Kamlesh Pandey

Ben Rekhi

Perhaps the only writer in India who has successfully straddled all the three mass media—Advertising, Television and Film. Copywriter, Creative Director, Programming Head, Screenwriter, Teacher, he has worn many hats and continues to do so. For over 30 years in advertising as Creative Director, he has created some of the most memorable and awarded advertising campaigns, including the Copywriter of the Year for four years in succession. As India’s first Programming Head, defined, designed and packaged Zee TV into the world’s fastest growing satellite network when it was launched, besides writing some of the shows himself. His television credits include ‘Kachci Doop’, ‘Naqaab’, ‘Karamchand’, ‘Kurukshetra’, ‘Mrs. Madhuri Dikshit’ ,‘Ek Din Ki Wardi’, ‘Loomba’, ‘Thodisi Zameen Thodasa Aaasmaan’, ‘Virruddh’, ‘Waris’, etc. Has written an international stage musical ‘Bharati’ which has been touring and performing in six languages all over Europe. Has been screenwriting for the last 20 years including some of the biggest blockbusters like ‘Jalwa’, ‘Tezzab’, ‘Dil’, ‘Beta’, ‘Chaalbaaz’, ‘Saudagar’, ‘Khalnayak’, ‘Jaan’, ‘Anari’ and ‘Rang de Basanti’ and some critically acclaimed films like ‘Ankahee’, ‘Thodasa Roomani Ho Jayen’, ‘Dayera’, ‘Takshak’,‘Aks’, etc. Has won the Filmfare Award for ‘Tezzab’ and the Screen Award for ‘Saudagar’. Has been a visiting faculty at Whistlingwoods International film Institute and has conducted writing workshops at FTII, Pune. Currently, besides quite a few live action features, he is also scripting three animation features for Big Animation.

A writer, director and producer from the US currently based in Mumbai. Graduating from NYU Film School, Rekhi went on to work in development, management, and production at New Line Cinema and MGM while his short films were playing festivals and winning awards. After working with the Coen bros. in the camera department of O Brother, Where Art Thou? Rekhi was hired by George Clooney to shoot the behind the scenes for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. He has directed several music videos in India and the US, produced two 35mm feature films, and wrote and directed Waterborne an American film with Shabana Azmi. Rekhi works extensively as a screenwriter for the Hollywood studios, is managed by Mosaic Media Group in Los Angeles, and is currently in India to direct a feature film based on the best selling book Keep Off The Grass.