‹ The Founder Bookshelf

The Z Factor cover

The Z Factor

My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time

How a small-town outsider built India's first private TV empire.

by Subhash Chandra with Pranjal Sharma

The Z Factor is the autobiography of Subhash Chandra, founder of Zee TV and the Essel Group. He recounts his rise from a family grain-trading business in Haryana to launching India's first private satellite television network. The memoir mixes personal hardship, audacious bets, and lessons from decades of building across diverse industries.

Chandra repeatedly entered industries where he was an outsider and won by moving early and taking outsized risks. Founders get a candid look at contrarian bets, navigating regulation, and building category-defining businesses in a constrained Indian market.

Where to get it