Ronnie Screwvala: Bollywood’s Billionaire Tycoon Beyond the Silver Screen
In the dazzling realm of Bollywood, where wealth is often linked to the stars and their films, Ronnie Screwvala emerges as a remarkable figure. As the only billionaire in Hindi cinema, Screwvala has an astounding net worth of $1.55 billion (Rs 13,000 crore), which far exceeds the riches of even the most prominent figures in the industry. His financial success is not just evident when compared to other producers like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra, whose fortunes range from Rs 3000-7000 crore, but also when looking at the combined wealth of top actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan. Screwvala’s path to becoming Bollywood’s wealthiest individual is both fascinating and inspiring. He began with a small investment of Rs 37,000 in 1990, launching UTV Films, which he grew into a billion-dollar company before selling it to Disney. He later founded RSVP Movies, further cementing his influence in the film industry. However, Screwvala’s wealth isn’t limited to movies. His significant investments in companies like UpGrad, Usports, and Unliazer have played a major role in boosting his fortune, showcasing his skills as a smart entrepreneur and investor across various fields.
Early Life and Background
Rohinton Soli Screwvala, who was born on September 8, 1956, is better known as Ronnie Screwvala. He is a successful entrepreneur, investor, and film producer from India. In 2008, he made it onto Esquire’s List of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century. The following year, Time Magazine ranked him 78th on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Additionally, Fortune Magazine recognized him as one of Asia’s 25 Most Powerful People. Ronnie is based in Mumbai, India, and he was a pioneer in cable television.
He created a large media and entertainment company called UTV Software Communications, which worked with big names like News Corp, 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, and Bloomberg. In 2012, he sold his company to Disney for a whopping $1.4 billion.
Career Achievements
Starting in 2013, he and his wife grew their non-profit organization, The Swades Foundation. Their mission is to help a million people in rural India by empowering them and helping them escape poverty every 6 to 7 years before they expand to other areas. He also helped create UpGrad, which focuses on online education for higher learning and specialized skills.
Additionally, he started a sports company called U Sports that covers football, e-sports, and kabaddi. Through his investment firm, Unilazer Ventures, he has invested a lot in Indian start-ups, especially in their early stages. After working as an entrepreneur, he returned to the media industry to create a content company called RSVP, which works on movies and digital projects. He even wrote a book called Dream with Your Eyes Open.
Personal life and Education
Screwvala grew up in Bombay, which is now called Mumbai, in a Parsi family. His dad worked as an executive for a British company called J L Morrison and also for Smith & Nephew.
He attended Cathedral and John Connon School and later went to Sydenham College in Mumbai. While he was in school, Screwvala really loved theatre and even acted in professional plays as a hobby. He took on important roles in famous plays like Shakespeare’s Othello and Death of a Salesman.
Screwvala is happily married to Zarina Mehta, which is his second marriage. Zarina helped him start their media company, UTV, and now she works as a co-Trustee for their charity, The Swades Foundation.
They reside in Breach Candy, a neighborhood in South Mumbai. Screwvala’s first wife was Manjula Nanavati, and together they have a daughter named Trishya Screwvala. Trishya runs her own nonprofit organization called The Lighthouse Project and is married to sports commentator Suhail Chandhok.
Early Business Ventures and Media Innovation
- Toothbrush Manufacturing: Started with a toothbrush manufacturing company.
- Cable TV Pioneer: Introduced Cable TV to India in 1981, expanding it across cities and hotels.
- Quiz Show Host: Hosted the quiz show Mashoor Mahal on Doordarshan in 1985.
- UTV Creation and Growth: Founded UTV in 1990, which grew into a major media company with a movie studio, games studio, and creative content division. UTV went public in 2005 and was fully acquired by Disney in 2012.
The Swades Foundation
The Swades Foundation Ronnie and his wife Zarina started The Swades Foundation, inspired by the famous movie he produced. Their mission is to help a million people escape poverty. Right now, Swades is working in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, reaching out to two thousand villages and helping around five hundred thousand people. They focus on important areas like Water, Sanitation, Health, Education, and mainly on creating job opportunities.
Ronnie Screwvala’s Ventures: Key Highlights
- U Sports: Screwvala founded U Sports to focus on Kabaddi, E Sports, and Football. His team, U Mumba, is a top contender in the ProKabaddi League. Through U Dreams, the initiative aims to nurture and develop young sports talent for professional play.
- RSVP Movies: Re-entering the media scene, Screwvala’s RSVP Movies emphasizes original scripts and collaborative storytelling with like-minded directors.
- Unilazer: As a public equity firm, Unilazer invests in emerging Indian businesses. It focuses on early-stage investments across sectors such as e-commerce, AI, agriculture, and microhousing finance, leveraging Screwvala’s entrepreneurial expertise.
Impact on Film and Television
- Film Career: Began with Dil Ke Jharoke Main (1997) and Fiza (2000). Key releases include Lakshya (2004), Swades (2004), Rang De Basanti (2006), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Fashion (2008), Delhi Belly (2011), Barfi! (2012), Chennai Express (2013), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), and Mission Majnu (2023). Pippa (2024) and Sam Bahadur (2024).
- Television Career: Worked on notable shows such as Shanti (1994–1998), Sea Hawks (1997–1998), Hip Hip Hurray (1998–2001), Shaka Laka Boom Boom (2000–2004), Khichdi (2002–2004), Sanya (2005–2006), and Shark Tank India (2024).
Awards and Recognition
Ronnie Screwvala’s contributions to Indian cinema have been widely recognized through various prestigious awards. In 2007, he won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Rang De Basanti.
That same year, Rang De Basanti also earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Film. His success continued with Jodhaa Akbar (2009) and Barfi! (2013), both of which received the IIFA Award for Best Film. These accolades underscore his significant impact on the film industry and his ability to produce critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
