Ronnie Screwvala Biography 
Ronnie Screwvala is an entrepreneur, businessman and the founder and CEO of UTV Group of companies founded in the year 1990. UTV group produces ad films, feature films as well as television programs and includes UTV Software Communications, Bloomberg UTV, and UTV Motion Pictures. He is the MD of Disney- UTV India and also a philanthropist, associated with Swades Foundation. In January 2014 he exited from the entertainment and media sector. His name was listed under ‘75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century’ by Esquire in 2008 and amongst 25 Asia’s Most Powerful by Fortune Magazine. He is married to Zarina Screwvala, former Chief Creative Officer at UTV Software Communications who is currently the Managing Trustee of Swades Foundation.
He belongs to Mumbai and was born in a Parsi family. Since school days, he was interested in plays and has been associated with professional plays at a younger age. But later he seized theatre works to venture into business. He started off as a local cable TV operator in Mumbai in 1981, a time when Doordarshan was the only channel available in India. Then he started producing television ads as well as shows for Doordarshan. He founded the UTV Group in 1990 and within a short time period of 15 or 20 years, UTV group became one of the leading companies in the broadcasting field.
In 1997, the production house produced first feature film, Dil Ke Jharoke Main starring Manisha Koirala and Vikas Bhalla in lead roles. In 2004, television channel for children, Hungama TV was launched and in 2005 the company got listed in Indian Stock Exchange. Screwvala owns a private equity business called Unilazer Ventures Ltd. Chennai Express, Kai Po Che!, Rowdy Rathore, ABCD and Barfi are the noted productions in the recent times.
Published: N/A
Updated: May 12, 2014
