When you read your early morning newspaper, besides half tones and colour reproduction you look for?
Positive news as most of the news these days is pretty depressing.

When and how do you begin your day?
I start my day by spending a few minutes with my children before they leave for school.

Do you plan your day, meticulously? Or is it ad hoc? Or is there a blueprint for the day?
The day is more or less planned but depending on the situation the schedule does change.

One person with whom you like to share your daily drive to office. Why?
I prefer to be alone as it gives me time to plan things.

What is the first thing you do on entering the office?
After offering my prayers, I look at the previous day’s progress reports followed by a meeting with all the departmental heads.

How frequently do you interact with print production supervisors? What do you discuss, commonly?
Once a day, though I am constantly in touch with key production personnel throughout the day. I discuss the production and quality performance, problem areas, job schedules and raw material and manpower planning on daily basis.

With the fierce competition, high cost of entry and above all, the increasing threat from other media, do you find that traditional ink-on-paper is facing a serious threat to its survival?
I think there is scope for different media to co-exist.

Which press does the best printing in India? And why?
Not possible to compare as there are different players doing great work in different segments.

How do you rate your press as compared to leading printers the world over?
Although we are constantly evolving but there is still a long way to go. 

If you won Rs 10 crore through Playwin which printing equipment would you invest in? Why?
Haven’t ever thought of this.

Today, we hear of innumerable printing presses closing down or being on the verge of closing down. Why is this happening? And, what does this portend for the future of the industry?
Change is the law of nature. I firmly believe in the “Survival of the fittest”.

Our industry like other industries is facing various challenges and only players who will manage to resolve these by increasing their efficiencies will survive in the long run.     

The best breakthrough in print technology in the past hundred years?
Difficult to pick one but what amazes me is the speed at which innovations happen in our industry.

Most printers, repro houses and graphics art professionals, complain about the manner in which profit margins are being squeezed. Are you encountering these problems? If yes, then why and how?
Like everyone else we are also affected by narrow margins. Although some of it can be attributed to competition but majority of it is because of lack of understanding of costing/estimation.    

Your favourite adda?
I love to spend time at my rock band “Night Shift’s” practice pad.

For a working lunch if you met Johanes Gutenberg (the father of modern printing), what would you talk to him about?
I would ask him how to translate ideas into working solutions.

How do you motivate your sales and marketing team? Any new promotion strategy?
By providing regular support on various issues and ensuring that commitments they make to the customers are fulfilled. Also rewards for achieving targets helps in keeping them motivated.

The most frequently used mantra in your organisation. Your corporate philosophy?
We constantly strive to achieve higher standards by way of adopting the “2P2A principle; Plan, Perform, Analyse and Act”. This was coined by me a few years back and I am glad it still works.

The craziest deadline, you've come across?
A quantity of two lakh six-colours plus single-colour UV monocartons on Gravure press to be delivered in 48 hours including a machine proof, Gravure cylinder making and die making.

Your favourite excuse to your family when you’re late?
I am a second generation printer and also have two brothers who are also printers. My wife also helps in the business. So, I don’t need to make excuses.

Please comment of the technology and machines (press / pre-press / post-press / others) that you have invested in, in the past few years?
We have invested in CTP, Auto Die Cutter, Gravure printing machine, Carton Folder Gluer etc.

In India, the two most important barriers are technology and cost. What advice do you have for the printer?
I would suggest investing in new technology based on market research and ROI calculation. Also it is equally important to invest in manpower and systems up gradation along with it.  

How do you stay in touch with technological developments? In this sense, please comment on your official view on CTP technology and digital printing.
Attending seminars and exhibitions and going through trade magazines/websites is the best way to keep oneself updated. Also meeting people from the industry is very helpful.

One person with whom you would like to have a face to face. 
Ratan Tata. I admire him not only for his business acumen and leadership qualities but also for also being a frontrunner as far as “Corporate Social Responsibility” in India is concerned.