To the man with more origin stories than a Marvel character — tell us a bit about yourself!

I was born in Delhi with a name so unique that it instantly sparks curiosity. In fact, my colleagues have a running joke that I carry multiple backstories for it, and they never know which one they will hear.

My real story begins long before me. My parents moved from their hometown in Kerala, a small, lush state in the south of India, to the busy chaos of Delhi. That meant I grew up in a mini cultural fusion, surrounded by families just like mine. North and South India blended into my daily life, which turned me into someone who can slip into new places, cultures and conversations with complete ease.

As a kid, I was obsessed with films, videos and anything that told a great story. I wanted to chase that dream, but in India the default career filter is simple. You are either a doctor or an engineer. My parents leaned strongly toward the engineering side. Instead of breaking their hearts, I found a loophole that made all of us happy. I discovered a degree that mixed creativity with engineering and graduated in electronics and media technology.

With that, I was all set to dive into films and production. Only one tiny hitch. Engineers in India are not exactly seen as creative, so the industry doors did not swing open for me. While figuring out my next move, I stumbled into the world of media. There was something incredibly exciting about seeing your work appear on a giant billboard or pop up on someone’s screen at just the right moment. It felt like storytelling in a new form.

And just like that, I found my place. Media buying and planning became my unexpected passion, and I enjoy it fully today.

So here I am. A Delhi born Kerala hybrid with mysterious name stories, a love for creativity and a career path powered by a series of very entertaining detours.

You talked a bit about your early obsession with film, is that still alive and kicking today?

When I’m not at work, you’ll usually find me deep in a movie that melts my brain. I’m talking suspense thrillers and plot twists so wild that I sit there wondering what on earth just happened and whether I need to restart the whole thing to understand life again.

I also love playing football. Well… I used to love playing football. These days my body sends me gentle reminders that I am no longer 18. I get pains in places I didn’t even know existed. But I still keep playing because hope and Deep Heat are powerful things.

If one of your colleagues had to describe you, what would they say?

Quirky, mysterious, always-aching.

What makes being part of the Hemisphere crew so special?

What I love most about working at Hemisphere is the complete shift from the chaos I came from. My previous workplaces operated on a “finish it today even if it takes three tomorrows” kind of energy. Hemisphere is the exact opposite. People are treated like actual humans with actual lives and given the time to do good work instead of rushed work.

I also love how the media and creative teams work together like a proper combo instead of acting like separate planets orbiting in different directions. It feels like everyone is genuinely pulling for the same goal, which is rare and refreshing.

And of course, the whānau. It honestly feels like working with friends who somehow got organised enough to run an agency. That vibe alone makes coming to work feel lighter and a lot more fun.

What has been your favourite project at Hemisphere so far?

My favourite project so far has to be the Check Clean Dry campaign. While I love working on Suzuki (my main client) and every project giving me a small burst of joy when I see more cars being sold, Check Clean Dry was a different kind of challenge. It made me really think about how to reach people and convince them to actually change their behaviour, which is harder than it looks. Humans are stubborn, especially when they are busy enjoying water activities near lakes and rivers.

The best part is that the campaign performed so well we ended up as finalists in the IAB awards for best use of display. Not bad at all, right? It feels pretty good when your hard work gets noticed and you can casually mention awards in conversations like it’s no big deal.

So… Do you have an office catchphrase?

Apparently, my catchphrase is “NIIICE!” which is funny because I never planned for it to escape into the workplace. It started as something I only said during my… let’s call them “high energy weekends”. Somehow it leaked into the office and now the whole team treats it like my signature sound effect. If someone yells “NIIICE!” everyone automatically looks at me like I’m the designated mascot. I guess there are worse things to be known for.

Want to work with Zelzob and the team?

Get in touch to see how we can help with your next campaign.

kiaora@hemisphere.nz