Passion must translate into knowledge, Vaswani tells TSOM students
Times of Bennett | Updated: Nov 02, 2025 16:51
Correspondent: Radhika Gupta
Photojournalist: Avni Rai
A 24-hour train to Bombay and a suitcase full of dreams. A dream to shine, to make a name, to be remembered. Years of practice, relentless effort, and a lot of “zidd”, but is that enough to make it?
The Times School of Media (TSOM ) at Bennett University organised a Masterclass on “Video Storytelling 101: How to Stand Out” on Monday, October 13, 2025. The session was conducted by renowned producer, actor, and educator Viveck Vaswani who has over four decades of experience in the Indian film and media industry. Known for mentoring talents such as Shah Rukh Khan , Vaswani brought his trademark candour to the TSOM stage.
He opened the session by encouraging students to ask him “the kind of tough questions that only industry insiders can answer”, aiming to equip them with a realistic understanding of what it takes to succeed in film, television, and the OTT industries.
He spoke about career planning in the media industry, drawing sharp distinctions between jobs and careers. He explained that a true career must offer “financial stability, sustainability, and scalability.” Passion alone, he warned, is insufficient unless it translates into knowledge. He stressed that aspiring filmmakers, writers, and actors must have a deep understanding about their craft - from the history of cinema to the economics behind it.
He challenged students to question their assumptions, demonstrating how facts differ from truths. “The sun doesn’t rise or set - it stays still, and the earth moves. When your formula is based on facts, not beliefs, your strategy works,” he said. According to him, success is not accidental but a result of the right formula, where knowledge leads to strategy, strategy leads to a plan, a plan leads to control, control leads to power, and power leads to success.
Moving from personal experiences to professional insights, Vaswani guided students through the vast career opportunities within the industry. He categorised these into five major streams - creative, technical, skill-based, entrepreneurial, and management careers. He emphasized that media extends far beyond film direction or acting, encompassing everything from sound design and cinematography to entrepreneurship.
Throughout the session, he kept students engaged with questions, humour, and honest insights into the challenges of breaking into Bollywood. He also highlighted the importance of professionalism, perseverance, and informed passion, reminding students that “if your passion doesn’t translate into knowledge, do a reality check - you might just be in love with the idea, not the work.”
The masterclass concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students discussed their aspirations and received practical advice on navigating the entertainment industry. It was an eye-opening and motivational experience, one that encouraged students to combine creativity with strategy, to stay curious, and most importantly, to stand out by knowing more than anyone else in the room.
Radhika Gupta is an aspiring filmmaker and storyteller. Eager to learn and explore new ideas, she brings curiosity, creativity, and energy to every project, turning stories into memorable experiences.
Photojournalist: Avni Rai
A 24-hour train to Bombay and a suitcase full of dreams. A dream to shine, to make a name, to be remembered. Years of practice, relentless effort, and a lot of “zidd”, but is that enough to make it?
The Times School of Media (
He opened the session by encouraging students to ask him “the kind of tough questions that only industry insiders can answer”, aiming to equip them with a realistic understanding of what it takes to succeed in film, television, and the OTT industries.
He spoke about career planning in the media industry, drawing sharp distinctions between jobs and careers. He explained that a true career must offer “financial stability, sustainability, and scalability.” Passion alone, he warned, is insufficient unless it translates into knowledge. He stressed that aspiring filmmakers, writers, and actors must have a deep understanding about their craft - from the history of cinema to the economics behind it.
He challenged students to question their assumptions, demonstrating how facts differ from truths. “The sun doesn’t rise or set - it stays still, and the earth moves. When your formula is based on facts, not beliefs, your strategy works,” he said. According to him, success is not accidental but a result of the right formula, where knowledge leads to strategy, strategy leads to a plan, a plan leads to control, control leads to power, and power leads to success.
Moving from personal experiences to professional insights, Vaswani guided students through the vast career opportunities within the industry. He categorised these into five major streams - creative, technical, skill-based, entrepreneurial, and management careers. He emphasized that media extends far beyond film direction or acting, encompassing everything from sound design and cinematography to entrepreneurship.
Throughout the session, he kept students engaged with questions, humour, and honest insights into the challenges of breaking into Bollywood. He also highlighted the importance of professionalism, perseverance, and informed passion, reminding students that “if your passion doesn’t translate into knowledge, do a reality check - you might just be in love with the idea, not the work.”
The masterclass concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students discussed their aspirations and received practical advice on navigating the entertainment industry. It was an eye-opening and motivational experience, one that encouraged students to combine creativity with strategy, to stay curious, and most importantly, to stand out by knowing more than anyone else in the room.
Radhika Gupta is an aspiring filmmaker and storyteller. Eager to learn and explore new ideas, she brings curiosity, creativity, and energy to every project, turning stories into memorable experiences.
