Founder & MD, Roy Kapur Films
Siddharth Roy Kapur
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After a B.Com from Sydenham College and a Masters in Management Studies from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute, Siddharth began his career with the Procter & Gamble Company in Mumbai in brand management. 

From P&G, Siddharth moved to STAR TV in the strategic planning division. After a brief stint in Hong Kong as part of the Newscorp Executive Development Program, he moved back to Mumbai to work on the launch marketing of the first season of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ on Star Plus. In recognition for the ground-breaking marketing efforts behind the success of the show, he was nominated for the Team Newscorp Global Excellence Awards. Siddharth then moved to the STAR TV Middle East operations, based in Dubai, where he was Regional Marketing Manager for the network, responsible for Ad Sales, Marketing, PR and Corporate Communications for the region. In 2002, Siddharth moved back to the STAR headquarters in Hong Kong, as Director (Marketing) and was promoted to Vice President in 2003. At STAR headquarters in Hong Kong, he led the Central Marketing & Creative Services team, which developed marketing campaigns for STAR channels across India, China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, the U.K. and the U.S.

Siddharth joined UTV in Mumbai in 2005, as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the Group, across Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, TV Production, Animation and Corporate. He led the marketing efforts responsible for taking Hungama TV to a leadership position in the competitive kids broadcasting space. He also led the marketing efforts behind multiple path-breaking films, including the cult BAFTA-nominated blockbuster Rang De Basanti and the sleeper hit Khosla Ka Ghosla, both of which were released in 2006 and started a new trend in the way movies were marketed in India. In his next role, he took over the Revenue function at UTV Motion Pictures and was responsible for Distribution & Syndication worldwide, in addition to his Marketing responsibilities.

In January 2008, Siddharth took over as CEO of UTV Motion Pictures and after the integration of UTV with The Walt Disney Company (India) in 2012, he held the role of Managing Director, Studios. Responsible for all aspects of Development, Production, Marketing, Distribution and Syndication, he led the studio to incredible commercial success and critical acclaim across a six-year period, producing and releasing some of the most important and successful films of the decade, such as Taare Zameen Par, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Jodhaa Akbar, Fashion, Aamir, A Wednesday!, Dev D, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Kaminey, Wake up Sid, Raajneeti, Udaan, Peepli [Live], Welcome to Sajjanpur, No One Killed Jessica, Delhi Belly, Paan Singh Tomar, Shahid, Rowdy Rathore, Barfi!, ABCD, Kai Po Che, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, The Lunchbox and Chennai Express. The films produced by UTV under Siddharth’s leadership won numerous awards, including the prestigious National Awards, Filmfare Awards and many others, establishing UTV Motion Pictures as one of India’s most admired and successful studios. 5 of the movies that were selected to represent India at the Academy Awards during this period were either produced or released by UTV.

In January 2014, Siddharth was promoted to Managing Director of Disney India, with the responsibility for driving the strategy and growth for The Walt Disney Company is one of its most important growth markets in the world. Disney India’s business under Siddharth’s leadership spanned across broadcasting, movies, consumer products, digital experiences and live entertainment, represented through multiple brands namely Disney, UTV, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, ABC, bindass, Indiagames and Hungama TV. Under Siddharth’s leadership over three years from Jan 2014 till Dec 2016, Disney emerged as one of India’s leading media and entertainment companies. It produced and released India’s highest and then second highest-grossing movies of all time (Dangal in 2016 and PK in 2014) as well as India’s then highest-grossing Hollywood movie of all time (The Jungle Book in 2016), as well as a host of other successful movies like Kick, 2 States, ABCD 2, Haider, Heropanti, Highway, Khoobsurat and Filmistaan. Siddharth also pioneered a new format of entertainment in the country, producing the first-ever Broadway-scale theatrical show to be mounted in India with a completely local cast and crew, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, which opened to huge commercial and critical success in Mumbai and Delhi in 2015.

In 2017, Siddharth moved on from Disney to set up his own production house, Roy Kapur Films (RKF), which produces content across all platforms, formats and genres. Roy Kapur Films’ first production The Sky is Pink, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar, was the only Asian film selected for a Gala Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2019. In February 2020 RKF’s Yeh Ballet, a Netflix Original, released to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. RKF’s first series, the crime thriller Aranyak starring Raveena Tandon, streamed in December 2021 and broke into the Global Top 10 non-English Series on Netflix in the very first week of its launch. Celebrating the work of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, its historical drama series Rocket Boys streamed on Sony Liv and it went down in history as India’s first series based on scientists. Upcoming projects from Roy Kapur Films include the war drama Pippa directed by Raja Menon starring Ishaan Khatter, the comedy-drama Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan? starring Taapsee Pannu and Pratik Gandhi, the comedy-drama GOBAR!, the Season 2 of Rocket Boys, Season 2 of Aranyak, a biopic on the Matka King and an official series adaptation of William Dalrymple’s 2019 bestseller The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company, amongst numerous other feature films and series in various stages of active development.

Siddharth is President of the Producers Guild of India, Managing Trustee of the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) and Co-Chairman of the CII Media & Entertainment Committee. He has featured on Variety’s annual list of the Top 500 Most Influential People in Global Entertainment for 5 consecutive years (2017-21) and has been part of The Economic Times Top 40 Indian Business Leaders Under 40 and The Hollywood Reporter Next Generation Asia Inaugural Class of Young Leaders, amongst numerous other awards for his leadership and achievements.

DEVELOPMENT

The Next Gen: DEVELOPMENT

Skill Development: The new generation places a strong emphasis on personal growth and development. They prioritize continuous learning, self-improvement, and mental well-being. Tools like online courses, self-help apps, and social networks play a significant role in their development journey. It is important to have a conversation about how to begin closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. Half of us will need to reskill in the next five years, as the "double disruption" of the economic impacts of the pandemic and increasing automation transforming jobs takes hold.

Sustainable Development: This generation of leaders bears the responsibility of preserving and advancing the legacies of their businesses while actively championing sustainable practices across businesses, governments, local communities, and personal lifestyle changes to secure a brighter future for the planet. Sustainability, the buzzword across the world today, will have to take on a new avatar and become the soul of every organization - business or otherwise. Businesses cannot succeed in societies that fail.

Social Development: The next generation is deeply rooted in creating positive change in society by incorporating CSR, promoting digital literacy, improving access to quality education, and supporting public health initiatives. Smart living is about adapting the fruits of technology through models that are scalable, profitable and, importantly, ecologically and socially more sustainable.

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DISRUPTION

The Next Gen: DISRUPTION

Economic Disruption: We live in an era of disruption in which powerful global forces are changing how we live and work. Powerful disruptions are changing our world. The gig economy, remote work, and the sharing economy have disrupted traditional employment models. The new generation is often at the forefront of these economic changes, seeking flexibility and independence in their careers.

Technological Disruption: The new generation is witnessing rapid technological advancements and digital transformation. They are at the forefront of embracing and driving these changes, leading to disruptions in various industries. Examples include the rise of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the gig economy. Frontier technologies such as the Internet of Things, smart robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence are boosting productivity growth, raising prosperity, and replacing mundane or dangerous tasks. They have the potential to do good across a wide range of domains, from healthcare to education

Cultural Disruption: Social movements and changing cultural norms are disrupting traditional societal structures. The new generation is actively involved in advocating for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice, challenging the status quo and pushing for more inclusive societies. The connection between resilience, equity and inclusion is widely accepted by policymakers: evidence has shown that creating more equitable and inclusive societies is a crucial part of any economic strategy focused on resilience and recovery.

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DIVERSIFICATION

The Next Gen: DIVERSIFICATION

Geographical Diversification: The prime focus of the new-gen leaders will be on a geographic diversification strategy, either domestically or internationally, aiming to integrate its products and services as a routine in consumers’ lifestyles. This will mitigate the risks associated with regional economic fluctuations. In an interconnected world, diversity, shaped by globalization and technological advances, forms the fabric of modern society.

Business Diversification: The strategic expansion and diversification of businesses with investments in newer business avenues, will enhance the return on investment, reflecting the forward-thinking approach of the next-generation leaders' eagerness to innovate. Companies are discovering that, by supporting and promoting diverse products and services, they are gaining benefits that go beyond the optics.

Workforce Diversification: To achieve geographical and business diversification, the next generation of leaders will aim at prioritizing workforce diversity, to boost job growth and create together a multitude of ideas and perspectives, igniting innovation and creativity. In times of increasing disruption and uncertainty, companies need to continue to prioritize diversity and inclusiveness (D&I) for the benefit of their culture — and their bottom line.

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