Film Critic, Novelist

At various stages in his life Anil Dharker has been an engineer, a film critic, a film censor and a promoter of New Cinema (with the National Film Development Corporation). He has worked in television as producer and anchor, as well as heading a new channel then poised to take off. His television criticism was published in ‘Sorry, Not Ready’ to rave reviews. He is best known, though, as a journalist, as editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, The Independent, Mid-day and Sunday Mid-day, as well as columnist for The Times of India, The Hindu, Mid-day, Khaleej Times and Gulf News.

Film Trade Analyst

Komal Nahta is the editor, printer and publisher of Film Information, the largest circulated film trade journal in India. His reviews are considered the gospel truth not just in the industry but also among the public, the latter because of the various television channels airing his reviews and opinions on film industry matters. Satellite channels like CNBC, STAR, Zee, Sony, Sahara, B4U, NDTV, besides Doordarshan, often carry his interviews. Because of his sharp analytical and business prediction abilities, the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) had appointed him advisor for its film financing scheme. Komal is the only film personality to be appointed by IDBI. By qualification, he is a Chartered Accountant, which gives him an edge over others in the field because of his ability to assess the financial aspects of film projects and production companies. His vast experience in judging commercial and financials of films and film entertainment ventures will be a great asset to the Investment Advisory Board.

Actor, Producer

Over the last three decades, Bedi has acted in over 60 Bollywood films, with starring roles in Kuchche Dhaage, Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain, and Khoon Bhari Maang. He also played a Mafia Don in Feroz Khan’s Yalgar. Bedi shot onto the international stage in the role of Sandokan, a Malaysian, Robin-Hood-like pirate created by the Italian author Emilio Salgari. The Sergio Sollima directed mini-series was filmed in 1976 on location in South-East Asia. He later reprised the Sandokan role in two films shot in the 1990s. In the James Bond film Octopussy, he played Gobinda, the villain who battled Roger Moore from start to finish. In Europe, his greatest success was the title role in Sandokan, a record-breaking Italian-German-French television series, the saga of a romantic Asian pirate and freedom fighter during British colonial times.

Many also saw Bedi as Prince Omar in the TV series The Bold And The Beautiful for over a year (1994-1995 and a guest appearance in 2005) Bedi has also starred in the Bollywood epic, Akbar Khan’s The Taj Mahal, as the embattled Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the monument. Kabir brings to the fund a wealth of international contacts and insights to the business. He is a member of the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(commonly known as the OSCARS), The Screen Actors Guild, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and The British Actors Equity Association.