About WWI – Extension
MANAGEMENT
SUBHASH GHAI
Founder & Chairman
Subhash Ghai is a globally renowned filmmaker having directed 19 films over a four decade career, with 14 of them being blockbusters. Recipient of many national and international awards; he has also been honoured by the United States Senate. He was the former Chairman of the Entertainment Committee of the Trade body, CII and a member of FICCI, NASSCOM and TIE Global & its alliances. He has been invited to address various forums and seminars on corporate governance and the growth of the Media & Entertainment industry globally & in India. He is presently serving as the Chairman of Media and Entertainment Skills Council (MESC).
MEGHNA GHAI PURI
President
Meghna Ghai Puri has been involved in setting up Whistling Woods International (WWI), since its inception in 2001. A Business Management graduate from Kings College London, University of London, she also spearheaded Marketing & International Distribution activities for India’s leading production & entertainment company, Mukta Arts Ltd. At WWI, she has spearheaded the launch of 9 schools in the field of Film, Communication & Creative Arts. These schools offer degree, post-graduate & diploma programmes in Film, Animation & Game Design, Acting, Media & Communication, Fashion & Costume Design, Visual Communication Design, Music, Event Management and Sports & Esports Management. In 2013, she was awarded with the prestigious Honorary Fellowship by UK’s Bradford College for her contribution to Media Education. She was also awarded with the ET Best Education Brands of India 2019 for her contribution to the field of education in cinema. She was felicitated with the Times Leading Icon 2021, presented by the Times Group, appreciating, and acknowledging her role as a contributor towards ‘Excellence in Media & Creative Arts Education’.
RAHUL PURI
Director – Academics
Rahul Puri is the Managing Director of India’s leading entertainment company Mukta Arts Ltd. & Head of Academics of Asia’ premier institute of film, communication & creative arts, Whistling Woods International. A Business graduate from Kings College London, he started his career as an investment banker at UBS Warburg. He moved to Mumbai in 2002 and worked in the sector of Corporate Finance & Strategy before he joined Mukta Arts to produce and distribute Indian films. He is now involved in all the aspects of the company including financing, distribution, production, exhibition, and marketing. He was keenly involved in the set-up of Whistling Woods International and now is setting up and building out a chain of cinemas under the brand name of Mukta A2 Cinemas.
RAVI GUPTA
Dean
As the former Managing Director of National Film Development Corporation, India, Ravi Gupta has nurtured new talent but also worked with masters such as Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair, Aparna Sen, Ketan Mehta among many others. He represented India on the Governing Board of FIAPF and was on the Board of iEmmy. He was the editor of ‘Cinema in India’ and continues to be on the Organising Committee of the Pune International Film Festival. He was the Founder & CEO of B4U Television Network and has served on the Boards of various companies in the UK, USA, Middle East & Africa. He was the CEO of Mukta Arts and is now Dean of Whistling Woods International. He also authored and published the book, ‘When God Went To Hell’.
CHAITANYA CHINCHLIKAR
Vice President
Chaitanya has had a multi-faceted 2-decade career in the Film & Creative Arts industry. He is presently the Vice President & Business Head at Whistling Woods International. He also serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the institute and heads its Emerging Media Technologies initiatives. He has been instrumental in the strengthening of Film & Creative Arts education in India and the evangelising of multiple new & emerging technologies both into mainstream education at Whistling Woods International.