Creative Q&A: Dentsu's Shivanand 'Doc' Mohanty is in the hot seat

How did you get into advertising?
Because architecture and design schools wouldn’t have me! Then I saw a billboard by Air India for a Blood Donation Camp. It said ‘Blood was meant to circulate. Give.’ I decided I wanted to be a copywriter. After wearing out shoe leather doing the rounds of agencies and many, many copy tests later, I finally found my way into the creative department of an agency.
 
What was your first ever ad?
A company called Bhutan Board used to make some nifty do-it-yourself furniture, a bit like Ikea, but way ahead of its time. My partner and I were briefed to do an ad for their road show. We used the company mascots, Laurel and Hardy lookalikes, and came up with this:

Hardy: ‘Why on earth must we visit the Bhutan Board Exhibition?’
Laurel: ‘Because it’s time you learnt to make your own bed!’
 
What was your first ever job?
In college, I spent a summer trying to sell a personal computer called ‘Dolphin’ to families. The company didn’t last until winter.
 
What was your worst job ever?
In about 17 years, I’ve been with only four agencies. All of them taught me a lot, including the one which I left within a year. So yes, professionally that was my least favourite spell.
 
What does it take to impress you?
Passion. Skill. Integrity. Eva Mendes. (Not in the same order)
 
Where do you go to be inspired?
I watch a lot of movies. I read as much as I can. When it comes down to the crunch, a long walk never fails to inspire. 
 
If you can spend one day with a celebrity/ historical figure, who would it be? Why?
Mohandas K Gandhi. He moved a nation and brought an empire to its knees with the power of his ideas. He never amassed any personal fortune, never built any monuments for himself, and was never involved in any scams. It would be great to know how he managed to accomplish so much with so little.
 
This is why, on my list of famous people I would love to spend a day with, he would be right behind Eva Mendes. 
 
What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate!
 
If you have to come back as an animal, what would you be? Why?
A pet dog. He is born to be pampered, and with a little effort, he can train humans to throw the ball when he wants. How cool is that?
 
What is the last book you read?
Different by Youngme Moon.
 
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Get the dog off the bed.
 
Worst haircut you’ve ever had?
Hardly any hair left, so each haircut is getting worse!
 
Describe your typical day:

1. Wake up. Take dog for a walk.
2. Reach office. 
3. Meet the team. Brief. Review.
4. Fight fires, if any. If none, think of clever jokes to make friends groan.
5. Reach home. Take dog for a walk.

What’s your BMI (body mass index)? (question supplied by Leo Burnett Singapore's Chris Chiu)
27.2. (I’m working on it)

Can you suggest a question for our next Q&A candidate?
Which is the one object - of no practical value - you would wish to be stranded with on a desert island?