Ekta Kapoor: The Mega Creator
The ‘Queen of Soap Operas’ in India, Ekta Kapoor, Joint MD and Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms, started her career at age 19. Today, Kapoor is a successful business icon in the Indian film, television and OTT industry, and credited with transforming the content across all screens. Her concepts and formats — for the ‘daily soaps’; for films and now for ALTBalaji, the OTT platform — are bringing in more audience across different age demographics.
Daughter of the yesteryear Bollywood actor Jitendra, Kapoor single-handedly transformed the family production house, Balaji Telefilms, into a successful content creation factory, churning out content year after year.
A deeply spiritual person at heart, Kapoor has a strong belief in astrology and numerology as well. Bold and opinionated, she loves being surrounded by controversies. In fact, she seems to stir one every now and then. In February 2019, she challenged the societal conventions when she chose surrogacy to become a single mother at the age of 43. She named her child Ravie Kapoor.
She studied at the Bombay Scottish School in Mahim and Mithibai College where she completed her degree in commerce. She is the creator of the popular and commercially successful “saas-bahu’ series on television in the late 1990s even though she started her career by producing comedy series in 1995. Her initial serials include hits like Koshish Ek Ashaa, Hum Paanch, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Bandini, Kkusum and Kahiin to Hoga, and many others.
With the emergence of digitisation of entertainment content, she quickly shifted gears and launched her OTT media platform ALTBalaji which features web series and engaging content especially curated for different demographics. She is now holding a competitive position in web entertainment space as well. She also loves working on scripts, and concept building. She is credited with launching new actors and actresses across screens.
Recognizing her contribution to the field of media and entertainment, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shree on her this year. She has been recognized and honoured with awards all through her career, including the BW Most Influential Woman of India award in 2019, the Most Powerful Business Women of the Year 2019 award, and several more.
It is virtually certain that this ‘Queen of Soaps’ will continue to entertain and enthrall the audience for years to come.
In February 2019, Kapoor challenged the societal conventions when she chose surrogacy to become a single mother at the age of 43. She named her child Ravie Kapoor
