About
| Date of Birth | 8th September 1956 |
| Place | Mumbai, India |
| Education | Cathedral and John Connon School and Sydenham College. |
| Spouse | Manjula Nanavati(divorced) Zarina Mehta |
| Net Worth | ₹13000 crore |
Background
Ronnie Screwvala, whose real name is Rohinton Soli Screwvala, was born on September 8, 1956, and is an Indian film producer, investor, and businessman.He was listed on Esquire’s 2008 List of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century and placed 78th on Time Magazine’s 2009 Time 100 list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Additionally, Fortune Magazine named him one of Asia’s 25 Most Powerful People. Based in Mumbai, India, Ronnie invented cable television and established UTV Software Communications, a media and entertainment conglomerate that he later sold to Disney in 2012 for an enterprise value of US$1.4 billion. The company had partnerships with News Corp, 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, and Bloomberg.
Through his investment company, Unilazer Ventures, he has been a major private equity investor in Indian start-ups with early stage investment and significant minority stakes. He also co-founded UpGrad, which is into online education in the higher education and specialization sector, and founded a sports company called U Sports that encompasses football, e-sports, and kabaddi. After his time as an entrepreneur, he returned to the media content industry to write a book called Dream with Your Eyes Open and establish a creative content company called RSV in digital and film content.
Career
Ronnie Screwvala is a well-known media magnate, philanthropist, and businessman from India. In 1990, he was a co-founder of UTV Software Communications, which he helped grow into a major force in the Indian entertainment sector by generating blockbusters before being acquired by Disney. In addition, he was Disney India’s chairman.
Ronnie turned her attention to education in 2015 when she co-founded UpGrad, an online learning platform that now dominates the Indian ed-tech market and provides advanced courses in a range of subjects. In addition, he was an early investor in Arre Media, a digital entertainment platform, and Swvl, a global mobility platform.
Through his rural development-focused nonprofit, the Swades nonprofit, Ronnie is actively committed in philanthropy. He has received recognition for his efforts, including the Padma Shri in 2019. He has significantly influenced India’s media, education, and rural development during the course of his career.
Appearance
- Ronnie Screwvala has frequently spoken at national and international summits and conferences centered around technology, media, and entrepreneurship. He has discussed the future of education and entertainment, company growth, and scaling companies.
- He has actively participated in education-related events and conferences as a co-founder of UpGrad, where he has discussed the value of online learning and the changing face of higher education.
- In his many media appearances, Ronnie has talked about his business endeavors, professional path, and the use of technology in education going forward. Additionally, he has made appearances on well-known business programs including NDTV and CNBC TV18.
- As one of UpGrad’s co-founders, Ronnie has taken part in a number of public events, such as collaborations, investor presentations, and product releases, to further the platform’s objective of providing high-quality, easily accessible education.
- Ronnie Screwvala introduced his book, “Dream with Your Eyes Open,” at book presentations and public gatherings where he talked about his experiences in the business sector and his entrepreneurial path.
- Ronnie has participated openly in the Swades Foundation’s rural development programs, going to gatherings that enhance infrastructure, healthcare, and education in rural India. His involvement in these activities has contributed to the foundation’s efforts becoming more widely known.
Profession
Ronnie Screwvala is a prosperous investor, philanthropist, and businessman. Following UTV’s acquisition by Disney, he served as Chairman of Disney India. He was a co-founder of UTV Software Communications, a prominent media firm. He made a big influence on online education in India in 2015 by co-founding UpGrad, an ed-tech platform that provides advanced professional courses.
Additionally, Ronnie actively invests in businesses such as Arre Media and Swvl. He works to improve livelihoods, healthcare, and education in India’s rural areas through his charitable organization, the Swades Foundation. He also wrote the book “Dream with Your Eyes Open” and is a well-known corporate and educational thought leader.
Road to Success
Ronnie Screwvala’s inventiveness, entrepreneurial energy, and flexibility in responding to shifting market conditions have all contributed to his success. An overview of his path to success can be found here.
- Early Life and Education
- Founding UTV (1990)
- Acquisition by Disney (2012)
- Pivot to Education with UpGrad (2015)
- Investment in Startups
- Philanthropy and Social Impact
- Author and Thought Leader
Investment in Shark Tank India Season 3
| Sr. No. | Brand | Idea |
| 1. | Without | Products made from Waste Plastic |
| 2. | Kibo by Trestle Labs | Optical Character Recognition |