By Vivek Wadhwa

USE-BY DATES.  Another example of what it takes to succeed in this industry was Brad Listermann's wife, Kashmera Shah, an ex-Miss India finalist who is considered one of Bollywood's greatest beauties. Yet as a co-producer of the film, she was managed the toughest vendor negotiations, analyzed detailed financial spreadsheets, and cracked the whip on filming schedules. In between handling those jobs, she also found time to be the star of our film.

Even our other Bollywood star, Sanjay Suri, surprised me with a discussion of a business plan he was putting together to produce television serials. Like Jason, Sanjay is an ex-model, but much more than a handsome face. He has been analyzing market opportunities and business strategies for his own production company, and is forever keen to learn more about the financial opportunities in the U.S. industry. This is not a discussion I expected to have with one of Bollywood's matinee idols.

I realized that actors usually have a very limited shelf life -- when their careers begin, the biggest asset is also the most perishable, appearance and youth. In the tech industry, your market value goes up with experience. In showbiz, it's like climbing a steep cliff, only to be pushed off the edge once you reach the top. To stay employed, movie stars, like successful companies, need to constantly reinvent themselves.

BOLLYWOOD NIGHTS.  Of course, the job does have its benefits. It seemed like every night that we were not shooting we were partying. Every new restaurant that opened, every rich business executive who wanted to impress his clients and friends, every Bollywood film that was premiering, all would send invitations to my new friends to attend lavish extravaganzas.

One night I sat with Jason and our associate producer, Richard Martini, at a fancy party in Mumbai. Three gorgeous women joined us. Naturally, one of them was Miss India 2004. No, they weren't there to talk to me. They wanted to talk to Jason, but I still got a kick out of the scene. Another night, I was at a party and met Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997. She knew all about the film and our stars. I felt almost famous, at least for a fleeting moment!

I know I'll never be a superhero or even a Hollywood heavy hitter, but playing the role of executive producer is just fine. Now, if I could only get my sharp, smart, and astonishingly savvy movie-star friends to start tech companies, it would be "Watch out, Bill Gates!"

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