The entertainment industry’s one of the most important sectors is #PRship. He/she is a bond between the stars and the journalists. #PrashantGolecha, one of the most successful PR persons throws light on his life, personal as well as professional. Talking about his background, he says, ‘I have done an MBA in Marketing. I was looking for a career in advertising, especially copywriting, but didn’t get the break and switched to marketing and PR for a restaurant. A chance meeting with ‘Kkusum’ actor Anuj Saxena, who threw a birthday party at the restaurant I was working for, opened doors for personal PR for me. He was the first actor I started my journey as a PR with and initially, like any new venture, I tried to take it slow but gradually as I got to know more about the industry, my skills were enhanced. It was more like on-the-job training for me, that’s how I know what I know today.’
Talking about an attitude of gratitude towards celebs who came into his life, he expresses, ‘Even though I am not working with them now, Simi Garewal and Anuj Saxena will always be the best memories I ever had. From the current lot, Somy Ali is one of the most professional actors we are working with as the connection is at an intellectual level and she respects and values professionals. Few other loyal actors we are working with include Himansh Kohli, Jasmin Bhasin, Sharad Malhotra, Vivian Dsena, Vijayendra Kumeria, Shivin Narang, Aly Goni, Mrunal Jain, Adaa Khan and Meera Deosthale. The remarkable production house we have been working with for more than 13 years is Rajan Shahi’s whose involvement in his work is commendable. He is a man of substance and words, with a terrific understanding of what he wants and respects professionals.
We have permanent well wishers in Ridheema Tiwari, Rishina Kandhari, Rajshri Rani, Delnaaz Irani, Himanshu Malhotra, Rahul Sharma, Nivedita Basu, Chitra Vakil Sharma, Nitin Kumar Gupta, Rajit Dev, Vahbbiz Dorabjee, Aastha Chaudhary, Piew Jana, Ajay Singh Chaudhary, Aniruddh Dave and Nikkiey Chawla. It’s a delight to work with Sanjay and Binaiferr Kohli (Edit II). They are an extremely professional couple and Binaiferr is a very sweet person with an amazing sense of humour.
Producer Yash and Mamta Patnaik (Beyond Dreams Entertainment), whose current show Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi we are handling, are a visionary. Full House Media’s Sonali and Amir Jaffar are also very good people to work with. Writer-turned-producer Mahesh Pandey is also a very earthy and straightforward person.
I have also worked with Siddharth Kumar Tewary on Mahabharat, Nikhil and Suhana Sinha on Mahadev and Sudhir and Seema Sharma (Sunshine Productions) on Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha (both seasons). They are also hardcore professionals and valued good work. I have also handled Red Chillies TV section and two of their shows Ghar Ki Baat Hai, which was Juhi Babbar’s TV debut, and Knight and Angels. I have also handled two films – Aloo Chaat (Aftab Shivdasani and Aamna Shariff) and Chase (Anuj Saxena and Udita Goswami). I had a good working association with film stars Arjan Bajwa and Udita Goswami too.
We managed singer Babul Supriyo for many years, he is a gem of a person. Anuj Saxena is one actor who will forever be in my life and thoughts as it was with him when I entered into the industry. He was a man of intelligence, professionalism, class and affection all rolled into one.’
Talking about the importance and coincidence of alphabets S, R A and I factor in his life, he says, ‘The alphabet R and S factor came into my career and made me learn the basics professionally by maintaining cent percent ethics, objectivity and patience. It’s just that one thing led to another. I am competent enough to handle Bollywood actors too and we are in the process of taking more Bollywood actors on board. The S factor in my career portfolio consisted of Somy Ali, Shahrukh Khan (we handled his TV stuff’s PR (TV show Ghar Ki Baat Hai and Knight and angels till it lasted), Simi Garewal, Sharad Malhotra, Shivin Narang, Shashank Vyas and Srabanti Chakrabarti. My school was SPS. I belong to Rajasthan. The R factor is Rajan Shahi. The restaurant, where I was heading marketing, its owner’s name was Rajesh Chaudhary and I am grateful to him too for giving me a break in marketing in Blue Cilantro restaurant from where eventually I took over PR. My wife’s name is Reetu too. The A factor is Anuj Saxena, Aashay (my Son), and Aditi Chandra, my staffer. The I factor is myself, my intelligence, and my son Ishaan. Somewhere as per my observation R, S, A and I turn out to be lucky for me personally and professionally.’
His aspirations are Intelligent conversations, good positive vibes and emotional human beings, good books and emotional films inspires him. He continues, ‘My wife Reetu and my two children Aashay and Ishaan and my pet dog Tuffy inspire me to work hard beside my parents Dr. Prakash Golecha and Kanan Golecha. My sisters Sapna and Rachna helped me in shaping my mind during my growing up years. Poonam Dhillon is one actress who was very supportive of me and is a very intelligent and well-read actress and I knew her even before I became a PR. My wife has been my constant silent support system and she managed everything efficiently because of which I could focus and grow.’
Throwing a light on the cons of the industry he talks abut actors, newbie PRs, journalists and philosophy of his life.
Actors – Actors lying and even delaying payment is common. Some actors constantly crib about money problems, but their lifestyle doesn’t change and they go on talking about their bad financial condition. Even the best of the top successful actors sometimes behave very unprofessionally and are just not fair in their financial dealings. But keeping patience is one of the mandates and you need to extend it regularly. There have been few unprofessional clients who walked away uninformed and we don’t look back. It’s their loss, not ours because we are the best in business. It’s like Jaha Jaayenge hame paayenge. My team and I work with absolute human attention and affection. Loyalty is a way of life but not for everyone. There are actors who just go on bitching about us to anyone and everyone for years. When we come to know of it we remember the line “Baat ussi ki hoti hai jismein kuch khaas baat hoti hai”. Those who believe them it’s their problem and not ours. Universe watches everything, what you do to others will be done to you, life is too short for grudges, so I have stopped imagining and assuming who said what. Don’t you know how rumours float and have you forgotten the Chinese whisper game? Without understanding the context stop jumping to stupid conclusions. Reality check is a must. Spending on PR is an investment in your career and not an expenditure. Just think it this way, you claim to love your career and keep saying your career is everything to you, then why take a break from PR. Having a PR means a team working on your career in every respect and aspect. Keep a budget for PR if you genuinely love your career. You have only one career and you have to make the most of it.
Personal PR is one such field where a team nurtures the person and his and her career with a lot of love and hard work and PR is not just about publicity only as everyone assumes. If you are positive professionally you will attract the right people who are serious about their careers. There are enough gullible actors (these actors are like those ladies who instead of buying the best quality vegetable go for rotten vegetables just because that is available at a discounted price). One more thing just by hiring the best PR you won’t become an overnight star. There are actors who after starting PR demand everything to happen in a week without understanding their own profile. Shahrukh Khan didn’t become SRK in one day, week or even months, it took him years to become what he became. TRUST your PR team and take at least three month of PR service to get best results. Patience is a must.
PR choose karne ka simple suggestion I have for all actors who meet 10 PR’s as if they are out to buy a washing machine. PR to woh ho jisses milne ka ji chahe, baat karne ka ji chhahe, dekthe hi lage that’s my friend. PR woh hota hai jiske saath aap sensibly baat kar sako, a cup of coffee pee sako apna heart and mind share kar sako. PR is not a shirt that you change every three months. PR is like your favourite jacket. Please choose your PR carefully. Trust your PR. Surrender to your PR team and see the magic happen.
Weeds newbie PR’s – Every tom, dick and harry thinks he or she can become a successful PR is a myth. People do succeed in fooling actors sometimes as in the entertainment industry people think of short-term gains only. Ideally, good relationships count and only that works in your favour in the long run. Those who aspire to become PR please at least take four years of experience before jumping into starting your own stuff without proper knowledge and expertise. There are a lot of weeds in every industry and my biggest inspiration has always told me to just Ignore. I do remember reading somewhere when a dog barks at you you don’t bark back, you just ignore and focus on your own path. There are loads of weeds who don’t know P of PR but jumped into it with fake over-confidence. Competition doesn’t bother us as we are busy focusing on our work. The least one can do is follow professional ethics is all I want to say. There is enough space for everyone. Everyone can do their own thing.
Journalists – Some journalists are good actors too. They lie and even support those weeds but portray a different picture in front of us. We have learned to ignore them and keep kaam see kaam. What sets us apart is years of experience, straightforwardness, working at the human level, and a good team that is more concerned about clients’ image and articles. I request all journalists who know us to be careful in their conduct and professionalism and don’t be a party to weeds just because there is a desperate need sometimes to meet the target of the number of your articles. How to filter and where to draw the line professionally needs to be taken care of. Never take us or anyone for granted. We mind our own business and that is our USP too. . Recently one of the editors whom I know for many years but didn’t connect directly but started interacting professionally now told me you and your team knows how to filter the actors depending upon the profile, you are in a position to give me stuff on everyone but you choose to screen and give selectively based on merit and that sets you class apart. No Journalist should have the audacity to misbehave with us just because we are accessible. There is a way of saying No professionally if you don’t want to use any specific stuff. You value us just the way we value you, it’s a two-way street. You have to value and respect us as professionals, there is just no alternative.
Philosophy of my life – I don’t believe in friendship. I don’t have friends. Friendship means limitless emotional intimacy and mind matching. Sometimes sensitivity, intelligence and sensibilities don’t match. I am an all heart person. I am an open book but it all depends upon me as to how many pages I want you to read. I am a loner. I love good books, good music, and good food. My professional strength is my permanent team Srabanti and Aditi who are very passionate about their work and Sharmila and newly joined Shweta and Yasmeen are sincere too. I am blessed and attract only the right people towards me. I love B.K. Shivani discourses, Dr. Gulrukh Bala’s guided meditations and Harpreet Kaur Kandhari guided meditations. I love Shahrukh Khan and Rajesh Khanna. I couldn’t meet Rajesh Khanna but still I have admired his intelligence, acting and privileged sense. My all-time favourite films are Maine Pyar Kiya, Baaghi, Rajesh Khanna’s Khamoshi and Safar, Lamhe, Swades, Veer Zaara, Laga Chunari Mein Daag, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. I live in the present. It’s nice to be important but it is more important to be nice. I am just not overly expressive in my love and affection but am too poetic. I have experienced and survived a variety of pains and betrayal and I am not bitter, rather I am a better person. I love solitude and I never feel lonely. I feel I am complete in my own self’s company. Even people who matter the most don’t know the real me. People look only at the surface level and people can’t only see what they see with their eyes, people just can’t see or feel what is not verbalized. I mind my own business. My goals are clear. I am loved and blessed and I live life on my own terms. I am intelligent and sensitive and I believe everything is a choice. ‘Zindagi bahut khoobsurat hai jeene ka salika aana chhaiye.’
