By Papri Das

India Today Group consulting editor and popular news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai, couldn?t have asked for a better way to ring in his 50th birthday on 24 May -- playing cricket with his best buddies! ?Celebrated my birthday by doing what I always once did on birthdays - played a cricket match! Can't think of a better way to ring in the 50th year of life,? said an excited Sardesai in posts on social networks, as he took a trip down memory lane, sitting in a room overlooking the CCI stadium in Mumbai.

To Rajdeep, cricket is special for more than one reason -- his own passion for the game as a player back when he was in college, and his father Dilip Sardesai, who was well-known test cricketer. ?It was here back in 1965, ironically the year of my birth, that my old man scored a double century against the Kiwis, one of the great innings of Indian cricket. I miss him but feel that his spirit guides me through good times and bad,? quipped the only veteran journalist with a profile for himself on cricinfo.

As much as Rajdeep was excited to get in the thick of action, his fitness - or the apparent lack of it - almost played spoilsport. ?The mind was willing, the body struggled. The fitness levels varied, but the enthusiasm made up for the failing waistlines. We had great fun and eventually the match was tied! And probably fixed too!? he added in jest.

Known for his rather grave on-screen personality, it was amusing to see Rajdeep?s old friends teasing him over returning to the pavilion after his short brief knock of a measly 15 runs. ?Happy half a century in life boss Rajdeep Sardesai! Though you got out for just 15 runs today at Bombay Gymkhana,? joked his friend and former Ranji cricketer Shishir Hattangadi. ?Let's meet here again when you hit a century in life in 2065," he added.

Rajdeep?s birthday was an occasion for old buddies from south Mumbai?s Campion School to raise a toast to him. Musician Sanjay Maroo, Mohieranjan Patel, Rahul Patel, Asit Oberoi and Uday More joined in to wish him the best in life. Rajdeep also got together with his brother-in-law and sister Shonali Sardesai's husband Taimur Baig for a lavish meal at the eclectic European cuisine restaurant Indigo in Colaba, Mumbai.

His wife and well known journalist Sagarika Ghose, who matches Rajdeep?s sense of humour, couldn?t help commenting, ?After all the old monk consumed over 50 years, the birthday cake had to have a bit of rum.?

Rajdeep, we at Indiantelevision.com can only raise another glass to you and say, ?Bottoms up.?

In this  episode of Talking Point, your host Papri Das chats up the very dynamic CEO and founder of The 120 Media Collective, Roopak Saluja, who preaches and professes in keeping on par with international content.

Hailing from a multi-cultural background and having stayed in more than 10 different cities across the world, Roopak has learned to adapt and multi-task, even owning his own record label as a DJ. Here?s a tete a tete with Roopak Saluja.

By Papri Das

In this fiercely competitive creative business, novelty is both a luxury and a necessity for survival. And there is no one better to vouch for it than the media executives who have to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation each time they ideate. What makes ideation even more challenging is that there is no set formula to it. For some, ideas come when they fall back to their routines, while for others it?s when they are out of their comfort zone.

So where do executives source their ideas from?

When Exec Lifestyle caught up with some of the top creative geniuses in the industry, they shared some unique anecdotes on how they get in touch with their creative side.

For Madison World founder and chairman Sam Balsara, a quiet evening walk by himself does the trick. ?It is when I am alone taking a walk in the late evenings, traveling on flights or outstation at night that I think of new ideas and things to be done. It is important for your mind to be free for new thoughts to occur,? says Balsara. What?s more, Balsara isn't the only one who prefers the outdoors to reconnect with their creative side. 

The multi talented network creative head of Reliance Broadcast, Paritosh Painter, too draws inspiration from fresh air outings. ?I mostly take long walks outside. It gives me the freedom to think. Sometimes I love to sit in a coffee shop by myself and think. Whether it is home or office, indoor is invariably full of distractions,? says Painter, who also flaunts his creative skills as an actor, film director and scriptwriter.

While thinking alone may be a popular method for most executives, some only make the most of their grey cells when they are going against the grain. Take Colors CEO Raj Nayak for example, who is inspired by his interaction with others. ?People are a good source of ideas. The best ideas come to me when I am interacting with people. A good informative conversation triggers me with stimuli and leaves me thinking. Often these thoughts shape into great executiion,? says the self-confessed daydreamer. ?When I am not occupied with work, my mind automatically switches to dreaming mode. Traveling is also another time when my mind keeps ticking,? Nayak further adds.

One?s personal space also plays an important role in helping them put on the thinking cap. ?There are two spots where I?m most creative -- on my couch that sits in my bedroom, and in the tiny meeting room called Corleone at the office,? shares VML Qais CEO Tripti Lochan, who finds herself most creative on days when she has had a good practice of Vipassana.

In fact, Lochan?s way of getting out of a creative block is also getting physically active. ?I usually go for a run, or clean a cupboard; or even cook.  Things that involve using arms and legs and not necessarily the mind so much,? she adds.

When it comes to dealing with his creative blocks, ad maker and former Ogilvy and Mather executive creative director Abhijit Avasthi believes in engaging himself with something different. ?I used to experience a creative roadblock often earlier in my career but not so much these days. I think I have grown to not wrestle with ideas when its not working out and focus on other matters at hand.?

This resonates with Painter as well. ?If I hit a creative roadblock on a specific subject than I let it be for a while. I don't think about it till the time I feel I am not thinking about it at all and then I start on it all over again with a fresh perspective,? he adds while signing off. 

What?s life without a touch of romance? And when it comes to romance, every couple has a different approach to it. While some prefer grand and lavish gestures, others keep it simple and private -- each couple has a different language of dating. This weekend, Exec Lifestyle got candid with some of the top media executives to find out what makes for an awesome date for them and how they like to spend quality time with their loved ones.

In this brand new episode of Talking Point, your host Papri Das
takes you on a journey down memory lane with ADG of Doordarshan Kendra Mumbai, Mukesh Sharma. Sharma throws light upon the challenges that DD Sahyadri faces in competing with private regional channels and explain the importance of recruiting young media enthusiasts in DD. Catch the light hearted side of Sharma as he sings an old melody for us and tickles us with his funny anecdotes from his childhood.

In this  episode of Talking Point, your host Papri Das chats up Madison World?s executive director Lara Balsara, who is proud of women for outshining in advertising industry.

It?s only been three months that she has tied the knot with Air India pilot Kaizad Vajifdar, and Lara is already busy juggling her work and family.  Known to be shy and reserved, Lara opens up exclusively to Exec Life on how a coffee date turned into a life long commitment.