Some people are born great. Some people have greatness thrusted on them. And some achieve greatness through sheer talent, sincerity of purpose and their never-say-die attitude.
Well, the dashing Sandeep Marwah, an icon of India in media and entertainment quadrangle, renowned international media personality and chairperson for many international organisations definitely falls into last category.
Despite being the brother-in-law of Producer Boney and actor Anil Kapoor Sandeep has climbed the ladder of success entirely on his own merit and exemplary hardwork.
“It seems only yesterday when we were all waiting for the history to be written, created on the grand opening of the first professional film studio of North India under the title Marwah Films And Video Studios. Huge crowd inside and outside the premises was proof of the excitement which was prevailing among the people of the country,” remembered Dr Sandeep regarded as founder of Noida Film City while talking about 10th March 1991.
The presence of legends like Krishna Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Surinder Kapoor, Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Yash Chopra, F.C. Mehra, Prem Chopra, Sanjay Kapoor, Vinod Pandey, Indra Kumar, Ashok Thakaria, Gulshan Kumar, Rakesh Roshan, Tutu Sharma and Rakesh Nath added a lot to the opening function at Marwah Studios.
But that was not the end of the story. It was the beginning of a great success-story redefining glamour and media segment.
“The glamour in tons thrown by Madhuri Dixit, Shilpa Shirodhkar, Padmini Kolhapure and Poonam Dhillon was unmanageable even by the educated and sophisticated crowd of Delhi,” remembers Sandeep.
“Marwah Studios has come a long way, thanks to our parents’ blessings. Since last 30 years we have proved to the world that honesty and hardwork can bring you much needed results even from a barren land,” expresses Sandeep.
Seven world records, formation of hundred organisations, two million people in film tourism,
delegates from 145 countries, 700 awards from all over the
world, degree and diploma to 20,000 media experts, cultural ambassadorships from Government of 60 countries and titles like Global Cultural Minister, Global Peace Ambassador, Global Media Guru, Man of Asia, from the most reputed art and cultural organisations have induced Marwah Studios to constitute its own national and international awards.
“Marwah Studios has given 4500 tv programmes for more than 50 channels, has been associated with 150 films of different languages, 5000 training films and 3000 short-films,” informs Sandeep proudly adding that he had coined the term ‘film tourism’ 27 years ago “bringing 2 million people to Noida!”
In the field of education, Sandeep says that his Asian Academy of Films & Television has now grown into an University with different branches matching with the changing times.
The contribution of Marwah Studios cannot be ignored at any stage. The first in many segments and departments brought the name of Sandeep Marwah in the list of Living Legends. His cooperation in many other sections of the society is par excellence:be it education, environment, larger social issues, government campaigns etc.
Ask Sandeep why he chose Noida to launch his entertainment and media institute of such huge size and not in Mumbai, the city of Bollywood, Sandeep says, “Lot of producers, directors and cinematographers et al in Bollywood are from North India. So I thought why not setting up an institute in Delhi.? But getting 100 acres land in Delhi was difficult. I chose Noida, designed Noida Film City in 1986 and submitted the report to the authority same year. The rest, as they say, is history and what a glorious history it has created!,” said Sandeep with excitement as he informs, “Today the place has 16 studios, around 300 channels broadcasting 24/7 where17 thousand media professionals are working in 3 shifts,” Sandeep says as he adds that more than 1 lakh people are earning their livelihood there.
About his future plans, Sandeep tells that he has already set up first radio station of Noida City. “Recently, we opened first radio station in Raipur, Chhatisgarh. Our film institute is the first and best film school in the world. Without sounding bombastic Sandeep Marwah is a case study in many countries. I can only see better days in future,” says a confident and workaholic with strategic planning Sandeep signing off on a happy note.