Guneet Monga on Her Oscar Win, Being a Producer & Creating Films | Guneet Monga | Gayathri Shivaram

In this episode, Gayathri Shivaram sits down with Guneet Monga, one of India’s most prominent film producers, to talk about her journey in the world of cinema. From her Oscar win to producing films that have made an impact both in India and internationally, Guneet shares her experiences, the challenges she faced, and what it takes to succeed as a producer. She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry and its inner workings.

Guneet Monga is a BAFTA-nominated producer and one of the first producers from India to be inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a production company that has consistently focused on meaningful, content-driven cinema. Over the years, she has produced acclaimed films like The Lunchbox, Masaan, Gangs of Wasseypur, Pagglait, and the Oscar-winning short documentary Period. End of Sentence. She also produced the 2023 Academy Award-winning short documentary The Elephant Whisperers, further establishing her as a prominent voice in Indian cinema and a producer committed to telling impactful stories that reach audiences both in India and around the world.

00:00 Intro
02:23 Childhood, Family & Struggles
12:05 Breaking Into Film Industry
17:08 Lunchbox Story & Global Reach
27:02 What Makes a Good Film
37:07 Intuition & Making ‘Kill’
41:29 Remakes, Star Kids & Pressure
47:34 Standing Up in Bollywood
50:33 Trust & Boundaries in Film
54:59 Karan Johar as Mentor
58:44 North vs South Film Styles
01:01:26 Winning the Oscar Night
01:03:32 Sushant Case & Rhea
01:07:54 Why Indian Films Lack Global Recognition
01:11:32 Lessons from Vetri Maran
01:14:53 Anurag Kashyap’s Creative Influence
01:18:46 Thankless Job of Producing
01:21:36 Yo Yo Honey Singh Doc
01:28:02 Love & Finding a Partner
01:36:34 The ‘God Hack’
01:37:48 Rapid Fire Round


Hi, I am Gayathri Sivaram, your healing and manifestation coach, and welcome to my podcast, Evolve. This podcast is a space where we dive deep into the world of healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. Through heartfelt conversations and powerful insights, my goal is to help you unlock the best version of yourself.

Follow Our Instagram Handle :
  / evolvewithgayathri  

Follow Me On Other Social Media Handles:-
Instagram:   / holistic.therapist.gayathri