Million Dollar Listing India – shattering stereotypes about realtors

The Indian adaptation of the two-time Emmy-nominated series, ‘Million Dollar Listing’, was released recently in India. One of the featured realtors and real estate influencers on the show is Navdeep Khanuja. In an exclusive conversation Adgully, Navdeep Khanuja discusses his reasons for doing the show, the challenges that he faced, his experiences, and more.

How did the opportunity to be a part of this show come about, and what was your initial reaction?

Honestly, I think I manifested this opportunity. We were already quite popular in our trade and performing well. When you’re doing good numbers, you start thinking about expansion, growth, and what’s next. Around October last year, I had the idea of creating a pilot episode similar to ‘Selling Sunset’ on Netflix, since I thought I had a good and charming personality for it. I even planned to pitch it to Netflix, but a director friend of mine mentioned that the network needed to approach me. So, I dropped the idea.

Then, in January, I received a message from Endemol Shine India stating that they were planning a show called ‘Million Dollar Listing’ and wanted to meet me. It felt like destiny and the power of manifestation! Our first meeting took place in February, where I and my wife met with Karishma and Trev. We were clear and confident about our position in India and NCR. From there, things started rolling. They visited my office a couple of months later, and I introduced them to my team, showed them a few properties, and demonstrated how we interact with clients. They were fascinated, and things progressed from there.

How does the show reflect the challenges and triumphs of your profession?

There was no script. We had our clients come over, and they just recorded everything naturally. It’s been very true to me and the nature of my business. If you have seen the episodes, you’ll notice that who I am off-screen is who I am on-screen, maintaining professional boundaries and a professional attitude. The show has done justice to our profession, showcasing how we present properties and the real challenges we face. It’s as real as it gets.

How do you balance your real-life responsibilities as a realtor with the demands of filming the show?

Honestly, I didn’t work for one and a half months and relied on my team to execute the strategies and goals that I had set. They did a great job, and it’s fortunate that I have a responsible team. During the shooting, my complete focus was on the show to ensure that we did justice to it. This show is an extension of our personalities and aura, and we wanted people to relate to us. Despite being busy with the shoot, we managed to do well in business too.

How has the show shaped your perspective on your career and the industry?

The show has shattered many stereotypes about realtors being forged. It highlights that this is a new age for realtors – our work is demanding and responsible, involving handling significant investments and ensuring proper transactions. Buying a property from a good realtor is as important as buying a good property itself. The show also glamorises the industry, showing it as one with significant money, a lavish lifestyle, and bulk transactions. It presents real estate as a viable and rewarding career. Even young professionals like 24-year-old Rajesh are thriving in this business. Women are excelling in this male-dominated industry too. The show accurately represents all aspects of our business and does justice to it.

What can viewers expect from your journey on ‘Million Dollar Listing India’?

Viewers can expect to see a lot of hustle, beautiful properties, how we run the business, set targets, and achieve them. You’ll also see the vulnerable side of the business – how we sometimes get disappointed or discouraged, but still power through it. The show will give a complete picture of the business, including the substantial expenses that we incur – from marketing to videos and team management.

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