Shobu Yarlagadda is the CEO, and co-founder of Arka Mediaworks; a leading film and television production house based in India. Established in 2001, Arka Mediaworks has produced several successful and critically acclaimed television shows and films; "Vedam", "Maryada Ramanna", and most recently, S.S Rajamouli's two-part Indian epic, "Baahubali". The Baahubali films had the highest ever budget for an Indian film at the time of production, with a combined budget of over US$65 million for both films. Shobu has been instrumental in making Baahubali, a predominantly regional Indian film, a success across the nation and in several global markets including Japan, the Middle East and South East Asia. He also played a key role in extending the Baahubali world beyond films, making it India's biggest and most successful tent-pole franchise; comprising of an animated series on Amazon Prime, a novel trilogy, graphic novels, virtual reality, mobile games, merchandising, and an upcoming Netflix original series, among others. Shobu serves as member of the National Committee of Media & Entertainment, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and was recently elected a Member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY. He is a partner in the Hyderabad chapter of Social Venture Partners, a global philanthropic network that helps bring people together to amplify the impact of social enterprises, and a Charter Member of the Hyderabad chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE). He is also involved with various other not-for-profit organizations. An avid trekker, Shobu pursues his culinary interests, travel, reading, and time with his family as a way of unwinding.