Interview with Sanjeev Bijli, joint managing director of PVR ltd.

SHARANYA: How did you get into the cinema business?

SANJEEV: Well, you know we had a single screen cinema called ‘Priya’. It was a part of the family...you know my dad used to run it in Vasant Vihar. It was just a single screen and I think back at the 70s and I think that’s where the love for cinema operations started. And I went of to University in England after school and my elder brother remained. Obviously when he was here, he was working in the logistics and tracking company but he basically wanted to do something else so he took over the single screen cinema which was very dilapidated at that time and so he started with a single screen cinema. He took a loan from my dad. I told him I am going to renovate it and make it comfortable and make it very nice and start showing English movies. So, that’s how the single screen started. And that’s how the cinema started. After that we got into a joint venture with the company based out of Australia called ‘village road show’. They were making multiplexes and they were growing in the business of multiplexes all over the world. And they were looking at India. They were looking for a partner in india. Then we met and we got along. We decided to get to a joint venture with them and that’s when PVR cinemas started back in 1997.

SHARANYA: Would you like to comment in the film industry?

SANJEEV: Well, the film industry has changed alot and evolved a lot both in terms of cinema exhibition and i see cinema exhibition it means for me to which is PVR cinemas which are the actual cinemas, they have changed a lot over the years, the format has changed, technology has changed. You get more comfortable seats now, hygienic cinemas now. We get good screens and good sound system and really good food. We never used to have that when i used to grow up. Also, the movies have improved a lot, we have much better content and much better movies. Both English,Hindi and Regional. So, yeah I mean things have changed a lot.

SHARANYA: As a group head what all inequalities have you faced?

SANJEEV: None, I don’t think I have faced any inequalities...no

SHARANYA: Do you see any inequalities in your office?

SANJEEV: No I hope not, we try to be equal and we try to of course create an environment which is equal, congenial, gives everyone an opportunity and I would like the ratio of men and women to be more equal of course. We could do with more women on our team. But other than that we are more conscious about having more female workers in our team. But we have a super equal board. Our board has equal number of women by law.

SHARANYA: Do you still feel education of girls is not given enough importance?

SANJEEV: Oh, absolutely , especially in our country. I am not too sure about what is going on in the rest of the world and I am sure the developed nations have reached equilibrium or they have reached a point where girls are given education. But definitely our country is far far behind.

SHARANYA: When you imagine a job like a nurse, people will normally see a woman. How do you change that mindset?

SANJEEV: I think the people have to change their mindsets, people have to realise that any woman any job can be done by anyone regardless of gender. We have nursing males, in various parts of the world you have male nurses and same way you have woman in the armed forces as well. And i think gone are the days when jobs are gender specific. And now the jobs are more skill specific and if you have the right skill you should be able to do any job.

SHARANYA: What are you doing to make EWS (economically weaker section) feel more comfortable in your business?

SANJEEV: We are obviously trying to make... First of all we have ten thousand odd people on the frontline, these are the people who serve you popcorn, sell you tickets, show you to your auditoriums and movies. I wouldn’t say they are economically weak- these people are entitled to minimum wages. We make sure that they’re looked after and make sure that we do enough for- we call our internal customers, so that they are happy. Because we believe a happy work force is the one that’s the productive workforce and can make our customers happy as well.

SHARANYA: What are you doing for them in the current situation which is Covid- 19?

SANJEEV: well, unlike a lot of other companies we’ve decided first not to do any layoffs. Everyone has a job, everyone has job security. Also we’re paying them full salary. So, that even if they’re not working, they have their whole salary. They have money to spend on groceries, necessities and medicines. Then, we also set up a helpline for them, if there is any issue that they have (specifically to do with the virus but also they have any other problems). They can talk to us and we can talk to them. There is a lot of anxiety, a lot of information out there. We are also trying to update them on a daily basis to reduce the anxiety and also to give them information which is correct. So that they can follow that and most importantly keep reminding them to stay at home and stay safe.

SHARANYA: What is equality to you?

SANJEEV: Wow! Equality to me is an equal opportunity to everyone. Regardless of their gender and equality to me will also mean that the gap between the rich and the poor is made smaller and smaller. And that everyone has access to clean water, nutritious food, shelter and education.

SHARANYA: What will it be like to be in a totally equal society?

SANJEEV: We all want more equal society, we do want everyone to have access to the basics of life and not just basics of life but even everyone should have the same opportunities as others and what you make from those opportunities, would only make the world better. And of course I think, if majority of our population are not concerned and don’t have to worry about where they get their next meal from .I think it would be so wonderful because they would be able to focus on bigger and brighter things, they would be able to come up with solutions for the world that we don’t have right now.

SHARANYA: What advice would you give to project equal?

SANJEEV: I would give the advice that we should look and work towards an equal society in the future regardless of the gender. We should make everyone secure, food secure, shelter secure, water secure and give education to everyone. That obviously will open up the opportunities for everyone. There’s a long way to go but I think every small step that is taken is taken towards the right direction. By seeing what is happening to the world around us and I think we need to learn from this and I hope that we collectively learn from this and comes out of not just this calamity but from other calamities coming in the future as well. We are not resistant to calamities but it just comes together stronger, to resolve the issues the world is facing right now.

SHARANYA: Thank you so much for spending time with me and letting me interview you. I’ll keep you updated on the initiative in the future!

SANJEEV: Thank you so much! Well done! God Bless! Keep it up!

SHARANYA: Thank you. Bye!