"Multitasking is the only way now. I think there is less time & many things to do in life. My strength is, I don’t let go of things and I have a competitive spirit of winning.”
Nivedita Basu has a lot of strings to her bow. She is well known for her 15 year long stint as Creative Director with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms. But over the years she has taken her portfolio a notch higher by becoming a Producer & Director. She now independently runs a production company ‘House Of Originals’. The enterprising women also owns a celebrity team ‘Kolkata Baabumoshayes’ in Box Cricket League.
Balancing her personal & professional life, Nivedita feels she is the ‘Queen Of Multitasking’.
Making A Woman Out Of The Girl
Nivedita studied film making at Symbiosis Institute, Pune. As an intern she was working with Channel V and they absorbed her during her college years. After being a producer at Channel V for a year, she got bored with music and wanted to do something else.
In year 2000, She joined Balaji Telefilms as an intern. Her knowledge, youth- ful passion and love for work got her noticed within the company & by 2004, she was the Creative Director. During that time, there were very few women working behind the camera. Nivedita Basu was one of them and she reinvent- ed the television industry with her unique content curation.
She became Ekta Kapoor’s second-in-command, determining the fates of the characters of superhit daily soaps like Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi & Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. She also worked on path-breaking serials such as Hum Paanch, Kavyanjali, Kkusum, Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa, Kutumb, Kasturi Kahiin To Hoga, Karam Apnaa Apnaa, Kasamh se, Kabhi Sautan Kabhi Saheli, Kohi Apna Sa, Kesar, Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna, Kaahin Kissi Roz, Kahi To Milenge, Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat, K. street Pali Hill, kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil, Kammal, Khwaish and many more.
Being experimental in her career, Nivedita tried her hands in films like Zila Ghaziabad as an associate director. She also held the post of Vice President for scripted programming at Colosceum Media - The company that produced shows like Roadies & Splitsvilla. Nivedita has even worked as a Creative Di- rector on ‘The Bachelorette India’ and Anil Kapoor’s superhit TV series ‘24’
which is the Indian version of the award winning American series of the same name.
In 2009, as Balaji began revamping its entire strategy to tackle growing com- petition, Nivedita quit the production house after 9 long years to pave way for new top management system. But she was soon back at Balaji as a freelancer for few more hit shows and continued for another 6 years.
Nivedita Says, “Ekta kapoor is an amazing mentor and there can’t be a better organisation than her for learning in media. I owe all my professional success to Ekta.”
Making Of A Producer - HOUSE OF ORIGINALS
In an effort to expand her creative horizons, Nivedita branched out her own production company - ‘House of Originals’.
The company was incorporated in December 2015 and has produced various new shows for prime TV channels & a few web series as well. Nivedita signed Amrita Rao and Deepti Naval for her first TV series titled Mere Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai. The House Of Originals also produced a suc- cessful daily soap Ek Vivah Aisa Bhi on &TV. Later, Nivedita also produced a web series ‘Spooks’.
Now, the production house is focusing more on creating content for digital platforms as opposed to broadcast.
Nivedita says, “With the web space opening up, content which could not be made for TV is now being made for the web. I want to make Hollywood concepts like Breaking Bad and How to Get Away with Murder. I have already banked a few shows which I will pitch to various players over time.”
Today, She is one rare female in media, who’s worked in creating high quality television content & is highly recognised for her contributions to polish new wave television.
Nivedita is also very active socially & is often invited at various high profile events and beauty pageants.
She has worked with the best in the industry & even featured on a Calendar Cover recently.
“Never Stop Doing Your Best Just Because Someone Doesn’t Give You Credit”
Alongwith such professional acclaim & accolades, Nivedita Basu also has a Philanthropist side to her. Nivedita’s maternal family has a long history of so- cial welfare activities and she always wanted to do something on those lines to leave a positive Impact on the society just like her grandparents who did 3 decades of charitable work in Vrindavan.
In December 2018, She launched her own NGO - ‘Pehla Kadam’.
Pehla Kadam is an initiative for welfare of girls that takes care of a girl child from the time she’s born. So whether it’s her education, her profession or good health care, good upbringing or anything to do with a girl, Pehla Kadam comes forward to help any & every woman to fulfill her dreams.
Nivedita adds, “Even in today’s times, there are places & situations where girls are not allowed to study further and grow in life. So Pehla Kadam helps them nurture their skill set. There are a lot of things women can do even if they are not educated. We provide them a platform & connect A to B”.
When asked about her Mantra for success Nivedita says, “It’s all about timing. You always need that extra acumen besides hard work and dedication as already many are doing it in first place.”
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