The Z Factor (Hindi Edition) [Oct 15, 2016] Chandra, Subhash and Sharma, Pranjal

by Subhash Chandra with Pranjal Sharma, Pranjal Sharma

The pioneer who gate-crashed his way to the top Subhash Chandra, the promoter of Essel/ Zee Group, is an unlikely mogul. Hailing from a small town in Haryana, where his family ran grain mills, Chandra has been a perennial outsider, repeatedly aiming high and breaking into businesses where he was considered an interloper. Starting work as a teen to pay off family debts, Chandra had to rely on bluff, gumption and sheer hard toil to turn things around. A little bit of luck and political patronage saw him make a fortune in rice exports to the erstwhile USSR. Always a risk-taker, Chandra then had the vision of getting into broadcasting early, even as established media players failed to see its potential. His Zee TV, India's first private Indian TV channel, changed the rules of the game and tickled the fancy of a public starved of entertainment. Several gutsy initiatives followed, though not all of them were successful. Chandra's attempts to launch satellite telephony and a cricket league came a cropper. But the man continues to reinvent himself; he is now also focusing on infrastructure and smart cities. This is an unusually candid memoir of a truly desi self-made businessman who came to Delhi at age twenty with seventeen rupees in his pocket. Today, he has a net worth of $6.3 billion and annual group revenues of about $3 billion.

Genres: Biography, Business, Indian Literature, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Memoir

316 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Manan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare to come across such a frank account of one's life. Simply unputdownable!

[Kashish Shambhwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXPLOSIVE! Author has frankly mentioned names of all the politicians/corporate (from congress to BJP) who bullied him , helped him throughout his journey such as Indira Gandhi , Narasimha Rao , Ambani , Arun Jaitley etc.

An inspiring journey of a 17 year old boy who decided to turnaround the family business, saving them from bankruptcy to becoming one of the richest people in the country. This is a must read. Worth every penny!

[Amit Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book quite informative in terms of how business houses worked in India. How a man overcame difficulties of doing business in India and built an empire.

[dunkdaft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely crisp, engaging and honest account of someone who started from a town so small and unheard of, to making a homegrown brand which made him a media mughal. Till date I only knew that Subhash Chandra was a rice exporter and came into the entertainment business with Zee. But his actual story, is an interesting account, as he came from a grain trader family, how at the age of 18 he rejuvenated a dying family business.

My favorite part (and the reason I picked this up was) the story behind Zee network. Always a nostalgic feeling whenever I read about those 90s days of cable television.

The book starts in a chronological manner (but bit uninteresting as the talks are only of grain trading) but later on, moving from government, to packaging, to entertainment and amusement park, this makes you keep reading on and on. However some chronological issues are there later on, but never mind. (and last chapter literally looks like a last minute addition to praise the current govt in the annual report of his company). But this doesn't take away how honestly Chandra opens all his cards and talks about everything from his personal life to his tiffs with biggies like Jindal and Ambanis.

Highly recommended for all interested in business or in the media.

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the whole book in just two days. It is such an easy and captivating read. Although, at some points, achievements of the business man have been exaggerated but still its inspiring.

[Wanderer_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Z factor is biography of Subash Chandra..
Book about what he crossed to taste of success..

[Christopher Lewis Kozoriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The determination to do more, to learn more, has stayed with me. Somehow, my successes have not stopped me from seeking new challenges." (Subhash Chandra, The Z Factor)

Billionaire Subhash Chandra shares the steps from childhood, to small business owner to now the owner of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.

His motivation that he shares often in this book is when his family became steeped in debt and he was on the mission to provide for his family and repay all debts that were owed. He tried his hand at many businesses, but now is known as a media mogul in India. He started the first privately held television station in India.

He is candid and shares the struggles he has had with his companies, people and even his own personality.

This book helped me to understand the politics that are played in India in respect to building a successful business.

Book the author mentioned as the greatest book that affected his life was: First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.

[Ajay Jagetiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a reason why Mr. Subhash Chandra is known as the Serial Entrepreneur of his time. This book is a must read for Business or Start-Up Enthusiasts. It shows the struggle faced by him from the age of 17. He faced various challenges expected or unexpected, sometimes lost or sometime won but he never GAVE UP.
He is an inspiring personality in overall, an indian by birth and has grown in similar circumstances where most of us are today, so we can more easily feel connected to him directly.
There is a lot to learn, about personal to professional life skills, from him.
I suggest everyone, if you want to understand how ups and downs of life comes to us and changes us in a better way, go through this book.

[Jasmeet Dang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Such an honest feedback of a man who started at the age of 17 when family business was bankrupt and hence the burden came on his shoulders, worked hard to reach and make a business of turnover over INR 60 billion. Always a risk taker and a learning machine, moving into the markets where there is less competition was his style which Michael Porter also advocates. From exporting rice to Russia to setting up India`s first private TV channel, he adopted same philosophy of entering into niche markets. A lot to be learned from this man who is to be emulated.

[Harsh Thaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting journey of an entrepreneur. Reveals the struggles & setbacks faced in setting up a flour mill to current giant in media industry. Considering the current crisis the group is, the probabilities of coming stronger out of it are higher due to its strengths and gumption. This genre of books not only gives the glimpse of the rise of successful businessman but also the sweat and tears they have to endure.

[Pankaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for all Indians. The Author has detailed his journey about Entrepreneurship, hardships faced, and succeeding in new Ventures. This is an absolute Engaging and Inspiring book. Very nicely written. Its such a pity that so less is known about Zee Group.

[Deepak Daftuar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really impressed!

An extraordinarily candid saga of a self made man. I have started respecting Subhash Chandra for his courage to speak out and tell the inconvenient truth upfront, without mincing words. The book is simply unputdownable!

[Dhananjayan Jayabal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest view on how business men in India operates and how it depends on politics. But I have some reservations on his religious views and his Vaishya mind. Overall, it is must read for all entrepreneurs.

[harsh Gurung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring story of the man who brought satellite TV to India without having any background in it. he belonged to a business family . He had seen his grandfather succeed and fail. He had faith and courage , that made him succeed.

[Prabhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book and stories himself very inspiring.

[Rohan Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no defeat or failure unless you have accepted it... Hats off to the guts and gumption in making decisions. Brilliant read

[Prabhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and Engaging, a look inside the mind and works of a true entrepreneur. Recommended.

[Uma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glad that I purchased and read this book. The style was lucid and simple. Read this entire book in two sittings.

[Manoj Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Anil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent in-your-face account of Essel and Zee. Amongst the most blunt biographies that I have read in recent times.

[Vidyotma Tripathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book. Subhah chandra is very nice example of courage, determination, ideas and hard work.

[Sumit Sabnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant honest and sincere sorry of this boss man.
His political connections, friendships, rivalries and all too human traits. No holds barred from the horse's mouth.

[Pranshumaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subhash Chandra picked the right moment for his hagiography, almost immediately before he lost his empire. The book gives a good glimpse of business in the license raj era, and to Chandra's credit, he is naming names like there is no tomorrow. Sordid details of favours, kickbacks and industrial sabotage are interspersed within this tale of his rise from a small time grains trader to a media baron going toe to toe with Rupert Murdoch. Chandra's enterprises have spanned diverse industries, from media to cricket to industrial packaging, but don't go in expecting any management lessons. This is the story of a Lala who made it big through chutzpah and the right connections. However when you are in a constricted environment that pre-1990 India was, there really was no other way to make it big. Almost all of his enterprises were ahead of the laws that would eventually be drafted for their respective industries, a fact that makes him either a visionary or a slippery weasel who ran rings around regulation. Of course, the Indian state deserves no accolades for its general apathy towards business. Laws such as no Indian being allowed to own a foreign enterprise actively sabotaged the country's progress. Overall a half-decent first hand account of a period that needs to be written about a lot more. Would shelve with Lucknow Boy: A Memoir.

[Abhilash Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Z Factor is an inspiring account of grit, determination, and true entrepreneurial spirit. While I initially knew him primarily as the visionary behind Zee TV, this book revealed many more layers to his journey - the relationships he built, the setbacks he faced, and the bold decisions that defined his path. What stood out most was his fearless entry into industries he had no prior experience in - and his ability to succeed in them. Would recommend this book to anyone at the start of their entrepreneurial journey.

[Deepak Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I have mixed feelings about the book. The story of the Subash Chandra is good , gives insights of his growth and how he built the empire.
But on the other hand, it looks like the book was written by him to clarify the issues he has faced in his life.
He has thrown in big names , sometimes blaming , sometimes bringing the truth out , sometimes just praising himself.
The writing is also not upto the mark.

[Dr Dinesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read a book after a long hiatus of about 5 months. This book is an easy read, finished it in about 4 hours!
Subhash Chandra makes it seem so easy, feels like I could go start now. (But he started when he was 17 years old!). Nice short read, in some ways emulating the Richard Branson autobiography. Overall, go for this one if Zee TV (Or Essel world or Essel propack) intrigues you

[Shreyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life changing.... It's really a story of struggle and positive attitude. No matter how many problems comes to stop you, if you are firm on your goals no one can stop you. Really a dramatic story how he never lost against situations and odds.

[Ved Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a third of the book very interesting. I was very curious about the start of television channels in India and it was interesting to know the role played by Subhash Chandra in that revolution. Overall an enjoyable read.

[Syed Naser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read if you want to understand the one of the significant business houses of India...starts well...author goes a bit self appreciative near the end..overall OK read

[Rajesh Kumar]

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