Varun Kukreja profile photo 1 on Tal

Varun Kukreja

Pocket FM | The Zoom Studios | MTV | MAHE

Mumbai

7+ years of work experience

Pocket FM
Apr 20242 yrs 7 mosPresent

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · Hybrid

Pocket FM
20231 yr 4 mosApr 2024

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · Hybrid

Creative strategist and storyteller with 8+ years of experience in shaping content ecosystems across TV, digital, audio, and emerging AI formats. As Content & Production Lead at Pocket FM, I've built market-specific content strategies for the UK and US, pioneered multi-cast audio formats, and built AI-driven production pipelines that cut turnaround times while elevating quality. My journey spans from driving prime-time hits like MTV Roadies and Splitsvilla to delivering brand-first narratives at Zoom Studios, blending data-backed insights with bold creative decisions. I thrive at the intersection of content, technology, and audience psychology—turning concepts into experiences that resonate, retain, and inspire.
Times Network
Jun 20221 yr 3 mosAug 2023

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

IVM Podcasts
Jan 20225 mosMay 2022

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Viacom18 Media Private Limited
Mar 20192 yrs 11 mosJan 2022

Mumbai Metropolitan Region

As an Associate Producer, I was deeply involved in the development and execution of several flagship reality shows including MTV Roadies Real Heroes, MTV Splitsvilla 12, Roadies Revolution, and Splitsvilla X3. My responsibilities spanned the entire content pipeline — from ideation during pre-production, to overseeing the shoot and team coordination during production, and supervising edits and packaging during post-production. Key contributions: Successfully conceptualized and developed the pitch for MTV Roadies Season 18: Journey in South Africa, aligning with evolving audience tastes and international standards. Collaborated closely with creative directors, writers, editors, and on-ground teams to ensure each episode met the network’s storytelling, aesthetic, and engagement benchmarks. Worked with the Branded Content Team to ideate and design custom show concepts, decks, and integrations tailored to partner brands — ensuring content aligned with both brand identity and MTV’s youth-centric appeal.
Viacom18 Media Private Limited
Jun 201810 mosMar 2019

As a Creative Trainee, I gained hands-on experience with reality content creation across various stages of production while working on MTV Splitsvilla X1 and MTV Elevator Pitch. The role provided foundational training in understanding India’s youth content landscape and the dynamics of unscripted storytelling. Key highlights: Developed a strong grasp of what resonates with young audiences, particularly across Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities. Contributed to storyboarding, scripting, casting briefs, content research, and basic post-production workflows. Supported the core team in building innovative, engaging formats aligned with MTV’s brand ethos
TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited
May 20173 mosJul 2017

Tamil Nadu, India

Varun’s AI Stack

claude
claude
elevenlabs
elevenlabs
minimax
minimax
openai
openai
Kling AI
Kling AI
Wispr Flow
Wispr Flow

Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Communication and Media Studies

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

20133 yrs2016
Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Master of Arts - MA, Media and Communication

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

20162 yrs2018

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Headline

Pocket FM | The Zoom Studios | MTV | MAHE

Location

Mumbai

AI stack

claude

elevenlabs

minimax

openai

Kling AI

Wispr Flow

Work experience

Lead(UK Market) - Content, Production & Gen AI at Pocket FM, Apr 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 7 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · Hybrid

Lead at Pocket FM, 2023 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr 4 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · Hybrid, Creative strategist and storyteller with 8+ years of experience in shaping content ecosystems across TV, digital, audio, and emerging AI formats. As Content & Production Lead at Pocket FM, I've built market-specific content strategies for the UK and US, pioneered multi-cast audio formats, and built AI-driven production pipelines that cut turnaround times while elevating quality. My journey spans from driving prime-time hits like MTV Roadies and Splitsvilla to delivering brand-first narratives at Zoom Studios, blending data-backed insights with bold creative decisions. I thrive at the intersection of content, technology, and audience psychology—turning concepts into experiences that resonate, retain, and inspire.

Manager - Branded Content @ Zoom Studios at Times Network, Jun 2022 - Aug 2023 · 1 yr 3 mos, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Assistant Ad Sales Manager at IVM Podcasts, Jan 2022 - May 2022 · 5 mos, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Associate Producer at Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Mar 2019 - Jan 2022 · 2 yrs 11 mos, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, As an Associate Producer, I was deeply involved in the development and execution of several flagship reality shows including MTV Roadies Real Heroes, MTV Splitsvilla 12, Roadies Revolution, and Splitsvilla X3. My responsibilities spanned the entire content pipeline — from ideation during pre-production, to overseeing the shoot and team coordination during production, and supervising edits and packaging during post-production. Key contributions: Successfully conceptualized and developed the pitch for MTV Roadies Season 18: Journey in South Africa, aligning with evolving audience tastes and international standards. Collaborated closely with creative directors, writers, editors, and on-ground teams to ensure each episode met the network’s storytelling, aesthetic, and engagement benchmarks. Worked with the Branded Content Team to ideate and design custom show concepts, decks, and integrations tailored to partner brands — ensuring content aligned with both brand identity and MTV’s youth-centric appeal.

Creative Trainee at Viacom18 Media Private Limited, Jun 2018 - Mar 2019 · 10 mos, As a Creative Trainee, I gained hands-on experience with reality content creation across various stages of production while working on MTV Splitsvilla X1 and MTV Elevator Pitch. The role provided foundational training in understanding India’s youth content landscape and the dynamics of unscripted storytelling. Key highlights: Developed a strong grasp of what resonates with young audiences, particularly across Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities. Contributed to storyboarding, scripting, casting briefs, content research, and basic post-production workflows. Supported the core team in building innovative, engaging formats aligned with MTV’s brand ethos

Corporate Communications Intern at TAFE - Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, May 2017 - Jul 2017 · 3 mos, Tamil Nadu, India

Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Communication and Media Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Master of Arts - MA, Media and Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education