Entertainment

Interview with director Vedd Rawtaani

Published

5 years ago

May 29, 2020

Roy T Bennett, the author of the best-selling book, The Light in the Heart, very famously said, “Great things happen to those who don’t stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful.” Growing stops when you close your mind to learning. Education is not just what you receive in school, it is a lifelong process that enables you to open your mind and learn more about the complexities of this life and this world. This statement holds more meaning in the world of art. Whether you’re a musician or painter or filmmaker, you’re always a student. An up-and-comer director who has been making waves in the world of film making is Vedd Rawtaani.

A Mumbai-based film director, editor, and writer, Vedd dreamed of entering the film industry at a very young age. Right from his school days, he took great interest in films and the art of making them. When he was only 21, he directed his first-ever web series, ‘Pyaar on the Rocks’, which featured veteran actor Raza Murad. The show received critical acclaim, with the first episode achieving over a million views. When asked about the show’s success, Vedd said, “I was completely overwhelmed and received fan mail from all corners of the world. This led me to believe that there is more that I can achieve.” Vedd also believes that directing and film-making are continuous learning processes. The more you allow yourself to be educated in them, the better your product will be.

After Pyaar on the Rocks, Vedd has worked on numerous projects that included television commercials for various brands. He has also worked with Disha Patani for the brand ONLY. Furthermore, he was associated with the 2019 hit movie Gully Boy, editing its promotional videos, most notably the ‘Voice of the Streets’ segment. Going forward, he wishes to further hone his skills as a director and screenplay writer and create the kind of work that people may remember for many years.

As an alumnus of Whistling Woods, Vedd has trained under celebrated actor and writer, Kader Khan. His inspiration comes from directors like Rohit Shetty, Mohit Suri, Rajkumar Hirani and many more. He also received a Foxglove Certificate of Appreciation for an ad film he had worked on, titled ‘Thoda Aur Zyada’. At the mere age of 16, he won an award for his short film ‘Two-Faced’. Vedd is currently working on numerous projects that include web series, ad films and more.

With the rise of OTT platforms, India is churning out content that is loved by the masses. It is the right time and opportunity for every filmmaker in this country to unleash their creative side and make their mark.

Entertainment

Going Public: The Groundbreaking Series Transforming How Americans Invest

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

In a media landscape saturated with reality TV and startup showcases, Going Public stands apart, not just as a show but as a movement. Now in its third season, the interactive series invites viewers to do more than just watch entrepreneurs chase success. It gives them the tools and the opportunity to invest in startups in real time, democratizing access to early-stage funding and reshaping how ordinary Americans engage with entrepreneurship and wealth-building.

Launched by Todd M. Goldberg, a former MedTech executive who hit a frustrating wall while preparing his company for a Nasdaq IPO, Going Public was born from a moment of personal disillusionment.

“When I brought a list of interested friends and colleagues to the Chairman of the Board,” Goldberg recalls, “he explained that all the IPO shares were reserved for institutional investors. That was my epiphany. I just knew that was wrong. Regular people should have a chance to invest in IPOs, but it needed to go even further.”

That insight became the foundation for Going Public, a hybrid of entrepreneurial storytelling and financial access that offers retail investors a seat at the table usually reserved for venture capitalists and insiders. The show brings audiences inside the capital-raising journey of startups, often before they go public, and leverages a powerful innovation: its “Click-to-Invest” feature.

“The bottom line with Click-to-Invest is that it’s seamless,” says Goldberg. “Viewers can go from watching the show to literally clicking a button. It feels more like a Shopify or Amazon checkout than a traditional investment process.”

This accessibility is central to the show’s mission: to educate, inspire, and empower everyday people to participate in early-stage investing. Unlike financial news channels that target seasoned traders, Going Public merges entertainment with financial literacy, using real startup stories to highlight the risks, rewards, and realities of entrepreneurship. It’s financial content with emotional stakes, real people, and tangible outcomes.

Season 3 reflects how far the show has come and where it’s going. With more celebrity involvement, including gaming icon Ninja backing the cashew milk startup Nutcase, and a strategic partnership with the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Going Public has widened its reach while deepening its cultural relevance.

“How do you make this mainstream?” Goldberg says. “The concept was The Apprentice meets Shark Tank meets IPO, but with a twist. Viewers aren’t just spectators, they’re stakeholders.”

The show’s selection of featured companies is another defining element. Startups are chosen not just for their growth potential but also for their mission, relatability, and cultural resonance. In Season 3, that includes everything from disruptive wellness brands to tech-enabled platforms, each paired with guidance from top-tier venture capitalists and Silicon Valley mentors.

This season also introduces a livestream finale, a format innovation designed to create a real-time, high-stakes environment where viewers can watch, decide, and invest together. It adds urgency and community to the investing experience, aligning with the show’s values of transparency and participation.

One of the most surprising and meaningful outcomes has been the personal stories from viewers who never imagined themselves as investors. “We’ve heard from teachers, nurses, and even students who said this was their first time investing and they felt confident doing it because the show made it accessible,” Goldberg shares. “It’s not just about money, it’s about empowerment.”

Looking ahead, Goldberg and his team have ambitious plans. They aim to expand the format to new platforms, explore international adaptations, and build out educational tools so viewers not only invest but understand what they’re investing in. The goal isn’t just more participation. It’s smarter participation.

In a world where capital often feels distant, technical, and exclusionary, Going Public brings the financial journey down to earth and into the hands of the people. It’s not just a show. It’s a redefinition of how business stories are told and how wealth can be created and shared.