People
Board of Directors
Smruti S Shinde
Managing Director & Chairperson
A creative visionary with a passion for transformative storytelling, Smruti combines innovation with cultural sensitivity to craft unforgettable narratives. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping SOBO Films into a trailblazing production house.
Founder & Leading Producer | Visionary Leader in Film Production | Creative Powerhouse Behind SOBO Films
Blessed with a photographic memory, an insatiable passion for classic films, and a remarkable ability to nurture and guide creative energies, Smruti stands out not only as the founder and leading producer of SOBO Films, but also as a successful and devoted mother. Her approach to both her professional and personal life is shaped by her belief in Jonathan Swift’s words, “Vision is the art of seeing the invisible.” Smruti’s unique vision enables her to identify concepts and content that go beyond entertainment—they spark conversation, challenge norms, and provoke social debates.
In a remarkably short period, Smruti founded SOBO Films and turned it into a full-fledged, award-winning production house. Under her leadership, the company has earned both critical acclaim and widespread popularity, establishing itself as a prominent player in the industry. Her keen eye for content that resonates with audiences, coupled with her ability to marshal creative teams, has been the cornerstone of SOBO Films’ success.
Key Achievements:
Founded and scaled SOBO Films into a successful and recognized production house in a short span of time.
Produced award-winning content that has garnered both critical and popular acclaim.
Curated and produced socially relevant, thought-provoking projects that engage and entertain audiences.
Known for her ability to harness creative talent and bring visionary ideas to life.
Smruti continues to be driven by her love for storytelling, her knack for uncovering untold narratives, and her commitment to delivering content that both entertains and challenges the status quo.
Harvindar Singh Arora
Executive Director & CEO
With over 25 years of management expertise, Harvindar brings strategic acumen and operational excellence to SOBO Films, ensuring seamless execution of large-scale deployments, business modelling and strategic partnerships throughout his career.
Seasoned Management Professional | Expert in Project Management, Strategic Partnerships, and Content Production
With over 35 years of diverse experience spanning multiple industries—from manufacturing to consulting, and most notably, media and entertainment—Harvindar is a proven leader in managing large-scale deployments, business modeling, and strategic partnerships. A graduate of Sydenham, Harvindar thrives in environments that require a blend of strategic thinking, creativity, and operational excellence.
As a Director at SOBO Films since 2022, Harvindar has been instrumental in overseeing and executing large, pan-India content projects and programming. His leadership has been pivotal in driving the company’s year-on-year growth through an unyielding commitment to creativity, quality, and process optimization. He has successfully streamlined production processes, accelerated script incubation, and leveraged his strong industry relationships to boost output and enhance content quality.
Harvindar’s career trajectory has provided him with a multifaceted skill set for media production. His deep understanding of production management, coupled with his ability to manage costs effectively & identify ideal teams, gives him a competitive edge in delivering projects on time and within budget.
Key Highlights of Harvindar’s Career:
Spearheaded high-impact content projects across India, receiving industry recognition for innovation and quality.
Streamlined production workflows, resulting in a significant increase in efficiency and output.
Leveraged industry connections to forge strategic partnerships and enhance business development.
Expertise in managing large teams, budgets, and operations across multiple sectors.
With a rich background that spans both creative and operational facets of the media industry, Harvindar is a visionary leader with the ability to drive strategic initiatives, optimize processes, and deliver outstanding results.
Jawahar Sharma
Non-executive Independent Director
Jawahar Sharma is an independent Producer, Advisor & Manager since 2017.He was the Executive Producer of the Netflix Original film, “Upstarts” (2019). He is the founder and designated partner in Wisteria Entertainment LLP which is in the business of providing talent and business advisory services in media and entertainment and in 2024 founded a Film Distribution Company, Eastern Edge Films Inc
Previously, from 2012 through 2017 he has served as Sr Adviser Business Affairs for Phantom Films (India) and Senior Literary Agent, CAA Kwan where he represented directors and writers and helped package content for film and series.
Jawahar comes from a strong film distribution background, having started his career with Yash Raj Films in 1998 as Head of Operations & Distribution (Americas), he ran the distribution, sales and syndication business for the Indian Major for 10 years and moved to India in 2008 as COO, International Business for Reliance Entertainment. He oversaw distribution, sales and syndication for the Major worldwide and left in 2010 to start an independent distribution label.
He received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School, Australia (1996) & Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai University, (1992)
Sanjay Doshi
Non-executive Independent Director
Mr Sanjay Doshi is a Company Secretary, Cost Accountant and Graduate from Mumbai University. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of due diligence for Mergers & Acquisitions, FDI, IPO, Stock Exchange Listing Procedure, SEBI Matters, Strategic, Tactical and Operational issues and Corporate Governance”
Sachin Nagarale
Non-executive Independent Director
Sachin Nagarale, a graduate in Economics from Fergusson College, Pune (1997), and He hold a Master’s degree in International Marketing from Strathclyde University, Glasgow (2000). Over the past 25 years, He has cultivated a versatile career across international trade, infrastructure contracting, environmental engineering, and hospitality. As a serial entrepreneur, He thrive on innovation and has consistently pioneered creative solutions to drive growth and sustainability across industries.
His deep interest in environmental sustainability, design, and creativity fuels my endeavors, as He believes technology’s convergence with diverse sectors will unlock unprecedented opportunities and abundance in the near future.