Changing Lives: Success Story of a Golden Jubilee Man in the World of Advertising and Media
PTK EDITORIAL DESK
With over 50 years in advertising, Mukesh Gupta, the CMD of Graphisads Limited, is well-known in the media world. His son, Alok Gupta, the Director of the Company, is also working hard with the goal of providing 360° advertising services to clients.
Here are the excerpts of conversation with GOLDEN JUBILEE MAN MUKESH GUPTA.
Tell us about your business journey.
Since today is fathers day, let me begin with a tribute to my great father. Father is Heaven, Father is Dharma, he is the ultimate penance of my life. When he is happy, all the gods are happy!
I believe that father is the biggest hero and ideal for his son. My father, late Ishwar Prakash Gupta, was my ideal. He made me understand early on that no one can escape struggle and tests, not even Prabhu Shree Rama. From childhood, he taught me the qualities of Rashtravad, family harmony, honesty & hard work in business.
Business is in my blood. My father worked in private service in Jagadhari, Haryana. He also opened a grocery shop there, which my grandfather managed. I started sitting with him at the age of 5. At the age of 6, we moved to Delhi.
This early experience shaped my work ethic and determination. In Delhi, my father got a chance to work for RSS publications, obtaining subscriptions and advertisements from across the country. However, during the Emergency in 1975, the RSS was banned, and the publications stopped. I was only 13 at the time, and my father’s name was on the hit list because of his active underground involvement in the RSS.
This period was marked by political unrest and suppression. There was a struggle for livelihood. My father’s experiences during this crucial period and his transition into different fields paved the way for my determination as well. On the suggestion of a well-wisher, my father started Rashtriya Advertising with zero investment. I joined him from the very beginning, alongside my regular studies. The initial stages involved working with humble means like bicycles and buses.
Hard work and honesty yielded fruitful results. Within five years, we bought a car and an independent house. After that, we never looked back. Starting with just newspaper advertising, we diversified Graphisads into a complete 360° ad agency, which we took over in 1997. Now we are a listed company on the NSE.
What business principles did you learn from your father?
My father taught us to be honest and hardworking. This principle has significantly shaped my personal and professional journey. This ethical foundation contributes to long-term success and fulfillment. I have instilled the same values in my son. He graduated with a BBA from Birmingham, and even while abroad, he adhered to our family’s cultural values and lifestyle choices.
You are known for your passion for culture and music. Can you elaborate?
I love to sing and listen to Bollywood retro songs. In association with various social organizations, we collaborated with many senior artists like Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Anup Jalota, and Ghulam Ali to organize musical programs. We have honored prominent figures in the entertainment industry such as Hrithik Roshan, Dev Anand, Dharam ji, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi, Usha Mangeshkar, Usha Uthup, Sudesh Bhosle, Roop Kumar and Sonali Rathod, Hema Sardesai, Harshdeep Kaur, and Amit Kumar.
What’s your plan for producing films?
Short films are powerful mediums to convey impactful messages and address important social issues. So, I have started making films to address social issues and create awareness.
Do you believe in God?
I have a profound trust in divine power. I always felt that some unknown power was protecting me. Whenever I faced a crisis, a solution would suddenly appear, which never came to my mind before, and we would overcome the problem.So far Abdul Hamid has planted over two lakh trees in the barren lands and forest areas that have faced massive vandalism over the years. By 2030 he’s planning to complete his mission of planting one million trees in the valley.
