From: As told to Arshad Ali

Behind the scene   

Posted On Friday, January 14, 2011

In the media industry, where work starts after 5 pm, fortunately for Mahendra Soni, he is able to cope with this almost-round-the-clock schedule only because of his love for it. Work seems to be more fun than fun though it leaves him with little time for his family...

In the media industry, most of the work actually starts after 5 pm and fortunately for me, I am able to cope with this almost-round-the-clock schedule only because of my love for it. Had it not been the case, I would have either quit the business and settled for something that would require a 9 to 5 commitment. While in this field of operation, unlike a regular person, I work hard till five and most of the times, harder after that. Although, with the changed dress code, body language and mannerisms, I make it look like fun. My life after five involves a lot of talking, networking, that most of the times lead to closure of business deals. I can afford to let my hair down from time to time and meet people informally. It often requires me attending parties and get-togethers and socialise.

This, unfortunately, keeps me deprived of spending quality time with family and kids but again I have been fortunate enough to get a family that understands my nature of work and prefers to support and help me sail through rather than complain and make things even more difficult for me.

On rare occasions, I get to spend time with my family and the kids just love me being around, with them. It is also a major stress buster for me. Sometimes, we all go for a film and that refreshes the mind as well.

Occasionally, I do get to meet friends. When I go out with friends, more often than not, it is not over a cuppa of coffee but at poker table. Playing a hand or two with them and reliving old memories is one of the best nerve soothers I can get.

Amidst everything, I make it a point to go on a yearly outing with close kins. The choice of the venue is put to consensus and it doesn’t really matter where we head for as log as we are together. My closest relatives who write me off for the rest of the year as an ‘anti-social’ suddenly realise that I am not all that unsociable and that I don’t forget my near and dear ones. Just forget to remember them sometimes.

Soni is the director, Shri Venkatesh Films Pvt Ltd