RONNIE SCREWVALA
Ronnie Screwvala: A Comprehensive Profile
Rohinton Soli Screwvala (born September 8, 1956), known professionally as Ronnie Screwvala, is a renowned Indian entrepreneur, investor, and film producer.
Recognition and Achievements
Screwvala has earned notable accolades, being named on Esquire's List of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century in 2008 and ranking 78th on Time magazine’s 2009 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was also listed among the 25 Most Powerful People in Asia by Fortune magazine.
Professional Ventures
Media and Entertainment: UTV Software Communications Based in Mumbai, India, Screwvala pioneered cable television and built UTV Software Communications, a media and entertainment conglomerate. UTV partnered with major companies like News Corp, 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, and Bloomberg. In 2012, he sold UTV to Disney for an enterprise value of USD 1.4 billion.
Philanthropy: The Swades Foundation Since 2013, Screwvala and his wife have focused on scaling their non-profit organization, The Swades Foundation. The foundation aims to empower a million people in rural India, lifting them out of poverty every six to seven years before moving to another region.
Online Education: upGrad Screwvala co-founded upGrad, an online education platform specializing in higher education and professional development. The platform offers courses in digital marketing, data analytics, digital technology management, and more, with partnerships with institutions like MICA.
Sports: U Sports He founded U Sports, a sports management company involved in football, e-sports, and kabaddi. His ProKabaddi team, U Mumba, is among the top teams in the league. U Sports focuses on training young talent and managing their professional careers in India and globally.
Investments: Unilazer Ventures Through Unilazer Ventures, Screwvala has become a significant private equity investor in Indian startups, investing in sectors ranging from e-commerce to AI, agriculture, and microhousing finance.
Return to Media: RSVP Movies After a period away from the media industry, Screwvala founded RSVP Movies, focusing on developing original scripts and collaborating with directors to produce compelling stories.
Early Life and Education
Screwvala was born in Mumbai into a Parsi family. His father was an executive at the British firm J L Morrison and Smith & Nephew. He attended Cathedral and John Connon School and Sydenham College in Mumbai. He was active in theater during his school years, performing in notable plays like Shakespeare’s Othello and Death of a Salesman.
Personal Life
Screwvala is married to Zarina Mehta, his second wife, who co-founded UTV and co-trustees The Swades Foundation. They reside in Breach Candy, South Mumbai. From his first marriage to Manjula Nanavati, he has a daughter, Trishya Screwvala, who runs her own non-profit organization, The Lighthouse Project. Trishya is married to sports commentator Suhail Chandhok.
Entrepreneurial Beginnings
In his early entrepreneurial days, Screwvala founded a toothbrush manufacturing company and is credited with pioneering cable TV in India in 1981, expanding it across multiple cities and hotel chains. He also hosted a quiz show, Mashoor Mahal, on Doordarshan in 1985.
UTV: Growth and Acquisition
From 1990 to 2012, Screwvala led UTV, growing it into a media conglomerate with a leading movie studio and games studio. UTV went public in 2005 and Disney gradually acquired it until Screwvala fully divested in 2012.
Philanthropy and Business Ventures (2013 Onwards)
The Swades Foundation: Currently active in Raigad district, Maharashtra, working on water, sanitation, health, education, and livelihood opportunities.
upGrad: A leading online education company in India.
U Sports: Managing sports teams and talent in kabaddi, football, and e-sports.
RSVP Movies: Developing original media content with a focus on storytelling.
Unilazer Ventures: Investing in early-stage Indian startups across various sectors.
Ronnie Screwvala’s journey from pioneering cable TV to his current ventures in education, sports, media, and philanthropy showcases his diverse entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to making a significant impact across multiple industries