July 08 2010
Genelia D Souza Latest (08 July 2010) HT ArticalsMy A - Team
I’m glad I have this column to introduce you to people I want to thank the most. These are the people who back me up, prep me up and make me feel like I can take over the world! So here goes...
Jeanette, my Mom
One sentence that sums up my mom is the legendary dialogue from Star Wars — “May the Force be with you”. My mom is a force that’s capable of moving mountains! She’s been with me through thick and thin and ensured I smiled through it all. She’s the least bit interfering and every bit as careful as any mother can be. Playing bad cop to the hilt and being my biggest critic, she’s my ALL. I truly feel that people are bigger fans of my mom than of me. Of course, I can’t ignore my brother and my dad — my biggest fans and my backbone in life.
Anirban, MD KWAN
Anirban is a visionary in his own right, as well as a man with a terrific sense of humour and the ability to astound you with his knowledge of just about everything — from sports to films to politics. He has absolute belief in me and this coming from non family (no more now) is inexplicable. He believed in Brand Genelia before there was Brand Genelia. I trust him blindly with my image and branding simply because he’s never let me down. Amongst all the empty vessels in the industry ‘Blah’ as I call him fondly definitely makes the loudest impact with the least amount of noise. His business acumen is razor-sharp and his integrity even more so.
Nandita, my Manager
Nandita is my pint-sized buddy and authoritarian who has the difficult job of making sure I don’t mess up my dates and covering my ‘you-know-what’ just in case I do! She’s my companion on all my shoots and we’ve shared quite a few meals and gossip. She’s responsible for keeping my endorsement life in order and packs quite a punch whilst speaking legalese and makes sure I get the best. Nandita’s wise beyond her years and someone I rely on a lot. We have a running joke between us — I always tease her that we are more like a couple than anything else!
Divya and Mithila, my Publicists
Divya and Mithila are a great team who complement each other so well. Divya has answers for just about everything and the persuasion skills of the Israeli Mossad! Mithila is the effervescent one who keeps us all alive. If Divya has a mandate in place for something that she feels works best for me, I challenge you to make her change it! Mithila is also equally clear minded and is someone who can smooth talk her way out of any situation. I would be lost in the world of PR if Divya didn’t hold my hand and teach me and if Mithila didn’t cushion it for me.
It’s been a while now and I’ve realised that our sensibilities match a lot. There’s a certain pattern of familiarity that’s developed between us that allows them to plan and work out the things before I even think of them.
Well guys, this is my world — my core group. It’s their words of encouragement, their constant support and unconditional faith that’s made me and will continue to make me. Love them all!
July 01 2010
Genelia D Souza Latest (July 2010) HT Articals
Win! Win! Win!
Sometimes nostalgia hits you when you’re in the strangest of places. I’m having such a moment right now in an unlikely place. Surrounded by people, music, I’m at the CNBC AWAAZ Consumer Awards.
And suddenly I’m transported back to school — the auditorium with the slightly uncomfortable chairs and wooden shutters and red velvet drop-down curtains. The winners for an elocution competition are being announced and I’m on the edge of my seat, wondering if my name will be called out. Finally it is — “And First Place in Elocution goes to Genelia D’Souza!” Those were the days when competition did not matter — only winning or losing did. Just like a race wherein nobody remembers the failed attempts, but everybody glorifies the ones who crossed the finish line in time. There was no grey territory, no in-betweens. Winning and being presented with an award defined you as a person and that was what you looked forward to every single time.
Cut back to June 28, 2010, 8 p.m. I’m in the presence of luminaries such as our esteemed Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and I hear my name being called out, “The Brand Ambassador of the Year 2010 is Genelia D’Souza!” As I walk up on stage to collect the trophy, I’m reminded of a line. “The Winner takes it All.” As adults, we learn slowly to appreciate the journey, but not lose sight of the destination.
As adults, the word ‘winner’ takes on a whole new meaning. A winner is no more just someone who has NOT lost. A winner is a survivor, someone who’s capable of sustaining, who’s plodded on, come rain or shine, someone who’s every wound has a story to tell. A winner deserves all the awards he can get along the way because they are the only means by which his struggle gets manifested in a form everyone can see.
Some people think that it is narcissistic to be obsessed with awards. I believe that awards are tangible reminders of the fact that we need to outdo ourselves every single time to be worthy of them. After all, isn’t it said that “Quitters never Win and Winners never Quit?”.
Win! Win! Win!
Sometimes nostalgia hits you when you’re in the strangest of places. I’m having such a moment right now in an unlikely place. Surrounded by people, music, I’m at the CNBC AWAAZ Consumer Awards.
And suddenly I’m transported back to school — the auditorium with the slightly uncomfortable chairs and wooden shutters and red velvet drop-down curtains. The winners for an elocution competition are being announced and I’m on the edge of my seat, wondering if my name will be called out. Finally it is — “And First Place in Elocution goes to Genelia D’Souza!” Those were the days when competition did not matter — only winning or losing did. Just like a race wherein nobody remembers the failed attempts, but everybody glorifies the ones who crossed the finish line in time. There was no grey territory, no in-betweens. Winning and being presented with an award defined you as a person and that was what you looked forward to every single time.
Cut back to June 28, 2010, 8 p.m. I’m in the presence of luminaries such as our esteemed Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and I hear my name being called out, “The Brand Ambassador of the Year 2010 is Genelia D’Souza!” As I walk up on stage to collect the trophy, I’m reminded of a line. “The Winner takes it All.” As adults, we learn slowly to appreciate the journey, but not lose sight of the destination.
As adults, the word ‘winner’ takes on a whole new meaning. A winner is no more just someone who has NOT lost. A winner is a survivor, someone who’s capable of sustaining, who’s plodded on, come rain or shine, someone who’s every wound has a story to tell. A winner deserves all the awards he can get along the way because they are the only means by which his struggle gets manifested in a form everyone can see.
Some people think that it is narcissistic to be obsessed with awards. I believe that awards are tangible reminders of the fact that we need to outdo ourselves every single time to be worthy of them. After all, isn’t it said that “Quitters never Win and Winners never Quit?”.
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