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Ad king Kakkar

MANY HATS Ad-man, food columnist, scuba diver, restaurateur and filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar

Not many would know that Prahalad Kakkar, a man with tastes varying from making ad films to whipping up a melange of culinary delights to scuba diving is also keen on strategic affairs. He says, “I was one of the few people, who had predicted these numbers for the UPA. I feel that the voters have spelt out that family names are not going to matter anymore; it is the work and capability of a person that shall determine the fate of candidates. I hope this advice is followed seriously by all parties.”

Kakkar feels that the recession has hit the advertising industry badly, but is confident that the industry will be able to bounce back soon. “I believe that the advertising is the thermometer that helps gauge the health of the economy. When the economy is on a high, the ad industry also achieves high growth rates. When a downturn occurs, the ad industry is hit first.” He adds, “The good news is that none of the agencies have affected major job cuts, though they have started to undergo a process of streamlining the day to day functioning.”Prahalad feels that the recession provides the Indian economy some breathing space, before resuming its race to becoming an economic superpower. Prahalad contends that Indian advertising has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years. For those interested in taking up advertising as a career option, Prahalad has a piece of advice. He says, “You must be passionate about your work, must be ready to put in long hours and paid relatively low salaries initially. You must treat it as a hobby and enjoy your work.” However, Prahalad states, “Traditional forms of advertising shall continue to rule the roost. It reaches out to a larger section of the populace and holds a degree of sentimental value with many consumers.” On his future plans, Prahalad quips, “I plan to buy a boat and learn sailing. I had learnt driving in similar fashion, using a friend’s remodelled car. I feel that you need to be passionate about anything you do, to be successful in life.”

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