Success is not just about the profession one chooses but how one pursues it. It is possible at any point in time, in any field, and few embody this better than Mayoori Kango. The actress from the ’90s was already famous for not only her beauty but also her ability on screen. Mayoori did not allow people to define her by being just an actress. After a number of films and television shows, she pulled herself away from her acting career to create a career in a different but equally amazing corporate sector, which would result in a position of leadership at Google.At a beautiful 21 years of age, with fabulous hazel-green eyes, her presence brought a delightful sparkle to every screen in India. She was your quintessential leading lady. But behind the larger-than-life glamour, Kango was willing to take risks; she left IIT, and she left Bollywood. She did this to seek and build different roles in the corporate sector.
From education to Bollywood
Born in Aurangabad to a theater artist mother and a politician father, Mayoori Kango was academically gifted. She cracked the IIT entrance exam and even secured admission to IIT Kanpur. However, fate had other plans. While accompanying her mother on a shoot in Mumbai, she met filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza, who offered her the lead role in Naseem (1995). Even though she was unsure due to her board exams, she agreed to take on the role—and her work was positively received.Soon, her talent was noticed by director Mahesh Bhatt, who cast her in ‘Papa Kehte Hain.’ From there, she went on to be part of more films, earning attention with films like ‘Betaabi,’ ‘Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet,’ ‘Badal,’ and the Telugu film ‘Vamsi’ with Mahesh Babu. Along with films, she also made appearances in several successful television shows such as ‘Dollar Bahu,’ ‘Thoda Gham Thodi Khushi,’ and ‘Karishma: The Miracles of Destiny.’Even though her career was going well, Mayoori decided to leave show business after her marriage to Aditya Dhillon in 2003, and she moved to the US.
From movies to corporate leadership
In the United States, Mayoori redefined herself. She obtained an MBA in marketing and finance at Baruch College, New York, before starting her corporate career in 2007 as an associate media manager at 360i, a digital advertising agency. Over the years, she built her knowledge in digital marketing and strategy and held senior positions at Resolution Media and Digitas, respectively.According to DNA, in 2012, Mayoori returned to India and joined Zenith as Chief Digital Officer, spending five years working on digital transformation for brands. Her biggest career moment was in 2019 when she joined Google India as Head of Industry – Agency Partnership. Today, she leads the AI, Martech, and Media Solutions teams, demonstrating her capability to master two completely different worlds admirably.
