiK7NuFT23HOqw9SpgdA_D_j5lCu7eH_aCOCpmn0hoW8qiJnI_Q4DfoSxAKiz9mc_tVaBh-xaTWpi9HjF5PCDlp_h/s400/Shilpa+Shetty%E2%80%99s+PC+at+Koparkhirane-7.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379245856475592354" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I was her publicist then and was overwhelmed with </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">UK</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> journalists calling me in Mumbai just to ascertain facts, while Shilpa faced Jade Goody’s onslaughts in the CBB House. But when SRK has alleged community discrimination, even many Indians are calling it a ‘publicity stunt’. Not fair.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">There is no such thing as bad publicity!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Let’s not forget that we are living in a market-driven world obsessed with spice and sensationalism and ruled by TRPs and tabloid journalism. If the public can lap up all the daily gossip with a mischievous smile, why are they questioning Shah Rukh’s genuine case so much?</span></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9izAhLlf-vv9g7js5SY5e12LJg6VfSfvMr0yuctQpgupKK3H4VXv8RX6CWiDsqtlFnXpy4yFb1ElDtannUuQ5u8tNqDUx6mka14U63qz-DLr33I_XT_t_cfc3oWXuE3qKjdDp6ZD7LPo/s1600-h/Shah+Rukh+Khan.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9izAhLlf-vv9g7js5SY5e12LJg6VfSfvMr0yuctQpgupKK3H4VXv8RX6CWiDsqtlFnXpy4yFb1ElDtannUuQ5u8tNqDUx6mka14U63qz-DLr33I_XT_t_cfc3oWXuE3qKjdDp6ZD7LPo/s400/Shah+Rukh+Khan.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379243042100717970" style="text-align: justify; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">SRK does not need gimmicks</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The episode angered and troubled him, so he spoke to the media. Big deal! He’s a public figure, and a huge one at that. He has all the right to voice his opinion. What’s more! Shah Rukh Khan does not need gimmicks. Yes, I agree that with this community discrimination controversy, ‘Brand SRK’ has just got bigger the world over, but that’s by default. Though this event would undoubtedly prop up the hype for ‘My Name Is Khan’, it couldn’t be intentional. And even if it is, what’s the harm? At least, the incident exposes the continuous discrimination towards the Muslim community in </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">America</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and gives hope to so many people around the world, seeking a life of respect. If people are hell bent on terming it a stunt; then they should call it a stunt with a cause!</span></span></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9izAhLlf-vv9g7js5SY5e12LJg6VfSfvMr0yuctQpgupKK3H4VXv8RX6CWiDsqtlFnXpy4yFb1ElDtannUuQ5u8tNqDUx6mka14U63qz-DLr33I_XT_t_cfc3oWXuE3qKjdDp6ZD7LPo/s1600-h/Shah+Rukh+Khan.JPG"></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">PR is a perception game</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Shah Rukh has raised a voice which so many throughout the world are identifying with. It’s only a matter of time (or maybe, with the right kind of PR) when his voice will be heard in the right perspective.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-13561771486881967102009-08-15T07:34:00.006+05:302009-08-15T07:57:01.747+05:30It’s never too late to be great<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqazU3DFL2wr_sSGWGWRcVwETCQUyMYPSwGGuNdgzIvtlXtch-SlKRRjWT5kSEHrA3J6T_VpQeCqUxjxF6yQZS8AaszVLSEtww86oAcohO1LRqk694igJwK0g412A7ACeqCs0s-YUn7uEl/s1600-h/troy20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqazU3DFL2wr_sSGWGWRcVwETCQUyMYPSwGGuNdgzIvtlXtch-SlKRRjWT5kSEHrA3J6T_VpQeCqUxjxF6yQZS8AaszVLSEtww86oAcohO1LRqk694igJwK0g412A7ACeqCs0s-YUn7uEl/s400/troy20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370011122631448226" /></a><div style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I remember each and every word of the opening sequence in the movie </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">‘Troy’</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> (it inspired me a lot). It goes – “Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity and so we ask ourselves, will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we're gone and wonder who we were? How bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved…” So true! Just like the great </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Napoléon Bonaparte </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">once stated,</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“Immortality is the recollection one leaves.” Last but not the least, a quote by </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Daniel J. Boorstin</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> – “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.”</span></span></div><div style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzveQRwUpXuEZZvlQb60I6NK_NG_v-GBJPoMGGCMKH3UUNcRR_OpRh12r0Maq6DlsWXE8JQaxPhpge7vgTFQRFVT3Hzcc4egyg9xxcBktm_0ng_QStt9RplyGCvt0JF5gjeEBOBe1V58y/s1600-h/troyonlinewp2.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W1x6Hn7swf817n8k8CrC95qXzoCFQemdDyb-9XomldYCad3eKc4k5O2D36C5cln1oGSgcwVlRuSt7gidTglmcug9scUF-nEXtwfTgidfcPHwTYysPVlspgKo2JRLsRsQ-3wub82-0j51/s1600-h/media-india.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6W1x6Hn7swf817n8k8CrC95qXzoCFQemdDyb-9XomldYCad3eKc4k5O2D36C5cln1oGSgcwVlRuSt7gidTglmcug9scUF-nEXtwfTgidfcPHwTYysPVlspgKo2JRLsRsQ-3wub82-0j51/s400/media-india.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370007080594477394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 274px; " /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Turn down the downturn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I’m often asked if good PR can really help in times of downturn. My answer is… when trading is difficult, advertising and marketing budgets are the first to be slashed. PR is the cheaper option to advertising. Moreover, getting attention is getting money. As they say, ‘</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Jo dikhta hai, woh bikta hai’</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. The clever ones could enhance visibility to tide over the recession.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQy1Fo5vDMwKOlhMvZ_wBK5MPXEH66pOvLvOaMZG01Xz-L8Qm2FxOhNbXOzcv5QkQhHkupKi63Yw2b162sdgL-9ohBwTDGVYmy9KpLuOYYQn7qAsd4a0p2pPYHEgdGykioef9mwCXKRCW/s400/pr3.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370007095439986722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 180px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Secure return on investment</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So what kind of PR could actors and makers do that would add to their image and brand? The number one objective for your publicist is to plan and position you as a stronger brand than before. Whether you are big or on the verge of making it to the top – whether you are looking at a personal PR exercise or film branding – the right kind of planned media coverage is going to help. This, in turn, will be helpful in securing return on investment, which is invaluable.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEjDsAyxcyYT9vEX1J26-ZX4tNTIBl9MkkE1cniuBIobekPNBGnHzD2yMQxwUU1okaOVgyR5k2ew-7VbklEoy1qUjwuyHrNp_Qz4cvlRDx-wlBUjuirlQ1k0JL5-oAP1yyPuCW1fNRk5E/s400/605.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370009354065753122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">PR is cost-effective</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Many argue that advertising achieves similar results to a PR exercise. Yes, somewhat. But don’t forget that consumers have always relied and believed more in the written word, like articles and snippets, than on advertising. Also, advertising campaigns cost a lot more than PR campaigns.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Smart PR is the cost-effective way to get your message across to the relevant audience. And everyone needs to manage their reputation in front of their target audience. Realising all this, a lot of advertising and marketing agencies have now launched PR divisions. Yes, PR, advertising and marketing combined, do make a better impact, but for obvious monetary reasons, PR is taking the lead now.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">And Bollywood is already taking the PR route to get their message across. We know of so many prominent actors who are strategizing to ‘consolidate’ their position in the industry, while their competitors are thinking of ‘survival’ during recession.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vd5qAJtrnDCkVC3cUfUjvP5LVFYVEXIgvdrexlCJ5R60neyBvU1mEA30XKtVT2TOV0uqFEcb903N052JauInu4RAu69_3V5P9yqhyphenhyphenMhjvASYL3rat_tZJ7jshZxT9WPgzIqp_v3YqJBo/s400/graph-rising.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370009364931007698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 166px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Consolidate your brand</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The question is, does it make sense to wait for things to get better, or the market to improve? If you ask me, I’d say, it never makes sense to wait for anything. It’s better to get going, pump up your PR and actively market yourself. For those who do, the field will be relatively open at such a crucial time. I would say, this is ‘the’ time for some neat brand consolidation. So don’t wait for recession to end. Start stamping your brand.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-82765439950416181392009-08-10T06:49:00.000+05:302009-08-15T07:34:05.175+05:30‘Amitabh Bachchan ran away with Rekha!…’<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7nXeF9ezglIarnws1dE5l5Byw6krR6g5Z8EoC-TSN5e42Td_lr_qhBp39Db1fImgFrksl9NIL9RoBJY6ROlcBnNmpx_tYLrQKlp8nlIqySXRsf_zXGvUOcZ8YI-6T0gQe8cP5NWuGcyx/s1600-h/amitabh+Dale+Bhagwagar+has+an+eye+on+the+media+as+it+interviews+Amitabh+Bachchan+for+a+film+he+did+PR+for.+Pic+1.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Media has always been about great and shocking headlines. ‘</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Amitabh Bachchan</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> ran away with </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Rekha</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">!’ will always make a better headline than ‘</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Laloo Prasad</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> ran away with a train!’</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7nXeF9ezglIarnws1dE5l5Byw6krR6g5Z8EoC-TSN5e42Td_lr_qhBp39Db1fImgFrksl9NIL9RoBJY6ROlcBnNmpx_tYLrQKlp8nlIqySXRsf_zXGvUOcZ8YI-6T0gQe8cP5NWuGcyx/s1600-h/amitabh+Dale+Bhagwagar+has+an+eye+on+the+media+as+it+interviews+Amitabh+Bachchan+for+a+film+he+did+PR+for.+Pic+1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7nXeF9ezglIarnws1dE5l5Byw6krR6g5Z8EoC-TSN5e42Td_lr_qhBp39Db1fImgFrksl9NIL9RoBJY6ROlcBnNmpx_tYLrQKlp8nlIqySXRsf_zXGvUOcZ8YI-6T0gQe8cP5NWuGcyx/s400/amitabh+Dale+Bhagwagar+has+an+eye+on+the+media+as+it+interviews+Amitabh+Bachchan+for+a+film+he+did+PR+for.+Pic+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369997967294457586" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Let me tell you a PR secret of mine. When chalking out news angles, story ideas and planning gossip pegs for my clients, I always think in headlines. Then, the text just follows and fits into place. It’s simple logic. If the headline catches your reader’s attention (like this one caught yours), more than half your battle is won. The rest of it depends on how gripping the content and adjoining picture is.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJWxDEiGDfBQN5rEFIfdx4Uacb1fyY5o5kcEAZNkSNp9BJ0hzTu8Nnu9imcTLUDif0m5hU0cXd9pQKs5xbUyuZbhJ-jtqgTUazZX3kVCTAfZevnZFZem2tVez6X2FWNhGG43hVGY2rfv5/s400/shilpa+shetty+Richard+Gere+-+Shilpa+Shetty+Pic+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369997000733390530" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 158px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Photographs speak for themselves. A good picture will get better placements, while an ordinary one could get the best of story ideas dropped. If your publicist gets this combo right, national mileage can be cakewalk for you or your movie. A good PR will always brainstorm and then guide you with smart headlines.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnOONMixYuaeIgVisj77hO41bGQscYBzAwznxsLDA_4npTF75GnaxvAY2wxz8OvtJgt4Yg95xuGR0zuZPiy1CW4_I2a9U1daHaMSd-aKetA8nynk0Ow-ykvQFPUoizrFwJcCkltYbCWxQ/s400/shilpa+Dale+Bhagwagar+stands+in+support+as+client+Shilpa+Shetty+addresses+the+media+on+Richard+Gere+controversy.+-+Pic+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369997023367431650" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">PRs are often labelled ‘spin doctors’ because of their ability to turn, twist, tweak and spin write-ups in a way which suits and benefits their clients. I do this all the time. Though, since I have a journalistic background (I was a scribe for eight years before I turned PR 12 years ago), my conscience makes sure I draw a line of correctness and ethics even while I deal with gossip, spice and sensationalism; elements that today’s market-driven media seeks in abundance.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYXi-HVepvseDqVNiM1VDZcxxbjKHOnOCIUc0HUlxMJEhO81hhy-GaLEvbnT3WM5X88r8SVsGLb8lp_uOaAYvnX5DsbQVYabBsyNAAoMfky3PWIiLlitRln8VUgGAAEcVx3px3JhQxzZJ/s1600-h/Sherlyn+Chopra+2+(Image+Courtesy+-+Dale+Bhagwagar+Media+Group).jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYXi-HVepvseDqVNiM1VDZcxxbjKHOnOCIUc0HUlxMJEhO81hhy-GaLEvbnT3WM5X88r8SVsGLb8lp_uOaAYvnX5DsbQVYabBsyNAAoMfky3PWIiLlitRln8VUgGAAEcVx3px3JhQxzZJ/s400/Sherlyn+Chopra+2+(Image+Courtesy+-+Dale+Bhagwagar+Media+Group).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369997010651762962" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have handled PR for </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Priyanka Chopra</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in her initial days, when she was surrounded by controversies. Later, I took care of </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shilpa Shetty’s</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> publicity and endeavoured to brand her as ‘the diva in news 24/7’ during the most spectacular five years of her career. This was through the thick and thin of the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Celebrity Big Brother</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> controversy, followed by the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Richard Gere</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> pecks controversy and many many many more. I used media help to build and propel newbie </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sherlyn Chopra</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> into the bold, shocking and outrageous brand that she is now known to be. Some time ago, I was hired by </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Man</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> magazine to put out all the gossip about the now-famous </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Neetu Chandra</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> male-fantasy photo-shoot. The news-hammering probably got Neetu more national media mileage than the pre-release hype of her films. Please note that I am not bragging here, but trying to make a point that I achieved all this, simply by making some striking and hard-hitting headlines for the press releases and articles about my clients.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGWQ9A6FE7i_BGelSIztPZFWm94E2yFQNLpcT0vNzCihhzCcFHAuWaFGnrVV8IbUHNAIFV2d0JHFaxGE6GsnIJlCVmRIHcxx5FAku2zdTGUaVGh5KUG8k7VEJLCVWwJivddccM4oiNE4C/s400/dale+article++inditop-image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369996994793491362" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some time ago a popular website termed me the “King of Spin”. Around the same time, the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Live India</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> television channel alleged that I create Controversy Queens out of my actress clients. To tell you the truth, I am no king – I’m just a PR who has mastered the art of playing with headlines. And if that makes me a Controversy Queen-maker, I don’t really mind the tag. Cause I am just doing my job.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ciwUJaJ-8CMEK7-RKTdwFQHQUFdeJzQoikITKsoAaI7xmJw-iXfPV7W67VpjuXZlQhkunbW0__A_gwuc0xy89wmpYnkl4i7aEikoTg30VOQ0aA6Omx4_KxjBadHqhy3GQq6h3RB01Q5V/s400/The+controversial+Neetu+Chandra+male+fantasy+photo+shoot+for+%E2%80%98The+Man%E2%80%99+magazine.+It+propelled+her+to+great+fame+and+got+her+more+eyeballs+than+the+pre-release+hype+of+her+movies..jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369996984690627202" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you have your publicist think in headlines too, you can be bang-on with our gossip-hungry media. You too can achieve national headlines and Breaking News for yourself and your products.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-45209322862928255452009-08-07T06:40:00.001+05:302009-08-15T07:15:55.613+05:30Making dreams come true!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This week, there was an unusual mail I received. A reader asked me a strange question – ‘Why PR? Why is there a need for a thing like this and why do we need to know about it?’ Today’s piece explains just that. Why do you need to read up on PR, imaging, branding or crisis management? That might just be the question popping in your minds too.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4UFiVNn-y2WFQhdQ4BQxwNpjoqqQamSt1enCexLuAqiF_jBfU-Nnr9rN-tWziGWJ18-maeFekhIqn3_VCTkzmox1Xo9ASXaA9OEfnmYJnAsO9j6muOfqjthOQVL8xvnOuBLkFKgRIvEO/s400/500_1190400156_269920_2753.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370000651485027346" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We are living in a world where perception is reality. For better or for worse, not many are bothered about what the reality is. Most people believe in all the news and gossip they read in the papers or see on television. They CHOOSE to believe all of the written word. Though reality might be different. But most readers, viewers, surfers and listeners (and you are well aware that this figure runs into lakhs and crores) are not interested in reality as much as they are in glamour and spice.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQUWjr0vWBWohjlgeCDTQnesEF0xBax2nDcRUjjzUEdKrybfdAl-RkeSvxZz99SWSY_K6ldVFVpzWiUwgRdMF1bszWRMM41JALAGXEX2EjktgR7dbA2zR32rMAJ87NFTobm9rYd6MTJhm/s400/graph.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369992621116177090" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Who is it that forms these perceptions and helps make opinions. Obviously, the papers, the TV channels, the various websites, social media and the FM stations. And who is it that influences the journalists, TV hosts and anchors, RJ’s and web writers the best? It is the publicists. It’s the daily job of a publicist to reach out, convince the media to cover his clients in a certain way and influence the perceptions of the fourth estate. He does this, so that the write-ups and reports reflect his client’s sentiments, requirements and needs.</span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfatDMyWC4koVrnW2BT3CcZd5VjCciMqmDMRWYjn-q1Y1GAHkUojiVhZ97ouGUuZGEPcHdoeQj_l3E_sQIO3Q8GlZBBXt7kHoF8mqtKFoA-BkkyauaxmAxEowxQ6Vb2pZkh4ZzcfB4hmX/s400/500_1190155655_web_domain_registration.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370000668057856578" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For a good publicist, communication is a daily commitment, not a monthly ritual. He dedicates his life and times to communication and his clients. He helps make dreams come true. That’s why, I often say, from what a PR gets, he might make a living. But from what a PR gives, he might make a life.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-30835204577943294582009-08-01T04:32:00.002+05:302009-08-20T17:01:34.234+05:30Use Facebook as a powerful business tool<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Though I am a very net-savvy person, I’ve been a latecomer on </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Facebook (FB)</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. I’ve been neck-deep into </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Blogs</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wikipedia</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">IMDB</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Google Videos</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">YouTube</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">G-chat</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and even into </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">SEO</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Search Engine Optimisation</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) for my clients. But I joined Facebook only four months ago, after my close friend and journalist </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Noyon Jyoti Parasara</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> coaxed me into it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21Fae3wzW_UEhIxAfIwcyAfXWPR_fHGJsxdE_oCb-AbVvAaPmfEBTgP7s4q2xn2GdWEGUCi_VkkMaBqOfqjGTjYSdBV1gifaWFkqJxvKe6Ult2sP65F70W9Ff6L6KNUjq52Riza90tSvJ/s400/facebook+grab+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369999581698314786" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px; " /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After padding my account by inviting hundreds of ‘friends’ to join me, I realised that Facebook could be used as a powerful business tool, simply because almost 25-30 percent of Bollywood is on it… many hooked to it.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4-Brd7m969SDdRKC5R-xHBco_LTE9g3nvm9s7cfMo5CXuOIZlnkIGbvq6-pNucy4HpdWzciiMNpMOikgfYDBsLH3DI93hnpxSez3NCPc0Yi_R29dy959IpqllM7jCDuqUi4CiqMy0D4r/s1600-h/fb+grab7.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4-Brd7m969SDdRKC5R-xHBco_LTE9g3nvm9s7cfMo5CXuOIZlnkIGbvq6-pNucy4HpdWzciiMNpMOikgfYDBsLH3DI93hnpxSez3NCPc0Yi_R29dy959IpqllM7jCDuqUi4CiqMy0D4r/s400/fb+grab7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369959604829510834" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><div style="text-align: justify;">And then the magic happened for me. I casually chatted with an actress on the site, exchanged numbers, met her and turned her into a client within four days of the chat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDM2GYR_8IvfZYvKTYXITpRKshRaUucYNkM_6rhpwUI_BW1T8DB20lbSSrTzr0LpgeDZC8BMyt65aR2IxUZRRaqREPVB0K7ZNQXwmTgDRKEKrYyWQTPAxSUjdBDKWozfYRNC4oswHECV4/s400/fb+brab5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369999567525754482" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></span></div></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This meant EXTRA income for me… income which was added purely because of Facebook. From that day, I began taking the site seriously, updating regular posts and links, pics and videos, chatting and adding more and more ‘friends’ to my list.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEWjVQCHoMyDyJRKAdEJWhcZOmoGVxFjaMh1VYm5xNV49hKBUVe8lAken2KAGQHM6U7TLEOVpoa-z6R8YvD12EDauNucAe-1__ltkzEKEzibbqyfTn9jdWdBCxgysWEj7kPISyzmlWiZk/s400/fb+grab2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369999575088758018" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Meanwhile, another of my closest journalist friends </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pavithra Selvam</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> put me on to a guy called </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kiran Pillai</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> who also specialised in Social Media. Kiran looked like a shy simpleton when he met me. He took a briefing from me, bounced off a couple of ideas to improve the look of my FB account and met me for a second meeting loaded with more ideas to improve my overall social media standing.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRwabbrZX-24ccl1-u-n7vLtbmmoflVCwdF5OLBeEu5kOtd3ekqPKQqvurmhbhZoKHYVD-t_wuykXZEOUbQuUlOiJpKVYiGjI9769WrLGsCSwu5AFmBP9WRKW-MuWl9sPqh0MCyNvpAS1/s400/fb+grab4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369959591744899282" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px; " /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></o:p></span></p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To my surprise, Kiran began discussing what he termed </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Brand Dale”</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Ah… now now!! I specialise in creating and building brands and influencing media and public opinion. And this guy was talking about building ‘my’ brand. He caught my interest. Since I felt he made a lot of sense, I took him on as my </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">‘Social Media Publicist’</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. My friends haven’t stopped pulling my leg since then. “A publicist for a publicist, eh?”, they joke.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DWjItO45PQa1Qx5ZbJffGDDCoY2QxJumQs6gJUbpeH2VNPIZWlJ7eEVzUXHvHoFCDIlD53RXcG35JE-ZxY7HXVMJSaNRRJSPA__4Y6wy0LKpoNcQGL1_FsVnxt-uYZbq5uRM8dezkTh5/s400/fb+grab3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369959582754075074" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Within no time, Kiran completely transformed my FB account into one of the well-packaged ones in media. Today, after just four months of being on Facebook, I have many nice people from Bollywood on my ‘friend list’ and I’m talking serious business with a few (some of them might be reading this too and smiling). My new-found ‘publicist’ (wink) even helped me design a section where he incorporated my entire </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">PR Agency Blog</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> on my Facebook account. So now, every time I update my PR clients’ Press Releases and images on the Blog, the additions automatically get updated on Facebook. Isn’t that cool?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvsFln1E-37Jdf052vNUvXJJnoLwbkaAKxOmzrnC6LNGraZ-TNPPvremSj6JKY3FYLzKq6UfF1zjchyphenhyphenF01GO33Oy6Fr1e4jVf8ArA5fAa_od0NkKzYhoLH4CcznzXhBNury6xKZy6ju5e/s400/fb+grab1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369959572966808194" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px; " /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My Facebook account has now turned into a full-fledged business tool for my PR agency </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dale Bhagwagar Media Group</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and on an average, I receive 2-3 extra offers for work every day. Being ‘selective’ has a whole new meaning for me now. And the same could be for you too. Check me out on </span></span><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/dalebhagwagar"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.facebook.com/dalebhagwagar</span></span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and let me know what you think of my account.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-13694144064645957692009-07-15T04:15:00.005+05:302009-08-15T07:30:53.357+05:30Media is being unfair to Yash Raj… but the fault lies within<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yash Raj Films (YRF) is no longer a banner – it’s an empire. Mentioning some of its films here would almost be belittling the force that YRF has been since 1970. So it pains me to see the media play games with a super-reputed brand like this. Sorry to say, Yash Raj doesn’t play the media anymore, at least not like it used to. Now, YRF is being ‘viewed’ to try too hard to sustain its reputation.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ47tD9Mu4Ydhaxv77jiXbyuwRGXsYahjCv8g_lrEZBWq9l6__-HtLwV0KyTCihPMtPSEL9FLWvtQBNLELpKDmUE3QVqFGIzl4Y47CMTP3QfUCPY0WikQwPnN7KOGN105xhmnKBHzSJPj/s400/UnfairLogo01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369984527126950402" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So review after review, write-up after write-up, why is the media being ruthless to a brand which has given us mega-hits since four decades? Isn’t this critical onslaught unfair to a success story that has been legendary? Let’s go right to the roots.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">From my little 23 years of experience in media, first as a journalist for 11 years (since my school days) and later as a PR for 12 years, as I see it, there are various factors. But I’ll tackle the most noteworthy ones here. To start with, I should mention a line which a prominent journalist wrote in Mumbai Mirror the other day… “Success breeds respect, success breeds love.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Okil7ljHMs-FaG5y4vrTLz5Xq-NapqroxskP1igEcELD6lEWsbX9XbvOF-5OjKzkHYXz65cI4QG0E19C2h2flKWRPmiDLdWqiXCNklj2r9DtLxDGGbNNRA60ppgDvCulmD6kzsa6O_S6/s400/01_tr_media_col_gif.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370001584673510562" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 101px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These words hold true for almost every product, organisation and celebrity today, when brands are being stamped with ‘success’ and ‘failure’ by the over-enthusiastic media, waiting to pronounce ‘judgement’ all the time. And we all know that YRF’s hit-parade has slowed down off late.</span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-25M1qlRsXdOHNnQpuSihoaXla4jizhTnMS49tYnCZnLPRGBof9wiLY6G9UGGrkbQjfeXGTUOEcwVDxtankP-ywTa-wFfHeh8DnjpZPY3YLuRAvbpQCGJpYn4fTdvjy1eliF_rHv9LSI/s400/12-Communication-Skills-for.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370001598356892882" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There’s another side to it, which Yash Raj doesn’t seem to have realised yet. And that is the PR side of things. We are living in a world where perception is reality. Smart PRs are great perception builders. They mould, make, break and remake images. They play with minds in the fourth estate, shape opinions, influence write-ups… with focus and an octopus approach… things that ultimately result in changing the outlook of society. Today, YRF needs that kind of PR.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f5LvXhnlRWN5D1et8WSTV-3q2lLdLl_m2YH5tTKNPvbffqw9kGz16d-0l9mA7GBLu8D30S-bErnSpTrkHrsSk6CvE4n86mgtZgy2o8L6lN-qOq9V1Uvx7il7FOppEPTfcLVwDRfM9KNp/s1600-h/pr2.gif"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f5LvXhnlRWN5D1et8WSTV-3q2lLdLl_m2YH5tTKNPvbffqw9kGz16d-0l9mA7GBLu8D30S-bErnSpTrkHrsSk6CvE4n86mgtZgy2o8L6lN-qOq9V1Uvx7il7FOppEPTfcLVwDRfM9KNp/s200/pr2.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369954942998668642" style="text-align: justify; float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 200px; " /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As much as the empire needs to strike back with hits, it needs that ‘correct’ PR push and re-imaging… which many in my profession term a ‘makeover’. And all this with subtle manipulation… cause no man ever likes to be manipulated when it is obvious.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What I’m going to say next might sound a bit bitter, but the fact is, that the empire has mismanaged its PR in the last 4 years. Apparently, some of the people who worked in their internal PR department are said to have given so much attitude to the media in the last few years, that even after they have left the company, the ‘attitude’ tag is unshakeable. One simple way to break this impression and break it hard, would be to shift the control and outsource PR for some time, before reverting to an internal PR department again.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouLd1wbbVdoXQPSq57o4EpIzuB_Cu0cc8eYXgKHe2pymXoxJ5PLchKxYwGnApXZl5PznKSlo2-fhJxM-bbxjqrG6bn1Ge2LAKLGRY_-oSfLxyER0lv6ruCfVZ50lvYfeUEMQhNoXrKluu/s400/crown1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370001620481511890" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 246px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yash Raj is Yash Raj, a pioneer among pioneers in Bollywood. I guess, we all know from within, that this is just a temporary low, till the empire strikes back with a huge hit, and success starts breeding love and respect once again. But yes, this time round, it will matter more than any other time, how YRF handles the media; the PR side of things. At the cost of repetition, I reiterate one of my favourite lines… we are living in a world where perception is reality.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-73710118741122781392009-05-23T02:24:00.001+05:302009-05-23T02:29:00.637+05:30Conscience talks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOPasGaVRwLl_uNhWVsFq5rO17R2GQaS7_OCPK8v-SkIcXzuhVC_X40QUwvr1dlFCpHJZOOLbbOiuO_a34U2KzSytRtNN0FFKAPUxfXJzenY6cDgD3EAshWc2HBRKq-SqUi8ff84SkFjZ/s1600-h/scales.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOPasGaVRwLl_uNhWVsFq5rO17R2GQaS7_OCPK8v-SkIcXzuhVC_X40QUwvr1dlFCpHJZOOLbbOiuO_a34U2KzSytRtNN0FFKAPUxfXJzenY6cDgD3EAshWc2HBRKq-SqUi8ff84SkFjZ/s200/scales.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338755654632875506" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">GUNJAN KAPUR, MA PUBLIC RELATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINISTER, LONDON: You openly admit that you twist, turn and spin stories. Can PR ever be ethical? What’s your take?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">DALE: I come from a journalistic background, a place where ethics have ruled over the decades. So while I manipulate as a PR, I also let my conscience do the talking. It keeps me far away from attempting the unethical. I do exaggerate a bit to provide the required spice, but I don’t really lie.</span></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-5717764156487492282009-05-11T18:34:00.010+05:302023-03-21T03:07:28.486+05:30Follow your heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA, ENTREPRENEUR, AUTHOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR (INFORMATION), U.P. GOVERNMENT: What made you choose the PR line?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: I was first attracted to the glamour and glitz, so I ventured into entertainment journalism. Then, after eight years as a journalist, I realised I was getting stagnated. I started looking for an alternate profession, when I realised PR is one that is very close to journalism, as I would be practically dealing with the same media people who were my colleagues as a journalist. But to be honest, it was the monies that PR offered that attracted me more and more towards it. I felt, while journalism was a profession, PR was a business. I wasn’t wrong.</span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334555984813788978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3X_tiD28sFE34RO93qHBlbgRXLZ-Z_24yEdHCh8MC_c6ryHj2W1psM6yxlo0hiHXhoRSCojHccXI2R16aNrHGBLG8ZWhdgIjZ807-n6M-9VsgLda5zcIEh42Gz6f803hsza9O0aGuwo7m/s200/insvikrant.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 142px;" /></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: So how did you kickstart your career in PR?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: In 1997, there was this big Naval awards event on the decommissioned ship; the historical INS Vikrant. This event was to have participation from a lot of film celebrities. But the event management agency handling it, were not able to take care of the PR side of it. There were just 3-4 days left, when they asked me if I could take over and offered me good monies. I told them, I was a journalist and knew all the people of my fraternity in mainstream media; so I could try to get my friends to attend. They agreed and I slogged for the next three days and did my best. The event finally received a huge media turnout and front page coverage in most of the top line papers the next day. That’s the time I realised I could do PR too and quite effectively. Same week, I decided to shift gears from journalism to public relations and started the process. I have a particular style of working which only works for me. And that gives a niche.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: What is your average day like?</span></span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: Actually, there is no rule. It completely depends on my schedule, which varies from day to day, mostly depending on the assignments I’m working on. </span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334560292912452066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHCquKQseGGg0WzgpzTsd_36du_sF-1JTP9A9AxXICNPS_KiCf5DzD6LExfT3HKISn76AeIiCwPW861tJcR1Igc9FDgrDhQ9rvz_WokbUEjy0T6i9WqhhbnYRaSdaPqPZdqhK7Opyvn0d/s200/des80.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 193px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 200px;" /></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: You look smart, fit, pleasant and happy. Do you gym? Or are you into yoga? What is your fitness mantra?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: Thanks for the compliment. But I rarely exercise. Though, I’m a lot into right eating habits… greens, naturopathy and stuff. L</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ots of raw veggies, fruits and dry fruits keeps me going at my maddening pace. And I love to take on more and more work all the time. But at the same time I’m a big foodie. I love Biryani, Dum Aloo Amritsari and vegetables like Dill and Spinach. At times, I indulge myself with gourmet pizzas, pastas, rolls and cheesy dips. Basically, I love good food. </span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: Can you briefly explain the way you spend your time every day?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: When I’m not on my comp, I’m out doing appointments or watching movies at trial shows or on DVD. And if I get time in between, I hang out at Indian or Italian eateries with my friends. Most of my friends have crazier are busier schedules than mine, so many a times, I just land up at their offices and pull them out with me. They hate me for doing that, but by the end of the evening they thank me for the same. I am pretty unstoppable if I really want to do something madly. My best friends have always known me like that so they don’t mind much.</span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334560291397872258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnxybYN-IW0jcbNK9c2czY0PjzKXDqhpZ0IAJf_Mse2RRdHHfo9w8xW-dIQRrrzJGy2R_QWgvkkmfokq6j7sH0-V03C383VAsbd0MToMyFaFMkKr5xElx4rADFWZFR3-Mpx1fAieD_hml/s200/444222_dl_od.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 149px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 200px;" /></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: Have you thought about doing PR for politicians? Has anybody approached you so far? What would be your prescription, if any infamous politician wants you to handle or guide his PR operations?</span></span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: Nowadays most politicians are infamous for something or the other. But I’d like to handle Narendra Modi because I feel I can do wonders for him to increase his popularity with the youth. He is immensely popular in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, but the time has come when he has to go national. The wave of passion (the kind that people of his state show for him) has to spread all over the country, if he has to outdo his competitors at a national level. I also feel Raj Thackeray has achieved what he wanted to achieve with the entire hullabaloo we saw last year. He got free media mileage worth crores of rupees but failed to translate it into something constructive. I really feel, he desperately needs a media manipulator like me. Yes, you heard it right! I AM a manipulator and I have no qualms in admitting that. Because manipulating, creating and moulding perceptions, is my JOB.</span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: Has any PR expert inspired you?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: Yes, I do keep a track of international entertainment PRs like the notorious Max Clifford, Madonna’s gossip-churning publicist Liz Rosenberg, subtle self-branding maestro Glenn Selig, Jackie Cooper of JCPR, Lee Solters, Matthew Freud, Roland Rudd, the flamboyant Lizzie Grubman, the sharp and smart Marcus Brewster, the fearful iron-lady Pat Kingsley, the ‘News of the World’ editor-turned-PR Andy Coulson and ‘media futurist’ Gerd Leonhard. </span></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtQ_lvCeqHtzmn56f9qHNMfQb6BuoaYHP3k5l1CtPYVrqAbfXB9D-PV4a-Uz9kXfeb6FCjWQIydnjzArly5ixc9JBLYKMnwXx8pimWiWNXhE8XcxNCndJlzd2gbih1_7nclP38opym2d3/s1600-h/maxclifford1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334555976405300866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtQ_lvCeqHtzmn56f9qHNMfQb6BuoaYHP3k5l1CtPYVrqAbfXB9D-PV4a-Uz9kXfeb6FCjWQIydnjzArly5ixc9JBLYKMnwXx8pimWiWNXhE8XcxNCndJlzd2gbih1_7nclP38opym2d3/s200/maxclifford1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ASHOK K SHARMA: Any message for the youngsters aspiring to follow your footsteps?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">DALE: Certainly, I’d like to tell them all, not to follow me but to follow their hearts. This little quality could take them places; even ahead of me.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-4154512890189571442009-04-29T10:10:00.000+05:302009-05-11T18:27:40.065+05:30PR is a very complicated and conniving world today!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ09TZNqeqB2xKEhguDHChLMgREvhB0bySTvFwSwSzM8R6zPd8C8Nbwz221xFx20CgFxk2XHw9lmGQd2QuFftIVJQEPFlwSVS1SmrU1MXlU5Xz3rRnokwhAOr8hdWFq_ZPvHkJJnQYiCb/s1600-h/des83.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ09TZNqeqB2xKEhguDHChLMgREvhB0bySTvFwSwSzM8R6zPd8C8Nbwz221xFx20CgFxk2XHw9lmGQd2QuFftIVJQEPFlwSVS1SmrU1MXlU5Xz3rRnokwhAOr8hdWFq_ZPvHkJJnQYiCb/s200/des83.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334549097886683330" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB">INDRANI RAJKHOWA, TIMES LIFE, THE TIMES OF <st1:country-region st="on">INDIA</st1:country-region>, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">NEW DELHI</st1:city></st1:place>: How would you define contemporary Bollywood PR?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">DALE: We are super schemers and master manipulators in the garb of publicists. We play mind-games with media, over story ideas, news and gossip pegs, in order to promote and image our clients in the way we want. We turn, twist, spin, plant and plug stories to suit our strategies and media plans for our clients. I’ve never revealed this before, so you might be surprised that today my job is equally about concealment of stories, protection and crisis management, than imaging and branding. There are times, when I am specifically hired to divert media attention from certain facets of an actor’s life, than to build images. I’m even working in secrecy, for this extremely famous actress, while no one, except my small staff and media reps, is aware of what I’m plugging where, and in what name. PR is a very complicated and conniving world today. And not many in the profession itself; have fully understood its tentacles.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-49659409742523272872009-04-24T15:59:00.000+05:302009-05-11T18:28:13.874+05:30Images of politicians are at higher risk!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbRvBk9U1nm9JVaCJ8fZ9nd_EXaQNI49R5c50bOljJ0-PHBn4gMNRkmDPUuLaaLr8jXW-D1JVa83dMGqmo2iEkI7IdP-4NhDj36zTCkUCEVSvlIsBpFTNQPCE2IgDYEIM6PmbltT82YO6/s1600-h/shoe_throwing.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbRvBk9U1nm9JVaCJ8fZ9nd_EXaQNI49R5c50bOljJ0-PHBn4gMNRkmDPUuLaaLr8jXW-D1JVa83dMGqmo2iEkI7IdP-4NhDj36zTCkUCEVSvlIsBpFTNQPCE2IgDYEIM6PmbltT82YO6/s200/shoe_throwing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334545385472629282" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span lang="EN-GB">SHALINI SINGH, GLITTERING <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">INDIA, MUMBAI</st1:country-region></st1:place>: There is an increase in shoe-throwing incidents across the country. Do you think this is the right way of showing anger towards the politicians?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">DALE: Unlike an actor or a businessman; whose images and reputations can be rectified with crisis management, the scene with a politician is different. Once the image of a politician is marred, it’s very difficult to bring it back to original state. Maybe, a lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">aam junta</i> has realised this delicate situation. That is why they want to hurt the politicians (for their misdoings) where it actually hurts, i.e. their 'brand' and 'image'. Considering the politicos are ruthless in the way they sway public opinion and often misuse public sentiments to their advantage, hurling shoes at them by the public, is just replying in a similar language; the one people feel, the politicos understand. From that point of view, its justified. But I should add that its unfortunate, that we don’t have many politicians in our country who we can look up to.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-46865411197678813802009-03-20T10:03:00.005+05:302009-03-20T10:07:26.631+05:30Controversies haven’t affected Shilpa's popularity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Yl3qQJdZxujl0Tv4VBqGL1S3VoqhqsxkTTQMeSy8xB-D-csawjEnVffY9TIJiBwdqcwbqwoWdC6yp0Gxm9hyCao9TO820m5ZUcP8EvIsDk-egJ_pMhmlmgl1PHa6s_DkiKjbsWgnwIzC/s1600-h/shilpa-richard+gere.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Yl3qQJdZxujl0Tv4VBqGL1S3VoqhqsxkTTQMeSy8xB-D-csawjEnVffY9TIJiBwdqcwbqwoWdC6yp0Gxm9hyCao9TO820m5ZUcP8EvIsDk-egJ_pMhmlmgl1PHa6s_DkiKjbsWgnwIzC/s400/shilpa-richard+gere.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315124224275453890" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">HOOSNA, LONDON, UK: Shilpa Shetty has been the most controversial film actress off late. She has even received a lot of negative press? Is slander actually good to be in the public eye? Where does one draw the line?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">DALE: Ever since ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ happened to her, Shilpa Shetty has been falling into some controversy or the other. And though she has tried her best to evade them, they seem to have a choli daaman ka saath in her case. Luckily, most of the controversies have been clarified and negative press hasn’t harmed her at all. I guess, as long as one is not creating controversies as part of media hype, its fine. But inadvertently, when one falls into it, the best way is to let your PR machinery handle it, give it the right turn and end it your way.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-32320136071151916962009-03-19T10:27:00.001+05:302009-03-21T11:14:28.766+05:30Gossiping on gossip !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDpGLgZblKADUUJ4s1Y_zF0Y3eOLO-lhaqkbIWi5HJfBKpkCA4cLtFE6H6Ul8299xCLldYgELzx4gbxk_JePMWTs-ZldFl4Yettm3DRuj3386wpBIIbDF4gdcp0dWwYugRhHK-SajSwzC/s1600-h/Aishwarya+Rai.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDpGLgZblKADUUJ4s1Y_zF0Y3eOLO-lhaqkbIWi5HJfBKpkCA4cLtFE6H6Ul8299xCLldYgELzx4gbxk_JePMWTs-ZldFl4Yettm3DRuj3386wpBIIbDF4gdcp0dWwYugRhHK-SajSwzC/s200/Aishwarya+Rai.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315512770317062866" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ASHA CHOWDARY, DNA, BANGALORE: What do celebrities feel about people who are crazy about them and want to be like them?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">DALE: We are living in a society where idolizing and adulation are part and parcel of our daily lifestyles. Even our media is so celeb-driven that they constantly want to sneak even into the personal lives of stars. Don’t be surprised, but many actors too want it to be this way. It kind of endorses their popularity. So they feed the media with gossip which satisfies their needs, wants and publicity ambitions. Most of the bigger stars don’t succumb to this, but the smaller ones do. It’s a world with ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ attitude and most celebs and so-called celebs can’t help living in it and doing whatever it takes to survive.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-28960044405556453382009-03-18T13:28:00.002+05:302009-03-18T13:42:11.909+05:30‘The Sexy Shirtless Salman’ is a hardcore PR move<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV__tfQ4dbWuT8eREcxLBxcujECV4PCJjP07ANz1o43ha_b7UhNnLcC5SaczLbeV7HgAaUFxgpNGZj2oL8FC3VF6ByCups9kY-Dtk6udM6dHBmD5A9Gddp-4bWobWIh1bOv75tPCSqXhLV/s1600-h/salman+khan+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV__tfQ4dbWuT8eREcxLBxcujECV4PCJjP07ANz1o43ha_b7UhNnLcC5SaczLbeV7HgAaUFxgpNGZj2oL8FC3VF6ByCups9kY-Dtk6udM6dHBmD5A9Gddp-4bWobWIh1bOv75tPCSqXhLV/s200/salman+khan+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314437564957909058" /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">SUMITA BANNERJEE, KOLKATA: I heard that Salman Khan will play Tarzan in a new Anees Bazmee film? Could he be doing this role to find just another reason to remove his shirt?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">DALE: Tarzan never wore a shirt in the first place, so for a change, Salman won’t need to remove one. As long as the audience loves them, Salman is enjoying his ‘sexy bare-chested nanga-punga antics’. I think, he does them more and more to please his fans. I look at it as a hardcore PR move on his part.</span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650018039478089126.post-82922947224150733302009-03-17T15:23:00.000+05:302009-03-18T13:27:52.065+05:30Nude or not nude; Ranbir will make it<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdiQQSkV2vc_70slg44TME6TCmQBdHxwvaNDhvkXbQa6usgXusWAvE498GgaGZCh7T5vSnPd9_E87O9HtdeMTVDNxxzOv02NBilYsGGuIti-sEpYhRVRh9nggPC_77P0f9A33kqPXkT6o/s1600-h/ranbir+-+saawariya1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdiQQSkV2vc_70slg44TME6TCmQBdHxwvaNDhvkXbQa6usgXusWAvE498GgaGZCh7T5vSnPd9_E87O9HtdeMTVDNxxzOv02NBilYsGGuIti-sEpYhRVRh9nggPC_77P0f9A33kqPXkT6o/s200/ranbir+-+saawariya1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314432955097142002" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">MANGESH SARPOTDAR, DELHI: Do you think Ranbir Kapoor is over-hyped? Can this kind of imaging raise expectations and backfire on the newcomer?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">DALE: Yes, it can. The initial hype, during Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Saawariya’, put a lot of pressure on the debutante to deliver cent percent. But sadly, the film couldn’t work the promised magic, and Ranbir had to start over again from scratch. Recklessly hyping Ranbir before the film was a bad PR strategy and it put him behind by a couple of months. Later, even Siddharth Anand’s ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ couldn’t help him much, though it turned out to be a semi-hit. But I think, he has good potential and will bounce back and enter the big league one day. Ranbir is now filming for Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ opposite Katrina Kaif. His other forthcoming projects include ‘Wake Up Sid’, where he will be seen opposite Konkona Sen Sharma. The film is directed by Ayaan Mukherjee & produced by Karan Johar. Let’s see if these get him more fans; many more than the ones who drooled over his nude scene in ‘Saawariya’ (wink).</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0