Everyday Empires with Rohit Maini

What does it truly take to service the top 0.1% of the ultra-wealthy? In this episode of the Everyday Empires Podcast, host Rohit Maini sits down with James Ison, founder and owner of The 0.1% Group. From humble beginnings growing up in a small bungalow in Leicester and working for £3.50 an hour picking up horse manure, James built a multi-million-pound luxury concierge empire acting as a solo deal-maker for billionaires, royalty, and elite clients worldwide. James pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes, fast-paced world of luxury lifestyle management: - The 0.1% Lifestyle: Managing everything from private jets and exclusive private islands to sourcing rare watches and one-of-one luxury assets. - The Hustle Origin Story: How selling phone cases on eBay and at local car boot sales laid the foundation for an unbreakable work ethic. - The Viral Phenomenon: Reflecting on his early days creating the viral "Rich Kids of Instagram" sensation and what it taught him about digital culture. - Trust as Currency: Why integrity, speed, and doing exactly what you say you will do are the ultimate non-negotiables when transacting at seven and eight figures. - The Reality of Solo Entrepreneurship: The mental fortitude required to handle high-pressure demands (like organizing private jets on Christmas Day) and filtering through the noise. 🎙️ Everyday Empires Podcast with Rohit Maini Raw, unfiltered conversations with industry leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs breaking down business, entertainment economics, and consumer psychology. 👉 Subscribe & Listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

What does it actually take to turn a feature film into a ₹1,000 crore cultural phenomenon? In this episode of the Everyday Empires Podcast, host Rohit Maini sits down with Varun Gupta, founder of MAX Marketing—the premier strategy agency behind historic campaigns for RRR, Animal, Kalki 2898 AD, Chandu Champion, and Dhurandhar. For four consecutive years, MAX Marketing has handled campaigns for ₹1,000+ crore grossing films each year. Varun pulls back the curtain on the business, psychology, and high-pressure realities of marketing Indian cinema: - The Reality of Film Marketing: Why no marketing strategy can save a film if the core product fails to resonate with audiences ("We are not magicians"). - Pre-Release Panic & Trolling: What happens behind closed doors when trade analysts report sluggish advance bookings and producers make panic calls. - OTT vs. The Theatrical Experience: Why blaming streaming platforms is an excuse, and how crafting an irreplaceable big-screen experience brings audiences back to cinema halls. - The Art of Positioning: From interactive campaigns like Monsoon Shootout catching the eye of global stars like Priyanka Chopra, to coming on board projects like Dhurandhar before the star cast was even finalized. - Building a Specialist Agency: Deciding never to become an actor or director, and instead dominating the niche intersection of cinema, brand alliances, and high-impact marketing. 🎙️ Everyday Empires Podcast with Rohit Maini Real people. Real stories. Real success. Unfiltered conversations with founders, creators, and leaders building impactful brands. 👉 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. #moviemarketing #dhurandhar #dhurandhar2 #kalkimovie #rrrmovie #animalmovie #bollywoodmovie #movierelease #marketingpodcasts #businesspodcast #marketinggenius

Get ready for an exclusive conversation with Ranjeet Thakur, the mastermind behind the hilarious Kapil Sharma Show and the entertaining Super Dancer.

In this episode, we delve into the life and career of Ranjeet Thakur, exploring his journey to success and the creative process behind these popular TV shows. With his unique perspective and insightful experiences, Ranjeet Thakur shares his story, providing a fascinating look at the Indian television industry.

Tune in to Episode 22 to learn more about the man who has been making India laugh and dance with his exceptional work.

Follow & Subscribe to Everyday Empires: @everydayempirespodcast

🎧 New episodes of The Everyday Empires Podcast every month — real people, real stories, real success.

[producer life, kapil sharma show, producers, business podcast]

#producerlife #producers #bollywoodproject #realityshow #kapilsharmashow #superdancer #realitytv #businesspodcast

In this episode, lifestyle creator and entrepreneur @IshitaKhanna opens up about her journey from being a dedicated UPSC aspirant to leaving the exam behind and pivoting into full-time content creation and founding her shoe brand, Slash/O. Ishita dives deep into the harsh realities of competitive exams in India, the widespread frustration among students over exam corruption and lack of transparency, and why quitting UPSC after years of prep was the best decision she ever made. She also exposes the myth of going viral, why consistency always beats virality in content creation, and how she manages a successful business with her sister without ruining their family bond.

Edward Van der Lande spent 11 years as an Army Major before becoming a food business founder — building More Toddler Meals, a UK freeze-dried toddler food brand, from a market stall with no funding and no shortcuts.This is a real founder story about starting a small business from scratch: the cash flow management struggles, the sacrifices his family made, and the lessons the military taught him. In this episode:

• Why he left the army to pursue one of the more unconventional business ideas in food
• The moment his wife had to take on more work just to cover the salary he wasn't drawing
• Behind-the-scenes chaos of running a food business startup (including chopping the end of his finger off mid-shift)
• How army discipline shaped his approach to startup finance and staying resilient
• What it actually costs to get a food business off the ground, and why there's no easy answer

Behind the Scenes of Live Music, Broken Necks, and Building an Event Empire In this episode of Everyday Empires, we sit down with the phenomenal Parul Mundra, founder of Tarashna Talent Management. Parul takes us on a masterclass journey through the chaotic, high-stakes world of live event production and artist management in India. From defying industry stereotypes as a female production manager to pulling off massive international breakthrough events like Coldplay, Jay-Z, and Demi Lovato, all while wearing neck support from an accident days prior, Parul's relentless work ethic defines what it means to show up. What you’ll learn in this episode: Breaking the Mold: How Parul navigated a heavily male-dominated production industry and intentionally scaled teams of women to level the playing field. The Birth of Tarashna: How a chance encounter with an unmanaged, independent artist sparked an overnight pivot into a premier talent management agency. The Blueprint for Artists: What a top agency actually looks for in a creator, and why management won’t save you if you aren't putting in the consistent groundwork. The Superpower of Leadership: Why great leaders help others see what they are good at, rather than showing off their own strengths. Whether you’re an aspiring event producer, an independent artist trying to get noticed, or an entrepreneur figuring out how to scale with a "long-term" vision, Parul’s sharp insights on consistency, boundaries, and slow-and-steady growth are gold.

Abhishek Anil Kapur, director of Skyforce, breaks down how the Hindi film industry really works and what it takes to build a career in Bollywood from the ground up. Abhishek began with the dream of becoming an actor but quickly realised it wasn’t his strength. Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, he found his way onto a film set, starting as an intern on Shor in the City with Raj & DK.

Over the next 15 years, he worked his way up from intern to first assistant director and eventually to associate director at Maddock Films. He learned every aspect of filmmaking behind the scenes before finally directing his first feature film in 2025.

In This Episode, We Cover: • How to enter Bollywood • What really happens behind the camera • Film crew hierarchy explained • How COVID and OTT changed the Indian film industry • Rising cinema costs, death of the single screen cinemas • Why audiences are more selective today Beyond the mechanics of the industry, this conversation is about mindset starting wherever you can, staying patient, and trusting that opportunities come to those who stick it out long enough. If you’re curious about how to join Bollywood, understand the Indian film industry, or build a long-term career in film, this episode offers a rare, honest look from someone who’s done it the hard way. 🎙️ Everyday Empires brings you real conversations with people building their careers and businesses from the ground up. 👉 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more insights on entrepreneurship, careers, and creative industries 💬 Comment below: Would you ever try to break into Bollywood?

In this episode of Everyday Empires, we sit down with the multifaceted Mukti Mohan - dancer, actor, and entrepreneur. Mukti opens up about her journey from a childhood bedroom stage in New Delhi to the professional sets of Netflix and beyond.

We explore:

•⁠ ⁠The Science of Dance: Why 9 years of Bharatnatyam saved her from career-ending injuries.

•⁠ ⁠The Industry’s "Male Gaze": A heartbreaking look at how professional technique is often edited out for "item shots".

•⁠ ⁠The Actor’s Transition: How she "shamelessly" approached Anurag Kashyap to assist on Bombay Velvet just to learn the craft.

•⁠ ⁠Mukti Manch (@MuktiManch): Her vision for creating a shelter where artists can return to "Ground Zero" and experiment without judgment.

Mukti Mohan doesn't hold back in this raw episode of Everyday Empires. From the heartbreak of having her technical dance skills edited out for "male gaze" body shots to the bold move of assisting on film sets just to learn how a camera breathes , Mukti reveals what it actually takes to transition from a reality show winner to a Netflix actor. We dive deep into Mukti Manch, her "safe haven" for artists to fail, and why she believes money only exists to buy the freedom to learn.

In this episode of Everyday Empires, we sit down with Philip Milne, entrepreneur, AI enthusiast, and author of Making Business AI Work, to unpack what artificial intelligence really means for business leaders.

Long before AI became a buzzword, Philip was utilizing automation systems in the 1980s to reduce redundancy, streamline operations, and rethink how his business functioned. Today, through his latest venture, Intelidat, he continues to help businesses integrate AI not as a tool — but as a way of thinking.

Philip shares decades of experience building companies, leading teams, and adapting to technological shifts — offering a grounded, practical perspective on artificial intelligence in business.

“AI is not replacing people. AI is making people BETTER at what they do.”

In this episode, we discuss:

* How to use AI in business strategy

* Why most companies implement AI incorrectly

* The difference between automation and true AI thinking

* Why AI is a leadership mindset, not just a technology tool

How do you start a D2C business in India and does influencer marketing still work?

In this episode of Everyday Empires, Rohit sits down with Dishant Mehta, co-founder of @WNTRTravel , an Indian D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) luggage brand built on a bold belief: India deserves luxury products at affordable prices.

Dishant didn’t grow up dreaming of entrepreneurship. He pursued an MBA with plans to climb the corporate ladder. But the pull to build something of his own never left. Alongside his cousin and co-founder, Dishant began moonlighting WNTR while still working full-time slowly testing the Indian market before taking the leap.

In this conversation, Dishant breaks down what it really takes to start a D2C brand in India, why influencer marketing failed for WNTR, and how founder-led marketing became their biggest growth lever.

📌 In this episode, we cover:

Starting a business, while working a full-time job

Building a D2C brand in India from scratch

What “affordable luxury” actually means in the Indian market

Raising VC funding and why founders must go all-in

Why customers trust founders more than influencers today

Everyday Empires shares real stories from founders building modern businesses no fluff, no filters.

LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more such conversations on start-ups and entrepreneurship

Comment below: Do you trust founders more than influencers?