‘I Could Have Been Rich’ | Arjun Sajnani on Sunny's, Theatre & Success | Expressions

‘I Could Have Been Rich’ | Arjun Sajnani on Sunny's, Theatre & Success | Expressions

Theatre director, filmmaker, actor and restaurateur Arjun Sajnani joins Expressions for a conversation on creativity, success, envy, old Bangalore and building a meaningful life. From directing acclaimed productions like The Fire and the Rain and Amadeus to founding Sunny's, one of Bangalore's most iconic restaurants, Arjun reflects on passion, ambition,legacy and why success isn't always measured by wealth. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Why success isn't always about becoming wealthy • What Girish Karnad taught Arjun about storytelling • Why theatre demands attention unlike any other art form • The lesson behind Salieri, envy and creative ambition • Why Arjun chose passion over scaling a business • How Bangalore has changed over the decades • The importance of loyalty in hospitality • What makes a meaningful legacy • Lessons on creativity, discipline and purpose People, Projects & Works Featured in This Episode ● Arjun Sajnani: Theatre director, filmmaker, actor and founder of Sunny's ● Sunny's: One of Bangalore's most iconic restaurants andthe story behind its creation ● Sunny the Dog: The beloved dog whose arrival inspired thename and identity of Sunny's ● Vivek: Arjun's close friend and business partner, whoplayed a key role in the Sunny's journey ● Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: One of Sunny's earliest customers and supporters, remembered through stories from the restaurant's early days ● Geeta Menon, Vikram and Geetanjali Kirloskar:: Mentioned in the discussion on friendship, community and Bangalore's social circles ● Girish Karnad: Playwright, actor and one of India's most influential literary figures ● The Fire and the Rain: The production that became a turning point in Arjun's theatre career ● Amadeus: The acclaimed play that sparked a discussion on genius, ambition and envy ● Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri: Referenced during a conversation on comparison, self-doubt and artistic excellence ABOUT ARJUNArjun Sajnani is a theatre director, filmmaker, actor and restaurateur best known as the founder of Sunny's. Over the past three decades, he has directed acclaimed stage productions, worked in film and hospitality, and played a significant role in shaping Bangalore's theatre and cultural landscape.

AI Will Replace Marketers, Digital Is a Disaster & Why Hard Work Never Dies | Expressions

Brand strategist, author, and consumer behavior expert Harish Bijoor joins Expressions for a conversation on branding, AI, digital culture, relationships, and the future of work. From his dream of becoming an IAS officer to advising some of India's biggest brands and political campaigns, he shares the lessons that shaped his journey, his views on a rapidly changing world, and why understanding people remains at the heart of every great idea. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Why hard work never goes out of fashion • The failure that still motivates Harish today • How AI is changing marketing and business • Why consumer research remains irreplaceable • What makes brands memorable • The hidden costs of digital dependency • Why relationships are becoming more transactional • The importance of continuous learning • How curiosity creates opportunity • Why empathy is a competitive advantage People, Brands & Topics Mentioned • Atal Bihari Vajpayee — Former Prime Minister of India • Neelam Sanjiva Reddy — Former President of India • V. V. Giri — Former President of India • George Fernandes — Former Defence Minister of India • Shiv Khera — Author & Motivational Speaker • Tata Coffee — Indian Coffee Company • Brook Bond Lipton — FMCG Company • Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Brand Positioning • Consumer Behaviour • Political Campaigns • Dating Apps & Relationships • Digital Culture • Rural India Marketing • Leadership & Entrepreneurship ABOUT HARISH BIJOOR Harish Bijoor is a brand strategist, author, business consultant, and consumer behavior expert. Over the years, he has advised leading corporations, startups, political campaigns, and public figures on branding, positioning, market strategy, and consumer insights. Known for his sharp views on marketing, technology, and culture, he continues to be one of India's most influential voices in the world of brands and business. #HarishBijoor #Branding #Marketing #AI #ConsumerBehaviour #ArtificialIntelligence #Thenewindianexpress #Expressions #DigitalCulture #FutureOfWork

Samragnee Bandyopadhyay — Why She Writes About Abuse, Feminism & Real Women | Expressions

Award-winning poet and screenwriter Samragnee Bandyopadhyay joins Expressions for a conversation on feminism, verbal abuse, storytelling, and writing flawed women. From creating Lojja and Noshtoneer to navigatingpublic criticism, creative compromises, and life's unexpected turns, she shares the lessons that shaped her journey from poetry to screenwriting. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN   • Why feminism is about inclusion, equality and empathy • How Lajja helped people identify verbal abuse • The storytelling principle behind Samragnee’s "60% rule" • Why ordinary people make the most compelling characters • How teaching and radio shaped her voice as a writer • The emotional challenge of researching MeToo stories • Why she wants to write morally complex female characters • How to navigate criticism while staying true to yourself • Lessons on risk-taking, timing and creative growth People, Projects & Works Featured in This Episode ● Lajja: Acclaimed web series on verbal and linguistic abuse  ● Noshtoneer: Series exploring the emotional and familialaftermath of the MeToo movement  ● Mukherjee Dar Bou: Award-winning Bengali feature film ● Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar: National literary awardfor Khelnabatir Din Sesh  ● Bangla Akademi Award: State literary recognitiondiscussed in relation to merit and public perception  ● Political Leader (Samragnee's husband): Referencedduring a discussion on independence, privilege, integrity and public scrutiny  ● Jadavpur University: Where she taught Bengali toforeign scholars  ● Nusrat Jahan: Actor and Former Politician featured inthe viral dance video story IG: @nusratchirps  ● Zinia Sen:  Songwriter and friend behind the dancechallenge that went viral ABOUT SAMRAGNEE   SamragneeBandyopadhyay is an award-winning Bengali poet, screenwriter, scholar andlyricist. A recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar and KrittibasPuraskar, she is known for works such as Lojja, Noshtoneer, Mukherjee Dar Bou.Her writing explores gender, language, identity, relationships and the everydayrealities of women's lives. Follow Samragnee  Instagram: @samragneebandyopadhyay Facebook: @samragneebandyopadhyay LinkedIn: Samragnee Banerjee ABOUT EXPRESSIONS  Expressions is a series of thoughtful conversations with thepeople shaping India's culture, sport and public life. Honest stories, meaningful insights, and the journeys behind the headlines.

Sohini Sengupta — The Artist Who Turned Down Sacred Games | Expressions | The New Indian Express

She grew up eating Satyajit Ray's sandwiches, sleeping in the homes of legends, and still had to fight for every single role. Sohini Sengupta, National Film Award winner, Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, and the Heart of Nandikar, opens up about what it truly means to be an artist from the inside. In this episode of Expressions, Sohini talks about discovering herself on stage through Arthur Miller, the invisible cost of being the director's daughter, why she turned down Sacred Games and Yash Raj Films, and how theatre became her anchor through divorce, body shaming, loss, and self-doubt. She also reflects on her late mother, Swatilekha Sengupta's extraordinary discipline, the mystical dimension of fine arts, and why India is still catching up on giving women equal ground on screen and on stage. ABOUT SOHINI SENGUPTA A National Film Award winner for Paromitar Ek Din 2000 and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2007, she helped establish Naataca, the Nandikar Academy of Theatre and Communication, in honour of her late mother. In 2026, she was named a Devi Awardee by Indulge and The New Indian Express. Known for emotionally complex roles across stage, Bengali cinema, television and OTT, Sohini is an acting teacher who has made Naataca a living institution. She splits her time between active performance, directing, and nurturing the next generation of theatre artists. FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE * Sohini Sengupta - National Award winner, Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee * Rudraprasad Sengupta - Theatre director, her father * Swatilekha Sengupta -  Artist and musician, her mother * Nandikar - Theatre collective * Naataca - Academy of Theatre and Communication * Satyajit Ray - Filmmaker * Arthur Miller - Playwright * Saptarshi Maulik - Husband  ABOUT EXPRESSIONS Expressions is a series of unhurried, honest conversations with the people quietly shaping India's sport, culture, and consciousness. Less spectacle, more substance the stories behind the stories, told without filters.

Priya Mascarenhas — 47 Years of Winning, 91 Countries & a Garden Full of Memories | Expressions

She grew up on a coffee plantation, studied art in Rome, and spent 56 years building a life with the man she loved. Priya Mascarenhas, an entrepreneur, gardener, and winner of the Javarayya Rolling Shield for 47 consecutive years, opens up about the discipline behind a lifelong passion, the loneliness of loss, and why a small garden done right will always beat a grand one done carelessly. A quietly extraordinary conversation about love, legacy, and the things we keep. What you'll learn from this episode• How Priya built a 47-year winning streak at the Bangalore Horticultural Society and why she walked in and rewrote the competition categories to make it fair• The hands-on philosophy that runs through everything she does: gardening, cooking, running a business, and raising a family across two very different worlds• Why small gardens often outshine grand ones and the simple principles that make plants thrive (including which ones to stop fighting and let go)• The real reason high-maintenance exotic plants keep dying in Indian homes, and what Priya grows instead now that she travels more• What 56 years of marriage, 91 countries, and a 150-year-old ancestral home teach you about holding on to the things that actually matter