Early Life and Education
Rohinton Soli Screwvala, professionally known as Ronnie Screwvala, was born on September 8, 1956, in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, into a Parsi family. His father was an executive at the British firm J L Morrison and Smith & Nephew. Screwvala received his education at Cathedral and John Connon School and Sydenham College in Mumbai. During his schooling, he developed a keen interest in theatre, participating in professional plays, including roles in Shakespeare's *Othello* and *Death of a Salesman*.
Rise to Success
Screwvala's entrepreneurial journey began in the early 1980s when he introduced cable television in India, a groundbreaking move at a time when only one terrestrial channel existed. He then founded UTV Software Communications in 1990, which grew into a major media conglomerate. In 2012, he sold UTV to The Walt Disney Company for approximately $1.4 billion. After a brief hiatus, he re-entered the media industry in 2017 with RSVP Movies, producing successful films such as *Uri: The Surgical Strike*, *Kedarnath*, and *The Sky Is Pink*.
Key Business Strategies
Screwvala's business acumen is evident in his strategic ventures. He co-founded UpGrad, an online education platform focused on higher education and specialization, and through Unilazer Ventures, he has made significant private equity investments in various sectors. He also founded U Sports, which focuses on Kabaddi, e-sports, and football. Screwvala's investments span from e-commerce to space technology.
Philanthropy
Screwvala, along with his wife Zarina Mehta, co-founded The Swades Foundation, a non-profit organization working to eradicate poverty in rural India.