The marvellous human mind is capable of being extremely intelligent and multitalented at the same time. He is the biggest example of that. Born on 2 April 1981, in Pune, Maharashtra—celebrated as India’s Cultural Capital and Education Hub—Swapnil Raste embodies a rare fusion of heritage, creativity, and enterprise. He hails from the distinguished Sardar Raste royal lineage, historically revered as Sardars in the illustrious Peshwa Empire, a legacy that instilled leadership, discipline, and cultural depth from an early age.
Education & Early Excellence
Swapnil completed his schooling at Perugate Bhave High School, Pune, followed by higher education at Sir Parashurambhau College and Sou. Venutai Chavan Polytechnic, before earning his bachelor’s degree in production engineering from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, University of Pune, in 2005.
During his formative years, he demonstrated exceptional prowess in sports and intellect. While passionate about cricket, he gravitated towards individual sports, dedicating over a decade to Table Tennis and Chess, achieving state-level accolades in chess and national-level recognition in table tennis, along with multiple district and state titles.
The Birth of a Performer & Communicator
An innate flair for culture and communication led Swapnil towards anchoring during his college years. What began as a passion soon evolved into a profession as he ventured into commercial anchoring, event direction, and celebrity interviewing, hosting musical concerts and entertainment shows across platforms. His eloquence, stage command, and intellect positioned him as a sought-after anchor and interviewer.
Corporate Journey & Parallel Passion
Parallel to his creative pursuits, Swapnil built a successful 15-year career in the IT industry, working with global giants such as Tata Technologies, Geometric Software Solutions, Parametric Technologies Corporation (PTC), and IBM India. This dual journey—corporate discipline by day and creative excellence by passion—shaped his unique entrepreneurial mindset.
A Two-Decade Legacy in Entertainment
Over a career spanning 20+ years, Swapnil has:
- Anchored 3,000+ stage shows
- Conducted 300+ live celebrity interviews
- Directed and produced numerous celebrity events
- Authored 150+ celebrity interviews and articles, published in leading newspapers and magazines, including Sakal, Lokmat, Kesari, Tarun Bharat, and prominent Marathi publications.
Entrepreneurial Milestone: Third Bell Entertainment
In 2007, driven by passion and vision, Swapnil founded Third Bell Entertainment—his first entrepreneurial venture—on 14 February. The company rapidly emerged as a powerhouse in:
- Event Management & Production
- Celebrity & Artist Management
- Film Promotions & Publicity
- Entertainment Show Production
To date, Third Bell Entertainment has:
- Produced 900+ events
- Managed 500+ celebrities
- Promoted 50+ films
- Executed large-scale corporate, media, social, political, sports, fashion, and entertainment events
The company stands proudly as a debt-free organization with an impeccable reputation, operating across India and international platforms, and earning goodwill from corporates, celebrities, media houses, and socio-political leaders.
Talent Scout Studios: Shaping Faces & Futures
Expanding his vision, Swapnil launched Talent Scout Studios in 2012, dedicated to Talent Management, Celebrity Endorsements, Model Coordination, and Artist Scouting for films and advertising.
Achievements include:
- Collaboration with 300+ clients,
- Placement of 600+ models, celebrities, influencers, and artists,
- Strong presence across advertising, films, television, fashion, theatre, and digital media.
Reinvention Through the Lens: Swapnil Raste Productions
In 2017, he established Swapnil Raste Productions, offering end-to-end advertisement and film production services. The COVID-19 phase became a turning point—Swapnil reinvented himself as a fashion, celebrity, and commercial photographer, mastering the craft through self-learning and hands-on experience.
Since 2020, he has:
- Photographed 200+ popular celebrities and models.
- Delivered high-impact work in print ads, TVCs, digital films, influencer campaigns, and brand videos.
- Expanded the production house into a full-service media and advertisement production company, offering photography, cinematography, direction, casting, and execution under one roof.
Swapnil’s future aspirations include theatrical drama production and core film production ventures.
Awards & Recognitions
Swapnil Raste’s journey is adorned with numerous prestigious honors, including:
- The Pillars of Hindustani Society – Trans Asian Chamber of Commerce & Industries
- Young Achiever Award – Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture
- Event Excellence Award – Lokmat Group
- Balgandharva Puraskar
- Rajmata Jijau Puraskar
- John Yevalekar Best Anchor Award
- Pratibha Samman Puraskar
- Yuva Sanman Puraskar – Shiv Sena
- Pune Udyojak Puraskar
- City Excellence Award – Bharat Times
- Dadasaheb Phalke Cine Award – DPCA Academy, and many more.
His work and journey have been widely featured in leading publications such as Sakal, Maharashtra Times, Indian Express, Times of India, Pune Mirror, Lokmat, Kesari, Housefull Cinema, The Punekar, among others.
Personal Foundations
Swapnil attributes his success to unwavering family support:
*Mother: Mrs. Jayashri Raste, Homeopathy Practitioner
*Father: Mr. Vasant Raste, Mechanical Engineer & Industrialist
*Wife: Mrs. Pradnya Raste, IIM Calcutta alumna and senior leader at Accenture India
Swapnil also fondly acknowledges his beloved mentor, the Late Mr. Bhau Marathe, a revered anchor from the Marathi entertainment industry, whose guidance shaped Swapnil’s early journey.
