Ronnie Screwvala

Some Lesser Known Facts About Ronnie Screwvala

• Ronnie Screwvala is an Indian businessman and TV & film producer. He is known for being the founder of the film production and distribution company UTV.

• After completing his graduation, he started a theatre company and performed in a few theatre plays.

• He then started a toothbrush manufacturing company ‘Laser’ which gained immense popularity among the consumers. As of 2022, the company is selling around 6 million toothbrushes per month.

• In 1981, he pioneered home shopping in India with Tele-Shopping Network (TSN). He is also one of the key persons to start cable television in India. ^[9]Business Today

• He is the founder of ‘United Studios,’ a premier studio and animation complex in South Asia.

• In 1990, Ronnie started the film production company UTV group and expanded it into a movie studio, game studio, and creative company. In 2005, it was listed on the National Stock Exchange of India.

• In 2008, The Walt Disney Company bought 15% shares in UTV Global Broadcasting for Rs 118.98 crores which is considered one of the largest foreign investments in India. Later, Walt Disney acquired 32.1 per cent in the parent UTV Software Communications Ltd for Rs 805.05 crore. In 2012, UTV Global Broadcasting was divested by Walt Disney.

• Screwvala then started a private equity company Unilazer Ventures and has invested in various industries like e-commerce, Lenskart, and micro-housing finance.

• Ronnie is also involved in various social services. In 2013, he started an NGO Swades Foundation along with his wife Zarina. The main aim of setting up the NGO was to provide various livelihood opportunities in India.

  

• In 2014, Ronnie started the Indian film production company RSVP Movies.

• He is a well-known name in the world of Indian film producers. He has produced many Hindi films like Swades (2004), Rang De Basanti (2006), Paan Singh Tomar (2010), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), and The Sky is Pink (2019).

• Apart from film, he has also produced Hindi TV serials like Shanti (1994-98), Shaka Laka Boom Boom (2000-04), Khichdi (2002-04), Shararat (2003-07), and Hero – Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai (2005-07).

• He has authored the books like Dream with Your Eyes Open, An Entrepreneurial Journey, Skill It Kill It, Up Your Game, and Dream with your Eyes Open.

  

• He has also penned down a few articles such as ‘The growing realization of self-reliance in India is a welcome change, but not without the Triple E Highway – Education, Entrepreneurship & Employment,’ ‘Changing Perceptions of Online Learning,’ and ‘Live life on your own terms and other lessons for my daughter.’

• In 2014, Ronnie Screwvala and Supratik Sen (film writer) started the e-sports company ‘U Sports.’ Under the company, he started an initiative called UDreams which helps the children by providing professional training in various sports.

• In 2015, Ronnie co-founded the online education company upGrad. The online platform provides various educational programs in the areas of Data Science, Technology and Management to college students, working professionals, and enterprises. upGrad has associated with various top universities like IIT Madras, IIIT-B, BITS Pilani, MICA, and Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education to upgrade the education system in India.

• Ronnie is an avid animal lover and has a few pet dogs named Sprite and Skye.

  

• In 2021, he suffered a loss of around Rs 30 crores after his film ‘Ashwathama’ got shelved. He signed Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan to play the lead role. ^[10]Bollywood Hungama

• He has got a large chessboard carved in his house. In an interview, he shared that he loves playing chess with the Indian actor Aamir Khan. He said,
  

  I know how to play chess. Occasionally my daughter and I would do that, or when Aamir comes over, he and I play, But I haven’t yet beaten Aamir, so that’s a bad thing.”

• In October 2020 edition, he was featured on the cover page of Forbes magazine.