“My first preference is to cover and take care of any positive community stories, which may help and inspire viewers. I believe this medium is very powerful and if we can use it properly, it's a great tool for any society to grow.” An accomplished filmmaker and entrepreneur, Gayatri shares her wonderful career as a leader in South Asian media, from being a TV News Anchor, acting in over two dozen plays, and the exciting “Celebrities in Unison” showcasing celebrity experiences in the pandemic. A woman with a passion for sharing the voice of our communities, we are excited to share her story.

1) Tell us your story. You have had an extensive career in the media and television world. How did you find your passion for creativity? 

If one has passion, I believe you can find anything. My story is very simple. When I was young, I think I had a special relation with the art form in our culture, hence I wanted to pursue something related to that and innately wanted to include these aspects in the media. India as we all know is full of colors, vibrancy, and very close to my heart, which sparked creativity in me. Simultaneously while getting my degree in MA in Commerce, Arts and Law, I explored theatre, radio, television, and journalism, which all together helped me realize my love for this work, and finally, that became my career. I later became a newscaster with Doordarshan, a public TV station in India, worked with Zee, and during this time I also started my own media house, where I produced and directed more than 100+ documentaries which include the history of Indian theatre, folktales, and eminent personalities. In this journey, I found that the common masses don’t connect to documentaries because there is a lack of interest in the subject. I discovered that if we use our own grassroots culture with folktales, folklore, and other forms in documentaries with issues, then it blends together well to create more interest in documentaries for a wider audience, therefore I introduced the ethnomusic component in folkloric documentaries and cinema.

2) You are currently at TV Asia, and have worked in both India and USA. Tell us more about your career? How would you say the media world is different in both places? 

I enjoy both countries' work cultures. The Press is considered the watchdog of democracy. The two big democracies of the world have remarkably protected this right.  I am originally from Indian media, but still, I am amazed by Indian media because of the vastness of the industry. I cannot imagine 100 million homes, more than 700 TV channels with 20 national, regional, and local services. It is incredible. US media is more simple and straightforward with a cool media feel. The media and journalism in the US seems to be more analytical and governed by intellectuals, whereas Indian media simplifies it to appeal to the common masses. 

3) What are some of your favorite stories you have done on TV Asia? 

I am part of the Community RoundUp which is a daily show on TV Asia for more than 20 years. We cover Indian-American achievements, current issues, and events all across North America to connect people to their roots here in the US to unify the community together. My first preference is to cover and take care of any positive community stories, which may help and inspire viewers. I believe this medium is very powerful and if we can use it properly, it's a great tool for any society to grow. I have done Celebrities in Unison, which is a show on the life of celebrities and especially how they dealt with the pandemic. Through this, we keep the audience entertained with the struggles and other inside stories, where the best favorites have yet to come. 

4) What do you do outside of your work? What are some of your hobbies & passions? 

Honestly, in my free time, I still continue to work for the community. My hobbies, passions, and business are well blended so I enjoy them to the fullest. In my daily practice, l meditate, engage in spiritual activities, and share the same with others. I also volunteer as a life coach for many people. 

5) As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream? 

I dream about building an innovative platform that can serve for a better and positive society, by starting to work as the voice of the diaspora, where I can also showcase my films, documentaries, folk and creative arts. 

Thank You Gayatri for Sharing Your Inspiring Story With Us! We are Excited to Have You in Our Empowered Women’s Network

Bio: Gayatri is an accomplished film maker and an entrepreneur with over 25 yrs experience in media in a variety of roles – Anchor News and Current Affairs and acted in more than two dozen of plays in Gujarat and Delhi, India. Gayatri has been honored with GUJARAT GAURAV AWARD by the United Nations Affiliate for the outstanding contribution in Mass Communication. Gayatri served as the Member of the National Handloom Board , Govt. Of India for two terms. She started a Production and Advertising Agency in 2006 , which is instrumental in introducing and distributing several South Asian TV Channels including MHOne Punjabi for Dish Network ,TV9, 9XM , 9X Jalwa the Hindi Entertainment, now the newest Health and Wellness Channel for South Asians in the US and Canada. She is also one of the executives of TV Asia. Her team is actively engaged in News gathering and feeds daily Video News from the South Asian Community to many Agencies in US and India.

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