Rajendra Patil, who is currently the Executive Producer for the sequel of Bhoot Raja aur Ronnie by Fireworks Productions on POGO has earlier worked with Balaji Telefilms. Now, the man has had a good stint of four years with Fireworks Productions, his last show for them being Gutur Gu 2 on SAB TV. Here’s Patil in conversation with Tellychakkar.com for our Behind the Lens segment. Read on: Tell us something about yourself. How did you progress to being an Executive Producer? I am a BMM graduate. While I was learning the course I figured out what I really wanted to become in life – I wanted to be an Executive Producer. So, when I was in my third year of college, I took up an intern course with Balaji Telefilms as a part of their Post Production unit. After graduation, I continued to work with them till the end of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. I came in contact with Mr. Vijay Shetty, Head of Productions at Fireworks Productions through some common friends, and he invited me to work with him. It has been four to five years now that I am working with him and I share an extremely comfortable relationship with them. I was an executive producer for Gutur Gu 2 on SAB TV for Fireworks and now have a new show – the sequel of Bhoot Raja aur Ronnie on POGO in my kitty. What are the key tasks and responsibilities as an Executive Producer? Our responsibility is to look after all the aspects in this field, be it meeting the needs of the production unit, direction, planning, budgeting, creative…basically everything. As an Executive Producer my work is not limited to key tasks. Our responsibility is to look and pay heed to everything. What experiences and lessons have you learnt in this industry over the years? I do not know about experiences, but yes, I have grown up to be an extrovert unlike the shy personality I carried earlier. This job has helped me evolve and bring out the confidence in me. It must be a hard time coordinating and dealing with actors? (Laughs) Sometimes! The thing is if we want to get something done from them we cannot shout at them...that is for sure!!! So, I use my brains and tackle the situation such that I get my work done without creating issues and problems, in such a way where they are happy and so am I. How many hours do you work? It is a 12 hour shift for us. Either 9am to 9pm or 7am to 7pm. We are sure there must be so much of pressure. 12 hours of work, meeting deadlines is definitely not easy? Yes…but you know what? I always wanted to be an Executive Producer. I had decided this from the time I was a student. It is my passion and dedication for my work which keeps me going. What is more vital for you: Money or task? It would look like I am saying this for the sake of it. But frankly speaking it is my task. I love my job and I strive hard which is why money follows (smiles). So, if not an Executive Producer, what would you have become in life? I belong to a family of lawyers. My father, sister, brother-in-law…everyone are lawyers. I myself am a drop-out student from law in order to pursue my career as an Executive Producer. So, to answer your question, if not an Executive Producer, I would have been a lawyer. Message to aspiring Executive Producers: Soch samaj ke enter karo yeh industry mein…there is a lot to learn and a lot to handle and watch-out for in this industry.