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Made in Chandigarh: Nothing can beat hard work, says BookMyShow’s Monisha Singh Katial
She completed her schooling from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, and Vivek High School, Sector 38, and turns into a true-blue Punjabi foodie every time she visits home. Meet BookMyShow’s vice-president (content & strategy) Monisha Singh Katial.
A creative whiz, Chandigarh-bred Monisha Singh Katial has been shaping the entertainment industry in her own unique way :
Name: Monisha Singh Katial
Age: 40 years
Current Designation: A present, I am vice-president (Content & strategy), Bookmyshow. I am a creative soul, I love to create - be it in the past with shows like ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’, ‘Shararat’, ‘Shaka laka Boom Boom’ to heading programming for Zoom, to now creating content for BookMyShow. It has been one big, fun creative ride.
Hometown: Chandigarh. I am currently living in Mumbai.
Family: I have a big family and what needs a special mention is that my husband was born in Chandigarh as well. My twins – a boy and a girl - always look for an excuse to visit their home in Chandigarh.
Education: I completed my schooling from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, and Vivek High School, Sector 38. I am an alumna of Sophia College for Women, Mumbai.
My Chandigarh connect: Chandigarh is my city. It’s all about my family and my roots. I grew up here, and I try and visit my home often. Having grown up in this beautiful city, I miss its vibe, the quality of life, my friends, and most importantly my family. The famous ‘geri route’ from Sector 9 to 11 was forbidden for us as kids. But since I lived in Sector 9 and my maasis (maternal aunts) had homes in Sector 10 and 11, it was unavoidable. It’s a city where everyone knows everyone, and that’s what makes it warm, friendly and a home to me.
My area of expertise: If I had to zero in on one thing, it would be creating content. That’s what I specialise in.
My secret of success: You might hear this very often but the fact is that when it comes to success, nothing can beat hard work. It is equally important to follow your passion. Also, it’s always good teams that make for great successes. So, build the right team that compliments each other. Another mantra for success for me, personally, is that like most women I am good at multi-tasking.
The turning point: It would have to be at the start of my career with my first show – Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. It went on to create history, and after that there was no turning back.
What I owe to Chandigarh: The answer to this would be my childhood and my happy memories. Chandigarh gave me a secure childhood which defines who I am. Be it playing in the garden or going for picnics and walks on the lake, these moments in life have made me the person I am today.
Things I like to do when I visit Chandigarh: Oh, there is a long list. I love visiting home and there’s always lots to do. I like to visit my family first. And like all Punjabi families, mine too thinks they need to feed anyone coming from out of town really well. So I turn into a complete foodie when I am in Chandigarh. The must-visit places for me on any trip back home include Gopal Sweets in Sector 8 for their sumptuous chola bhaturas and Goldie’s Roost for their keema naan (I literally grew up on this one). Also on the itinerary are samosas from Panjab University. A trip back home for me would be incomplete if I didn’t shop for juttis from Sector 22 or made a trip to Elante mall. It’s amazing to see how many brands they have under one roof.
How has the city changed over the years: For one, it has definitely become more crowded than before. On the positive side, it is heartening to note that so many new places have opened up and the city’s fashion quotient has definitely gone up.
The change I would want to see in the city: I actually love Chandigarh the way it is. The city has its own charm – be it the lush greenery all around, even in the scorching summer, and its cycling tracks. I think it’s lovely the way it is. I also don’t want to see anything change because all this is part of my memories.
The best advice I’ve ever got: It would have to be from my dad. He taught me to always walk with my head held high. Another advice that means a lot came from my mom. She told me to always be there for people when they are down and out. It’s then that they need you the most.
My word of advice to others: Professionally, my advice to others would be to never stop growing and learning. That’s the only way you will stay relevant. Personally, I would say try and spend as much time as you can with your family. You will regret it if you don’t, especially when they are gone.
