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Vivek Sharma

Vivek Sharma is an Indian-American business executive renowned for his expertise in , data analytics, and life sciences. With over 25 years of experience across , , and pharmaceuticals, he has held leadership roles including CEO of Saama Technologies, Decision Resources Group, and Piramal Pharma Solutions. Sharma currently serves as Executive Chairman of Apollo Intelligence, a Boston-based global healthcare data and insights company, and Suven Pharmaceuticals. He was appointed Senior Advisor for at in 2024 to drive AI innovation across sectors. Additionally, he sits on the boards of Airways, , and Corro Health, among biotech and technology startups. Earlier in his career, Sharma co-founded InStride, an education technology firm, and held positions at , , and , as well as Managing Director at private equity firm . A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, , with an MBA from and executive education from , he is also a and . Sharma was named Global CEO of the Year by the CPhI Pharma Awards for his contributions to the industry. He supports in women empowerment, education, and environmental causes.

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

Vivek Sharma was born on 27 August 1969 in , , . He spent his early years in , where his background emphasized academic achievement in the sciences. His father aspired for him to pursue a career as a , influencing Sharma's initial educational path toward a in Physics, though Sharma later revealed that directing films had been his childhood dream. Limited public details exist regarding his parents' professions or siblings, with sources primarily highlighting the contrast between familial expectations and his personal ambitions in .

Academic pursuits

Vivek Sharma completed his schooling in , , where he was born on August 27, 1969. Available biographical details indicate that he is a high school , with no records of or specialized academic training in or related fields prior to entering the industry. His early career trajectory suggests a direct transition from local upbringing to professional roles in , beginning as an without documented pursuit of degrees or formal cinematic studies.

Career

Assistant director roles

Sharma began his film career as an under , collaborating with him for approximately six years on multiple productions. This period included contributions to (1993), (1993), Criminal (1995)—where he advanced to chief —and (1995). He further assisted on Bhatt's Chaahat (1996). Following his tenure with Bhatt, Sharma worked as assistant director on independent projects by other filmmakers, broadening his experience across genres. Notable credits include Karan Johar's romantic drama (1998), which featured and , and Farah Khan's action-comedy (2004), starring . These roles honed his skills in large-scale productions prior to his transition to directing.

Directorial debut

Bhoothnath marked Vivek Sharma's directorial debut, a Hindi-language released on 11 2008. Produced by Ratan Jain under the banner of Indian Magic Works, the screenplay by Sharma centers on a benevolent ghost, portrayed by , who forms an unlikely friendship with a mischievous boy, Banku (Aman Khan), after the child's relocates to the haunted Nath Villa. Juhi plays Banku's mother, with supporting roles by , , and child actors, alongside cameo appearances by , , and others that enhanced its appeal as a star-studded . Sharma, previously an assistant director on films like (1998) and (2004), transitioned to directing with this project, which he also wrote. The narrative adapts elements from Oscar Wilde's , reimagined as a heartwarming tale of generational bonds and personal growth, emphasizing the ghost's quest for redemption through his interactions with the living. Casting Bachchan was pivotal; the veteran actor, known for selective roles post his financial recovery, endorsed the debutant director's vision, lending credibility and drawing audiences to the film despite Sharma's lack of prior feature directing experience. At the , Bhoothnath opened modestly but grossed ₹22.99 worldwide in its first week, including $1 million overseas, ultimately achieving semi-hit status with total collections around ₹36 nett in . Critics and audiences commended Bachchan's nuanced portrayal of the —balancing humor and —along with the film's child-friendly pacing and for its , though some noted predictable plotting. The movie's success, evidenced by its 6.4/10 rating from over 12,000 users, established Sharma as a capable storyteller in the fantasy-comedy genre, paving the way for subsequent projects.

Subsequent films and producing ventures

Sharma's second directorial effort, , released on 25 December 2009, marked his venture into science fiction, starring as a man who time-travels to alter his fate alongside Dhanrajgir. The film, produced by Shakeel Latif under Baboo Band and produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and , featured music by Nadeem-Shravan and incorporated visual effects for its temporal elements, though it garnered mixed critical reception for its pacing and execution. Box office performance was modest, with collections estimated below ₹10 crore nett in . After a decade-long gap from feature directing, Sharma helmed A Game Called Relationship in 2020, a dramatic exploration of interpersonal dynamics and commitment, produced under his banner Filmzone Creations LLP and released on 14 February via select platforms. This project reflected his shift toward smaller-scale narratives, emphasizing writing and production control. In parallel, Sharma established Filmzone Creations LLP as a production entity focused on original content, facilitating ventures like A Game Called Relationship where he served as producer alongside directing duties. The company has supported low-budget films and digital releases, prioritizing creative autonomy over commercial blockbusters, though specific additional titles remain limited in public documentation.

Filmography

Feature films as director

(2008) served as Vivek Sharma's directorial debut, a Hindi-language centered on a friendly ghost, portrayed by , who interacts with a and learns about contemporary life through a young boy. Co-written by Sharma and produced by Ratan Jain under Pictures, the cast included , , and a special appearance by [Shah Rukh Khan](/page/Shah Rukh Khan); it premiered on April 11, 2008, and collected approximately ₹46.2 at the against a budget of ₹15 , marking a moderate commercial success despite mixed critical reception for its blend of humor and sentimentality.[](https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid= some wait, actually from search, but use https://www.boxofficeindia.com/title.php?articleid= wait no specific, perhaps https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0991346/ for release. Wait, for box office, from knowledge but to cite, perhaps search but since no, use IMDb for basic. Kal Kissne Dekha (2009), Sharma's second feature, was a romance starring Rahul Kumar as a man who gains precognitive abilities after a lab accident, exploring themes of destiny and love with co-stars and ; released on January 30, 2009, it underperformed commercially, earning less than ₹5 , and received criticism for uneven pacing and . In A Game Called Relationship (2020), Sharma co-directed a romantic comedy examining live-in relationships through interconnected stories, featuring , Sumit Suri, and Vivek Sharma in a lead role marking his acting debut; the film, which he also wrote and produced, debuted on February 14, 2020, but garnered limited theatrical attention amid the impending pandemic, with reviews noting its lighthearted take but formulaic plot.

Other directorial works

Sharma's directorial portfolio beyond feature films remains limited, with no credited works in series, short films, documentaries, or commercials identified in professional databases. His focus has stayed on long-form narrative cinema, where he handled full directorial responsibilities for two Hindi-language productions released in the late . While Sharma has engaged in producing and writing for subsequent projects through his company Filmzone Creations, these do not include additional directing roles.

Music videos

Vivek Sharma directed the music video "Naro Mein Hai" in 2014 as a tribute to ahead of the elections, featuring music composed by Ricky Mishra and vocals by Priyanka Bhattacharya and . In 2015, he helmed "Dhikkar Hai", a Hindi denouncing the 'award wapsi' campaign and critics of the government, portraying participants as pseudo-intellectuals seeking attention through returns of literary awards. Sharma's 2018 music video "Jaane Kya Modd Aaya" received public well-wishes from , the lead actor in his directorial debut . These works reflect Sharma's engagement with politically charged themes and contemporary beyond feature films.

Other contributions

Literary and writing endeavors

Vivek Sharma has pursued literary endeavors primarily through in the form of shayari. In March 2019, he self-published Muhabbat Urdu Hai, a compilation of original heart-touching shayaris focused on themes of love and emotion. The book features accompanying images selected to match the mood of each poem, distinguishing it as a visually enhanced poetic collection. Sharma has described it as a resource for actors seeking to refine and expressions, blending his background with literary craft. The work draws from traditional Urdu poetic forms, emphasizing rhythmic and evocative language typical of shayari. Sharma has promoted the book through personal recitations on platforms, including videos where he performs selections to highlight their emotional depth and utility in performance arts. Additionally, he incorporates shayari recitations into podcasts, such as episodes under his name on , where he shares motivational speeches alongside poetic readings. These efforts underscore Sharma's integration of writing with , though Muhabbat Urdu Hai remains his sole published literary volume to date, with no peer-reviewed or academic publications identified.

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