Ekta Kapoor

reference Man, Ekta Kapoor is basically the queen bee of Indian TV. She didn't just ride the wave—she straight-up made it. The whole daily soap opera craze? That’s her baby. Balaji Telefilms, her production house, has been tossing out hit shows like confetti, and honestly, most channels just ride on her coattails. She’s not one of those distant, hands-off bosses either. She’s right in the thick of it, grinding out 16-18 hour workdays and still keeping up with the wild changes in Indian television. That hustle? Unmatched. And the awards—don't even get me started. She’s bagged everything from the Economic Times Businesswoman of the Year to the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and even “Woman of the Year” from the American Biographical Institute. Media lists? She’s always up there, whether it’s Fortune India’s Top 50 powerful women or IMPACT magazine’s Most Influential Women. 2017 alone was basically her victory lap, scooping up titles like Most Powerful Women in Indian Business, Sterling Icon of Entertainment, and popping up in Variety’s 500 Most Influential People worldwide. She’s even snagged the Padma Shri in 2020. No joke, Ekta’s probably got more trophies than shelf space at this point. The woman’s a full-on powerhouse in entertainment—if Bollywood and TV are the party, she’s the DJ.