The Ignite Life: Sunshine. Smiles. Sukoon

“The purpose of life is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate — to make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

 — Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I sign off from Apexon after 16 incredible years, I want to pause and celebrate something very close to my heart—Ignite.

What started as a small idea turned into a movement of compassion.

 A platform where we didn’t just give back—we grew.

 We didn’t just support causes—we created change.

 We didn’t just help others—we found ourselves.

✨ Ignite has been a happiness project. Our sunshine corner. 

 From mentoring changemakers to empowering NGOs, from learning with leaders to creating lifelong bonds—Ignite has truly ignited me.

Thank you Rutesh Shah for igniting the mission and providing unbelievable trust and unconditional support

To every Igniter who chose hope over cynicism, kindness over convenience—thank you. Thank you Geetanjali Sahni, Pravinsinh Rathod, Heli Z Karvat, PhD, Zil Shah, Krunal Sagan, Jankit Shah, Anand Rohit, Sejal Bavishi, Nitin Nikumbh, Charu Mishra, Kashish, Rohini Chandra

Thank you Manish Mathuria, Sriniketh Chakravarthi, Anand Kabra, Vinu Venkatesh

To every NGO partner, colleague, and volunteer who shared your light—thank you.

Because of you, the world is a better place.

As I move into the next chapter, Ignite remains a part of who I am—and always will be.

Here’s to living well—and giving well.

One Life At A Time!

The Incredible Sixteen-Year Journey @ Infostretch & Apexon

Today marks the end of one of the most defining chapters in my journey.

After 16 incredible years at Apexon (formerly Infostretch), I sign off with a heart full of gratitude, pride, and purpose.

In 2009, I walked into the Infostretch office with curiosity, energy, and ideas. The reception desk bore a powerful message by Mahatma Gandhi—“Be the change you wish to see in the world”—and I knew I was at the right place. That message became my mantra.

Over the years, what followed was nothing short of extraordinary—a journey across continents, business verticals, strategic pivots, and cultural transformation. From startup energy to scaled enterprise; from late-night brainstorms to global partnerships—I’ve had the privilege of helping build something meaningful.

Infostretch Founders Rutesh Shah & Manish Mathuria gave me complete freedom and encouragement.  With their intellectual humility and supreme trust, they inspired beyond measure. The company was being built with great alignment of vision, mission and values. As Infostretch moved from one orbit to another, I relished the opportunity to take multiple challenges and make a difference. The Infostretch story reached a new peak with the investment backing of Goldman Sachs and Everstone Group to create a strong platform called Apexon, which unlocked a new level of learnings and opportunities.

Beyond all of these, I am really proud of Infostretch and Apexon for creating the amazing culture, ownership of executing customer’s business vision, winning the customer trust and confidence, and learning from best and brightest minds.

🔑 5 Timeless Lessons I Carry Forward:

  1. Entrepreneurship = Ownership: Act like an owner, think like a founder.
  2. Excellence is a Habit: Relentlessly chase excellence—success will follow.
  3. Culture Wins: Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch and dinner—but when they align, magic happens.
  4. Leadership Multiplies: Leaders create more leaders. True leaders are humble, secure and rise by lifting others. They elevate, empower and energise people!
  5. Learn. Unlearn. Relearn: Technology business keeps changing and only curious minds with passion for continuous learning thrive successfully. Be lifelong learners! Stay curious, stay humble.

💡 Highlights & Memories That Shaped Me:

  • Annual planning offsites, night long brainstorming, animated discussions & Bollywood stories
  • Designing new business models for Indian telcos
  • Mobile app development and certification business
  • The making of the Infostretch house
  • European expansion
  • Leading key deals in fintech, payments, and healthcare
  • Building the Global Alliances
  • Spearheading Ignite program: Global giving back & philanthropy program
  • Hosting events like Mobile Monday, Koffee with Karania, Hot Seat, Filmy Fridays, and our legendary Sales Super Saturdays
  • Winning trust, building culture, and co-creating lasting impact with an amazing team

These are not just career milestones—they’re life moments. They shaped the leader I am today.

🙏 A Thank You Note From The Heart:

To all my customers, partners, colleagues and friends – they are the reason that each day of the sixteen years journey was filled with purpose, energy and joy!

Rutesh Shah for being one of the biggest cheer leaders for me – While he has led with example, showcased passion with compassion and treated everyone with respect, he has been an amazing mentor and guiding light to me.

Apexon Leaders—Sumitra, Somesh, Sriniketh, Vamsi, Sandeep, Anil, Anand, Vinu—your leadership sharpened mine.

To my early crew at Infostretch—Manish, Shalin, Pinakin, Avery, Siva, Vipul, Palvinder, Leila, Anil, Padmini, Michael, Kanhai, Deven, Kinjan—we built something beautiful.

Awesome Champions: Jay, Gaurav, Vaibhavi, Rajesh, Rupal, Chinar, Niraj, Anushree, Bhavana, Aris, Brijal, Avani, Harish, Yatendra, Ankit, Sheetal, Murali, Chetan and others who made this journey joyful!

Alliance Rockstars: Rama, Adarsh, Kavita, Geetanjali, Prashant, Viveck for creating amazing impact with frugal resources

Amazing Ignite Team: Geetanjali, Zil, Heli, Pravin, Kashish, Charu and local leaders Krunal, Jankit, Sejal, Anand, who work for a cause and not applause!

Family & Friends: Aditya, Aangi & Komal & Friends for accepting that Apexon was the fourth family member for 16 years – the one who was part of all our vacations and weekends!

(If I’ve missed names, forgive me—so many memories flooding in!)

📖 As I Turn the Page…

While the celebrated thinker Daniel Kahneman states that we only remember our most intense and concluding experiences – ‘Peak-End Theory’, I remember it all. Because Apexon wasn’t just a job—it was a mission, a family, a journey.

I leave with no regrets—only deep gratitude, enduring friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Here’s to new beginnings. To applying everything I’ve learned to what comes next—at the intersection of technology, innovation, and impact.

Forever a cheerleader and well-wisher of Team Apexon.

Thank you for the 16-year magic. 🙏

Saiyaara Movie Review

Saiyaara: GenNext Musical Melancholy Ignites Romance

A Long Post of The Tending Saiyaaraa….

Saiyaara: Mohit’s Mashup Of Mohabbat, Music & Memories! 

First thing first: 
Is Saiyaara worth watching? Yes
Does Saiyaara connect? Yes
Is Saiyaara worth the hype? No

What makes Saiyaara work? 
Timeless romance, awesome music and fresh talent with strong screen presence

Dimaag bhool janta hai, dil yaad rakhta hai!

Saiyaara is an emotional roller coaster that works! The romantic musical drama connects and engages with its authenticity and story-telling! 

An aspiring and short fused reckless musician meets a talented soft-spoken poet. As they erase their past and heal each other, romance blooms, music flows and life glows. They make new memories but memory itself plays a spoilsport! 

Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda make a wonderful impact with their performances – both living their characters magnificently! Ahaan is indeed the ray of sunshine. Aneet grows on you. The music is engaging and the songs carry the movie forward fabulously. Saiyaara, Barbaad, Dhun and Tum Ho To are good tracks. The screen play is good with memorable dialogues. 

Mohit Suri repaints his old movies with Yashraj colors and similar sparklers to create Saiyaara. The movie is based on Korean drama ‘A Moment To Remember; which has inspired Ajay Devgan Kajol starrer U, Me & Hum. Apart from the traces of Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain and other Mohit movies, we see ’50 First Dates’ and Notebook influence as well. Yet Mohit’s doomed love conviction and emotional treatment moves the viewers. 

The movie is not an all time classic because of the uneven pace. The second half was stretched while many aspects were rushed, unexplained and undercooked. While the nepo kids bashing by Ahaan was smart, calling a dating app Soulmates was out of place. But where love is never perfect, how can a love story be perfect? Love becomes eternal only beyond seeing imperfection, mistakes, rough edges, missteps and lost opportunities – so let’s celebrate the good old-fashioned romance with good music and authentic chemistry! 

Saiyaara – Watch it!

"Meera: Ek Abhivachan"

Beyond Meera’s Eternal Devotion & Bhakti

Love is divine!
Love is devotion!
Love is selfless!

“Meera: Ek Abhivachan” revisited the eternal and spiritual love of Meera with new perspectives. The theatrical story telling nudged us to question the long held narratives. What was Rana’s perspective and suffering? What was Krishna’s role?

Unique concept, beautiful bhajans, impeccable rendition and masterclass acting explored the relationship between Meera, Rana and Krishna. Cheers to actor / director Shri Priyank Upadhyay and actors Sushri Khushi Avashia and Shri Aman Kothari.

As Saiyaara celebrates love in Indian landscape, “Meera: Ek Abhivachan” brought a unique perspective of love and relationships.

Great presentation by KalaaPrangan!

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