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Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, 58, is an Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He currently serves as the Minister of Culture and Tourism in the Government of India, having previously held the position of Minister of Jal Shakti from 30 May 2019 to April 2024. Prior to being Minister of Jal Shakti, Shekhawat was the Minister of State in Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from 3 September 2017 to 25 May 2019. As of April 2026, he holds the position of Minister of Culture and Tourism in the Government of India, a role that places him at the forefront of India’s efforts to promote its rich cultural heritage and boost tourism, both domestic and international. Shekhawat is also a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Jodhpur constituency in Rajasthan, having represented the constituency since 2014.

Early Life and Education

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was born on October 3, 1967, in Jaisalmer District of Rajasthan, known for its vibrant cultural history. He pursued higher education at Jai Narain Vyas University (JNVU) in Jodhpur, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy. He began his political career in student politics and was elected as President of the Students Union of JNVU in 1992. Before entering electoral politics, he was actively involved in various social causes and became well known for his oratory skills and his ability to connect with people.

Major Achievements as Minister of Jal Shakti

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

Under his leadership, the Jal Jeevan Mission was launched, aiming to provide safe and adequate drinking water to rural households. Coverage increased significantly, improving public health and reducing child mortality.

Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0

Shekhawat oversaw the second phase focusing on sanitation improvements and maintaining ODF status across villages. As of September 2023, 75% of all villages, i.e. over 4.43 lakh villages had achieved ODF Plus status.

Namami Gange Program

The Namami Gange Program aimed at rejuvenating the Ganga River and its tributaries received international recognition under his guidance when it was selected for a UN award as one of the Global Restoration Flagships.

Major Achievements as Minister of Culture and Tourism

Overall, Shekhawat’s tenure has been marked by a strong emphasis on cultural preservation and promotion, alongside infrastructure-driven tourism growth, community participation, and sustainable development, with measurable progress achieved under key government schemes and initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism.

Cultural Outreach and Global Engagement

Under his leadership, the Ministry of Culture has actively promoted India’s cultural heritage through international exhibitions and events, enhancing cultural diplomacy and global visibility.

Cultural Infrastructure and Heritage Development

In the culture sector, key initiatives include the inauguration of new museums and galleries, notably the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum, and thematic exhibitions such as the “Great Indian Reformers” gallery. These efforts have strengthened cultural infrastructure and improved visitor engagement.

Additionally, programmes like Gyan Bharatam aim to preserve India’s manuscript heritage, while digital initiatives and exhibitions have expanded access to cultural resources.

Under Shekhawat’s leadership, the Ministry of Culture secured the repatriation of the sacred Piprahwa relics by intervening to halt their auction abroad and facilitating their return to India, a major step in reclaiming lost heritage.

He also advanced efforts to retrieve antiquities and strengthen international agreements to curb illicit trafficking, with hundreds of artefacts repatriated.

Additionally, he has promoted the archiving of historical documents and the expansion of museum infrastructure, including international cultural collaborations such as the proposed Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum near Parliament House, being developed with French assistance, to enhance the preservation and global outreach of India’s heritage.

Tourism Infrastructure and Flagship Schemes

Since assuming charge on 11 June 2024, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has strengthened flagship tourism schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive), focusing on destination-based development and sustainable tourism. Projects under the challenge-based destination development approach have been approved to enhance infrastructure at key religious and heritage sites.

The Ministry of Tourism has also emphasised improved connectivity and infrastructure-led growth, aligning tourism expansion with national infrastructure development, which has significantly boosted tourist inflow and economic activity.

Employment and Community-Based Initiatives

A major achievement has been the launch of Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi programmes aimed at capacity building, skill development, and local community participation in tourism. These initiatives support employment generation and inclusive growth, with tourism contributing significantly to livelihoods across the country.

Promotion of Sustainable and Thematic Tourism

The Ministry has promoted sustainable tourism through events such as the International Tourism Mart, highlighting regional circuits like the Northeast and encouraging eco-tourism and cultural tourism. This approach integrates local traditions, crafts, and biodiversity into tourism development, enhancing India’s global appeal.

Vision: Development as well as Heritage

Civilizational Tourism (Heritage-Based Tourism): Heritage is not just about old memories, but a “living river” of knowledge and creativity. Efforts are being made to promote a “spiritual economy” by connecting centers like Kumbh Mela, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and Ayodhya with modern infrastructure.

The 5T Mantra

Built on five pillars: Tourism, Trade, Talent, Tradition, and Technology. Tourism has the highest potential to generate employment.

Global Leadership & Connectivity

Connectivity has been improved by expanding aviation infrastructure under the UDAN scheme, increasing the number of operational airports and other aviation facilities to over 160 (including heliports and water aerodromes). Additionally, trains like the Vande Bharat Express are being used to enhance connectivity between major cities and tourism circuits.

Travel for LiFE

During the G20 Summit, emphasis was laid on sustainable tourism, where both tourists and businesses take responsibility for conserving natural resources.

Implementation by the Minister

Shekhawat is working to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision on the ground with the principle of “Growth with Responsibility.”

Community-Centric Tourism

Tourism benefits should reach local communities. Through schemes like Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Scheme, destinations are being developed where local artisans and youth get direct employment.

Digital & Metaverse Era

Building smart digital infrastructure in tourism. Promoting “Wed in India” and “Meet in India” as global brands.
Skill Development

Establishing a National Institute of Hospitality and aiming to train 10,000 guides through IIM-supported programs.

Other Focus Areas

• Development of the Buddhist Circuit
• Renovation of temples
• Preservation of intangible heritage
• Achieving over 20% annual growth (CAGR) in tourism
• Rebranding Incredible India as “Visit Bharat”

Political Career

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been actively involved with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and held several organizational roles before entering electoral politics.

He was the co-convener of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and the General Secretary of Seema Jan Kalyan Samiti. As General Secretary of the organization dedicated to strengthening national security by developing border towns and villages, he was instrumental in building a second line of defense that consisted of civilians residing near the border area of Rajasthan. He was also instrumental in furthering the impact of civil defense by setting up 40 schools and four hostels along the India-Pakistan border.

Electoral Performance

He won Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate in 2014, 2019, and 2024 from Jodhpur constituency with strong voter support.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shekhawat won the election with a significant margin, securing 7,13,515 votes which accounted for 66.20 % of the total votes cast thus defeating his nearest rival by 4,10,051 votes.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he garnered 788,888votes, equivalent to 58.6% of the total votes in the constituency, defeating his nearest rival by 2,74,440 votes.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Shekhawat got 7,30,056 votes, which constituted 52.80% of the total votes cast and defeated his rival by 1,15,677 votes.

Personal Life

He is married to Naunand Kanwar and has three children. Known for his humility and grounded lifestyle, he shares a deep and enduring connection with the people of his constituency, who affectionately refer to him as “Gajju Bana”. An enthusiastic sportsman, he has actively participated in basketball and has played at the state level. He has also authored numerous articles and opinion pieces across a wide range of media outlets, reflecting his insights and thought leadership.

Gaurav Dwivedi is a 1995 batch IAS Officer of the Chhattisgarh Cadre. He started his administrative career as an Assistant Collector in Kerala before joining Chhattisgarh Government.  He has worked in various capacities in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.  He has also been a faculty member at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.  He is a recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Administration for his work on food security & computerizing paddy procurement and PDS distribution.  He was the first CEO of MyGovIndia under Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and managed the GoI’s citizen engagement platform launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2014.  As CEO MyGovIndia, organized the ‘MyGov Town Hall' in 2016.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh he did his schooling from Apeejay School, Noida and graduated in Zoology from the Hindu College of Delhi University.  He is a Trium MBA, with Joint Degrees from London School of Economics, New York University’s Stern Business School & HEC Paris.  He is currently CEO Prasar Bharati.

Shri Prithul Kumar is a senior civil servant currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and a Member of the Prasar Bharati Board. An officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), he brings over 24 years of multifaceted administrative experience across the Government of India in infrastructure, mining, and the media & entertainment sectors. A graduate in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur, he has held several key leadership positions across the Government of India. These include Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Member of the Prasar Bharati Board, Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Director (Mines) in the Ministry of Mines, and Executive Director (IT) in the Ministry of Railways. Over the course of his career in the Ministry of Railways, he has handled diverse portfolios spanning Operations, Marketing, Infrastructure, Information Technology, and Safety, bringing a broadbased administrative and technical perspective to each assignment. His contributions span major policy reforms, digitisation, international event leadership, and institutional restructuring. In his current role, he has been instrumental in shaping the media, film, broadcasting & Live event policy landscape of the country. He has led landmark initiatives such as the amendment of the Cinematograph Act (2023) after four decades, launched India’s first accessibility guidelines for films, and spearheaded the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR. He has successfully safeguarded India’s interests in an international arbitration, pioneered digital transformation in mining and railways, and received multiple awards for his leadership. He has also completed executive training at INSEAD, Duke University, and IIM Lucknow. He has directed globally visible events such as IFFI, MIFF, WAVES, and Film Bazaar, and is currently driving initiatives like WAVES OTT and PB-SHABD & PB reforms. He is currently also spearheading the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), a joint working group of the Government & Industry, driving policy reforms, institutional coordination, and industry facilitation measures. Through this role, he is actively transforming the live events ecosystem in India—streamlining processes, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and fostering a more structured, transparent, and growth-oriented environment for the sector. In free time, he likes to watch movies and play outdoor games like squash, badminton & cricket.

Dr. Ilayaraja T is a 2009-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.) qualification. He has held various administrative responsibilities in the state, including district-level leadership and senior government assignments.

Since 4 May 2026, he has been serving as Secretary to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, alongside key responsibilities in the Tourism Department and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.

Shri M. Selvendran, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2002 batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre, is known for his extensive administrative experience across Governance, Technology, Agriculture, Revenue, and District administration, and hails from Tamil Nadu while continuing to serve in key leadership roles within the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He currently serves as Principal Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Madhya Pradesh, a position to which he was elevated in January 2026, reflecting his deep administrative experience and leadership in state governance, and also holds the additional charge of the Department of Science and Technology, GoMP.  His key previous assignments include serving as Secretary, Farmer Welfare & Agriculture Development, Secretary, Personnel (GAD), and Inspector General (IG), Registration & Stamps (Additional Charge). In district administration, he has served as District Collector of Singrauli, Katni, and Panna, and as SDM & Administrative Officer across multiple subdivisions. In urban and rural governance, he has held roles such as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation (Jabalpur) and CEO, Zila Panchayat (Dindori).  His sectoral leadership includes serving as Managing Director, MP State Electronics Development Corporation Limited and holding significant roles in Aviation, Science & Technology, Revenue and the Chief Minister’s Office. 

Anant Goenka is Vice Chairman of the RPG Group, a USD 5.2 bn conglomerate with interests in the areas of automotive tyres, infrastructure, pharma, IT, energy products, plantations, and venture capital.

Anant was the Managing Director of CEAT from 2012 to 2023, during which time, the company saw a 25x increase in market capitalization. CEAT became the first tyre brand in the world to win the Grand Deming Prize in 2023. CEAT was also awarded the Lighthouse recognition by the World Economic Forum in 2023.

Prior to joining CEAT, Anant worked with KEC International and Hindustan Unilever. He has also served as the Chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA). At present, Anant also serves as Vice-Chairman of CEAT and Zensar Technologies.

Anant has been recognised by Forbes as the "Next Generation Business Leader of the Year" in 2017 and as "India's 40 under 40 Business Leaders" by Economic Times-Spencer Stuart.

Anant is an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BS, Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

A highly accomplished executive with close to three decades of experience in Media & Entertainment, Kevin Vaz joined Viacom18 in July 2023 as Chief Executive Officer – Broadcast Entertainment. 

Kevin is also responsible for the media company’s filmed entertainment business as well as regional content and marketing for its digital entertainment business. Kevin's visionary leadership and strategic acumen will play a pivotal role in elevating the existing channels to leadership positions, scaling up revenue realisation and significantly increase the network’s overall market share across genres and geographies. 

Prior to joining Viacom18, Kevin was the head of the entertainment business at Disney Star, where he made significant contributions to the company’s success and growth. He was instrumental in shaping the Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and Marathi language markets and driving Disney Star channels in those respective markets towards pole position. His illustrious career encompasses the successful launch and management of 53 television channels, along with driving revenue growth and spearheading innovative content strategies. 

Kevin started his career in Sales and moved up to be the youngest Network Sales Head for India ‘s Largest TV Network. A hands-on executive, Kevin has the unique distinction of having led teams across almost every touchpoint of the media and entertainment ecosystem – from business management, revenue, content to marketing.

Arjun Nohwar is the Managing Director – South Asia for Warner Bros. Discovery, where he leads the region’s operations and oversees a wide portfolio of global brands and networks across Kids, Factual Entertainment, and Sports genres in India & South Asia.

Before joining Warner Bros. Discovery, he led the APAC enterprise business at Uber and was part of the TAS cadre at the Tata Group for almost a decade before that.

 In 2012, Arjun was deputed for a year to the Planning Commission of India to work on catalysing growth from the country’s Manufacturing industry.

He advises and mentors both social enterprises and startups. Arjun is also a sports enthusiast and has represented India at various Corporate Golf tournaments.

Munjal is a creator, producer and director with 30 years of experience across the entire spectrum of live-action, animation, gaming, VFX and immersive entertainemnt. He has forged partnerships with some of the biggest names in entertainment industry including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon and has also helped to put India on the global map for original content. His Netflix Original, Deepa and Anoop swept the Kidscreen 2023 Awards with four wins – Best New Show, Best Inclusivity, Best Music and Best Voice Talent. His latest creation is Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – Bharat Hain Hum, a 52 part series on the unsung heroes of Indian Freedom Struggle which is co-produced with CBC, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He also crafted the unique distribution multi-lingual and multi-platform release of this series. It’s the first show in the world to release simultaneous globally on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and 28 channels of Doordarshan – Public Service TV Network. His character creations Krish, Trish and Baltiboy and the iconic show Bharat Hain Hum were recognised by Hon. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi  and recommend the show as a “Must Watch” in his monthly national address “Mann Ki Baat” in December 2024.

In his role as the Chairman of FICCI AVGX-XR Forum he has helped craft the National AVGC-XR policy and setup Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, a lighthouse institution focusing on education, upskilling, policy advocacy and startups and incubations. He is relentlessly working closely with the Government of India on various policies to position India as a significant force in the Global Media and Entertainment Industry. He also serves on the Governing Council of Media & Entertainment Skill Council (MESC) to bring structured approach to the building a vibrant skilling ecosystem.

Kunal Khambhati is currently the Founder and Chief Operating Officer at District. Under his stewardship, District has delivered world-class experiences including the debut of Rolling Loud India 2025, The FRIENDS Experience, Kevin Hart, Feeding India Concert 2024 - featuring Dua Lipa, among others

An alumnus of the Academy of Art, San Francisco, USA, Mr. Rajiv Chilaka’s entrepreneurial journey started with a vision of creating an animation studio at par with the best in the world.  This took shape with the establishment of Green Gold Animation in 2004. In an industry still in its nascent stages, his journey was punctuated with more challenges than opportunities. Braving the odds, he created and brought India’s most loved and iconic character, Chhota Bheem, to life.

Today, as the CEO of the Green Gold Group, he leads a team of over 1000 artists who have produced over 12 shows, 1000 episodes, 100+ TV movies and 6 Feature films in the last decade itself.  Green Gold Group’s footprint spans across television, movies, digital and L&M, reaching an audience of over 100 million kids and 190 countries globally. It also owns and licenses India’s biggest children’s IP with over 100 brands across multiple categories.

Under his leadership, Green Gold Animation has won many accolades and achieved many a milestone, the most recent being the creator of India’s first Netflix original animation series, Mighty Little Bheem. A global success, Mighty Little Bheem is a testament to the spirit of creation that drives Rajiv and the Green Gold Group.

Driven by Rajiv's profound love for films, Green Gold has embarked on an exciting journey into the production of live-action films. Presently, Green Gold is proudly involved in the production of two Tollywood and one Bollywood film.

Further more, in 2021,  Green Gold has started its VFX journey aiming to pioneer new realms of creativity & innovation in the world of visual effects, leaving its mark on over a dozen films in South India and PAN India.

National Award Winner, an acclaimed industry Leader, Prasoon exemplifies the rare breed of creativity and leadership.

He goes beyond defined roles and uses his Intellectual and Artistic ability as a writer and Poet to create unique content that inspires and propels positive change in the society.

An Advertising and Communication icon who’s built Mega brands, a Writer who’s been honored with the prestigious National award by the President of India , he has also garnered glory at International Awards like Cannes, D&Ad, and plethora of others.

As Chairman of Omnicom Advertising India  , he is credited with marrying creativity with scale to work in India a distinct cultural edge making it a powerhouse that has the pulse of the market.

His creativity as a Writer -Poet permeates the arena of celebrated Indian Feature Films '(Bollywood) where he is a celebrated and award winning Song and Screenwriter.

Through his writing in films like Taare Zameen Par, Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Neerja and Manikarnika, he has rekindled the faith that one can give constructive direction to the society through high calibre work in the Popular genre.

Prasoon is also a columnist writing on branding and social issues in leading business and daily publications

He has authored 5 books as well, his first at the age of 17 and his latest “ Thinking Aloud” released in January 2019.

Designated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Prasoon has also been conferred the prestigious Padma Award by the President of India.

Through his multifaceted pursuits and Content creation across the fields of   Poetry, Cinema Advertising and Music he has positively impacted the public consciousness and has emerged as an iconic socio cultural voice that resonates across segments. Prasoon currently also holds the esteemed position of Chairman of Prasar Bharti India.

Jyoti Vij was appointed Director General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in June 2024, after more than three decades of distinguished service to the organisation. Having joined FICCI in 1993, she steadily advanced through senior leadership roles, and has been a key architect of the chamber's policy and institutional development agenda.

Vij has led FICCI's work across critical domains - economic affairs, financial services, corporate laws, taxation, manufacturing, agriculture, and MSMEs - while also pioneering the establishment of Centres of Excellence in CSR and Sustainability. Vij's strength lies in leading cross-functional policy teams and driving regulatory change in corporate law, digital payments, pension reforms, and the bankruptcy code.

She regularly engages with high-level government committees and collaborates with multilateral organizations and investment projects. Her leadership has significantly influenced India's regulatory and investment landscape, reinforcing FICCI's role as a key voice of Indian industry.

Ashish S K embarked on his journey in the field of arts and media in 1985, and since has immersed himself in the pursuit of conceiving sustainable careers in film, animation, visual effects, gaming, visual arts, and graphic design in India. Ashish S K's presence in the field of the arts commenced with the animation industry, the seed of which, had only been planted in the fertile grounds of the Indian economy at the turn of the century. At this early stage, Ashish S K jumpstarted the sprouting of the animation industry in India by facilitating outsourcing projects in the country with animation giants such as Disney, Warner Bros., Sony and Dreamworks. By introducing India as a new outsourcing platform for animation, Ashish S K had created the opportunity for Indian animation services to grow to international standards. During this stage, Ashish S K produced ad films for All Out, Flying Machine, Max Candy & Max Ice cream for HLL, Nestle, Veneta Cucine and Kelloggs. Ashish S K has created the SKILL INDIA logo. He has also created the promotional films for Jan Dhan Yogana, Skill India, Maharashtra Tourism, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to name a few.

Ashish S K was recently appointed as a Director of Esports Games Federation – ESGF has applied for national federation for Esports in India status to Government of India.

Ashish S K has been appointed on the Indian Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics TASK FORCE recently formed by Government of India under the Information & Broadcasting Ministry.

The National Centre of Excellence for AVGC – XR is getting set up at the Film City at Mumbai called IICT – Indian Institute of Creative Technologies. Ashish S K has been appointed as Founding Director on the IICT. This institute is based on the concept white paper written by Ashish S K in 2005 titled “India requires an IIT & IIM like institution for AVGC sector”. As its was a sunrise sector and had to be created with Creative Arts and Sciences together.

Ashish S K has been appointed by Madhya Pradesh Government as an Expert and Creative advisor to its unique project at Omkareshwar on Adi Shankaracharya Museum and a fill length feature film on life and times of Acharya Shankar. The Omkareshwar project also has Advait Vedanta International Research Institute and Gurukul. Ashish S K, has been involved on several museums, water + experiential shows and many attractions active and passive for ISKCON, AKSHARDHAM, MAHAVEER Museum etc.

As the sapling of the Indian animation industry grew, Ashish S K envisioned a future in which, India was not caged in the confines of outsourcing but competed as a global player in the arena of original IP creation. What followed was the development of iconic character brands and shows such as Little Krishna, Krishna Aur Kans, Big Bees and Shaktimaan, by Ashish S K and his creative team while he served as CEO of Reliance Animation. Currently, Ashish S K is working on properties such as War Heroes of India, Mary Kom Jr., Amazing Kids, Monkey Creek and Map Jacket.

Amidst the strides towards original IP creation that Ashish S K triggered, he found himself engulfed by the growing realization that traditional Indian art forms were battling extinction. To fight the death of these art forms, Ashish S K travelled across the Indian peninsula and brought artists that practiced the art forms from cities like Thanjavur, Mahabalipuram, Chanapatna, Ramnagaram, Krishna Nagar, Kolhapur, Udaipur, Amravati, etc., to his studio to create world class animation. This allowed the artists to have a sustainable livelihood in the arts field, while continuing to nurture the traditional art forms that were passed down through their familial generations. This remarkable initiative has also been documented in the Tom Friedman's international bestselling book The World is Flat.

Ashish S K, as Chairman of the Animation, VFX, Gaming & Comics AVGC-XR forum at FICCI, has been persistently engaged with AVGC-XR policy makers in India at central and state levels. In the last two decades, Ashish S K's push for state level policies inclusive of AVGC-XR skill development and creation has allowed for their successful implementation under IT ITES policies or independent AVGC-XR policies in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, Telangana, Goa, MP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, West Bengal and Kerala. Moreover, states like UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pardesh, North East States and Gujarat are actively considering the formation of AVGC-XR policies to promote creative skill development and job creation. Ashish S K has helped create comprehensive policies for the states mentioned and the success of the policies is reflected in the international perception of cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Trivandrum, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, New Delhi and Chandigarh as active AVGC-XR and digital skills hubs. The National Centre of Excellence, which will serve as an institute of national importance for Animation, VFX, Gaming & Comics in India is another major project which Ashish S K has been involved with from the industry side since 2005. To promote the AVGC-XR sector, Ashish S K initiated the prestigious FICCI Best Animated Frames Awards at an international level. Ashish S K has also created a whitepaper and suggested the creation of DD KIDS - A free to air public broadcasting channel for kids in India and A National Policy for AVGC-XR- AR/VR.

Ashish S K, renowned as an AVGC-XR guru, has developed curriculums and introduced creative career programs in institutes like FTII, Media and Entertainment Skills Council, Whistling Woods International, Ramesh Sippy Academy for Cinema and Entertainment, Lovely Professional University, NITTE, Manipal University, Anna Malai University, Arena, MAAC, FRAMEBOXX, DSK, University Of Mumbai, Jain University, Chitkara University, Jagannath University, Jagran Lakecity University, Vishwakarma University, Shoolini University and organized workshops for parents and youth in over 70 cities to promote careers in AVGC-XR - AR/VR. Ashish S K, lead managed the first ever common entrance test for Media and Entertainment education in India under the Media and Entertainment Skills Council called MECAT – Media and Entertainment Creative Aptitude Test. Ashish S K, has been appointed as a MENTOR of the GMEC - Global Media Education Council in 2021.

Ashish S K, has mentored several start-ups successfully. Some of the start ups have become brands like Ramesh Sippy Academy For Cinema and Entertainment, Sattvam, Attentioun, Master My Life, My First Film, Togethring Super App, Wizcraft MIME, The Green Story, to name a few.

• Ashish SK, co-founded Media and Entertainment Skills Council in 2012 with FICCI & NSDC. He has served on the governing council for the first two terms. In 2022 Ashish S K was appointed as a Co-Chairman for the Media and Entertainment Skills Council.
• Ashish S K has been honoured with:
• Mover & Shaker’s Award at the 24FPS –2007.
• National Education Leadership Award from IEDRA (Indian Economic Development & Research Association)2009.
• Indira Super Achiever’s Award from Indira Group of Industries2009.
• National Education Leadership Award from Indian Economic Development and Research Association 2009/10.
• Shiksha Bharati Award from Indian Achiever’s Forum 2010/11.

• Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievements and Distinguishes Services to the Nation 2012.
• Pride of India from Citizen’s Integration Peace Society 2013.
• Glory of India – Global Achiever’s Award for quality in Business and Education from Indian Achiever’s Forum 2013.
• Creative Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2015.
•  Orange City Cultural Foundation Award by the Orange City Cultural Foundation and Nagpur Municipal Corporation at the 4th Orange City International Film Festival 2020.
• Movers and Shakers award for Media and Entertainment Education 2022 by EDUSPARK.
• Special Contribution to the Indian AVGC-XR industry by AnimationXpress 2023.

Ashish S K's deep involvement with "The Akshay Patra Foundation", "National Cancer Institute", "Media & Entertainment Skills Council" "Friends Union for Energising Lives - FEUL" has a long lasting impact. His dedication and push for social impact projects has helped several initiatives to spread its wings in new geographies. His contribution in mentoring social entrepreneurs is truly remarkable.

Ashish S K is the founder of Punnaryug Artvision Pvt. Ltd. and Screenyug Creations Pvt. Ltd. and is developing a unique concept called The Green Butterfly Art Village at Lonavala, which aims to create a holistic and sustainable ecosystem for all creative, performance & sports artists by uniting the institutions, housing projects and production studios that make up their everyday lives. The project is designed to house institutions providing education in fine arts, liberal arts, performing arts, design, architecture, earth science, sustainability studies, culinary arts and sports education and management, in addition to a skills village,

performance village and carnival village under the same roof. This project will also focus on restoring traditional Indian art forms through education.

Ashish S K's immense contributions are making the AVGC-XR sector a more viable career option for Indian citizens and through such dedicated investment in India's AVGC-XR sector, he has established himself as the man who is bringing the Creative & Performing Arts, at par with Commerce and Science in India's evolving education system.

Dr. P. Anbalagan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries, Investment & Services Department, Government of Maharashtra, is a 2001-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre. He holds a BVSc from Madras Veterinary College and a Master’s in Dairying from the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Over his career, he has held several senior positions in the Government of Maharashtra, including Collector & District Magistrate, Ahmednagar; Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board; and CEO/Joint CEO, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Before his current assignment, he served as Chairman & Managing Director of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited. In his present role, he oversees industrial development, investment facilitation and related policy matters in Maharashtra.

Abhijeet “Ghatak” Andhare* is an Indian esports professional, entrepreneur and one of the prominent figures in the growth of competitive gaming in India. A former professional PUBG Mobile/BGMI player and coach, he represented India on the global esports stage and has been associated with leading organisations including Entity Gaming, TSM Entity and GodLike Esports.

Following his professional playing and coaching career, Abhijeet co-founded *Trident Gaming, an esports and gaming solutions company focused on grassroots talent development, player empowerment and building a stronger esports ecosystem in India. He has also been associated with Team ORB and currently serves in a leadership role with **Revenant XSpark*.

With experience spanning competitive gaming, coaching, talent development and esports entrepreneurship, Abhijeet brings a practitioner’s perspective on the evolution of India's esports industry, the development of professional talent and India's opportunity to emerge as a global esports powerhouse.

Abhijeet Singh Parmar is a writer, creator and showrunner known for creating stories rooted in contemporary Indian experiences. Over the years, he has contributed to acclaimed titles including Panchayat, Rocket Boys, Gullak and Cheesecake. He is also the co-creator and co-showrunner of Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar, a military drama inspired by the Indian Air Force’s role during the Kargil conflict.

Dr. Sanjana Kiran is a globally recognised high-performance strategist, innovation leader and ecosystem builder with over 25 years of experience supporting elite athletes and teams across twelve Olympic Games -seven Summer, two Paralympic and three Winter editions -alongside world championships and premier international events in Olympic sport, chess, cricket, esports and motorsport.

She is the Founder and CEO of Arohan Innovation and Technology Foundation (AITF), which advances public-interest innovation across sports systems, frontier technologies, AI, AVGC-XR, space, sustainability and entrepreneurship. Through infrastructure, capacity-building and multi-stakeholder partnerships, AITF develops scalable platforms for social and economic impact.

As Founder, COO and CSO of Arcshifts, she leads the development of sport-tech and bio-psycho-social intelligence platforms that convert complex human-performance data into unified, actionable insight. Her work spans sports management and science education, coach education, high-performance leadership and esports education, including the design of curricula, assessment frameworks and observer toolkits that connect research, policy and practice.

As Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Playtriot, she is building a responsible esports and applied-gaming ecosystem that combines competitive excellence, cognitive-skill development, digital citizenship, safeguarding and youth pathways. Her vision is to create jobs, entrepreneurs and globally playable Indian intellectual property while positioning esports as a credible, high-performance discipline.

Dr. Kiran also serves as Chief Scientist at Lucidus AI, Board Member of COERR, and Founder of Yukta Collective. Across these roles, she advances human-centred ESG, digital wellbeing, climate action, youth development and future-ready innovation ecosystems -guided by her enduring philosophy: “Human First, Performer Next.”

You can reach Dr. Sanjana Kiran at +6596174262

Bollywood buzz, blockbuster stories and celebrity conversations, Abira Dhar has covered it all over 17 years in entertainment journalism. As an Entertainment Editor, she brings insider access, sharp reporting and engaging storytelling to the world of entertainment.

Akash Saxena serves as the Chief Technology Officer at JioStar, leading the end-to-end technology strategy for JioHotstar, the network’s flagship streaming platform. With over 25 years of experience in product engineering, infrastructure, and digital streaming, he defines the technical vision, ensuring scalability, resilience, and performance.

Under his leadership, JioHotstar has integrated cutting-edge technologies to build a scalable, robust infrastructure, delivering personalized, seamless user experiences at scale. His strategic approach blends engineering excellence with forward-thinking innovation, ensuring the platform meets current needs while preparing for future growth.

Akash joined as Chief Technology and Product Officer at JioCinema, where he led a comprehensive platform transformation that achieved a record-breaking 32 million concurrent viewers during Indian Premier League cricket broadcasts. Prior to JioCinema, Akash held the position of Chief Technical Officer at Disney+Hotstar, where his technical innovations helped the platform set global video streaming concurrency records on three separate occasions. Under his stewardship, Disney+ built India's largest video subscription service, amassing more than 50 million paying subscribers in the country alone. His team also successfully expanded the Hotstar platform to support Disney+ operations across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa.

Throughout his career, Akash has held senior leadership positions at various technology companies, participating in both an initial public offering and several acquisition cycles. Beyond his contributions to India's digital streaming landscape, he has established himself as a product leader, developing solutions across diverse sectors from enterprise systems to direct-to-consumer platforms.

A dedicated advocate for entrepreneurship, Akash has founded a startup of his own and remains active as an angel investor and advisor to multiple emerging companies. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from Arizona State University and a Bachelor's degree from Government College of Engineering, Pune.

Leading one of India's largest content businesses at JioStar, Alok Jain drives Colors & Colors Rishtey, Hindi Movies, Youth, Kids & Family, Infotainment, Studios, English and Hindi Specials - spanning linear, streaming and theatricals. With over two decades of cross-industry leadership, he champions platform-agnostic content built to scale, where creative impact, innovation and business growth advance together. Alok through his leadership has built a reputation for shaping the media industry through culturally resonant content at scale, anchored in a philosophy of storytelling that drives social impact and sustainable growth. His vision: to become the preferred entertainment destination for every consumer, every day - in a meaningful, impactful way.

With over 20+ years of global leadership across D2C & B2B ecosystems has been at the forefront of driving impactful marketing strategies, operational excellence, and business growth. Have led teams at Sony, Viacom18, Disney India and Sony LIV - playing a pivotal role in launching & making it one of India’s leading OTT platforms.

The adventure here at Amar Chitra Katha & Tinkle is to lead it into its next phase of growth - focusing on building a new universe of stories, expanding into immersive experiences, and reimagining its timeless characters for audiences in the years to come.

Amogh Dusad is a seasoned media professional with over 20+ years of experience in different aspect of media and entertainment industry. As the Director and Head of AVOD Content, Prime Video India, he drives the content strategy, commissioning, and acquisition AVOD Content, transforming it into one of India’s largest streaming services for exclusive Originals in India.

Previously, he served as the Business Operations Head for Sony LIV, overseeing Programming, Partnerships, Analytics, Gaming, Second Screen, and Big Data Initiatives.  He is credited with pioneering initiatives like KBC Play along and bringing augmented reality experience to customers of The Kapil Sharma Show.

Prior to his role at Sony LIV, he served as content head for Sony PIX and AXN, Head of Strategy for Sony entertainment channel and Director of Strategic Planning and Research at NDTV, where he developed expertise in Business Development and Content Planning. As the Director and Head of AVOD, he is deeply committed to building a customer backward content pipeline.

Apart from his post graduation from MICA, Amogh completed ‘Digital Strategies for Business’ program from Columbia Business School & Emeritus School of Management. He is visiting faculty at MICA and has an avid interest in Urdu Poetry.

Amol Parashar is an actor, writer and live performer whose work spans films, streaming, theatre and spoken word. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Amol has earned his fame as an actor with seamless performances across genres and characters,

His breakthrough came with TVF’s Tripling in 2016. His portrayal of Chitvan became one of the memorable characters of India’s early streaming era and gave him a strong connection with younger audiences. Since then, he has moved comfortably across comedy, drama and more complex characters, including his portrayal of Bhagat Singh in Shoojit Sircar’s Sardar Udham or Dr Prabhat in Gram Chikitsakay

Theatre remains an important part of Amol’s work. Through Amol Parashar Live, he created a space to take unconventional stories directly to audiences, beginning with his 75-minute solo performance Besharam Aadmi which has already traveled across Indian cities and internationally as well.

Anant Singh Bhaatu is a Creative Director at The Viral Fever (TVF), one of the founding members of the viral fever, with experience across writing, direction, creative development and production. He has contributed to several popular digital series, including Humorously Yours, ImMATURE, The Interns, Girls Hostel and The Glitch.

Anant co-created Angrezi Mat Jhaad and Medical Dreams and has also served as an executive producer on Medical Dreams, Arranged Couple, The Interns and ImMATURE. His work spans story development, screenplay and dialogue writing, along with direction and creative supervision. He has also contributed additional dialogue to the feature film The Zoya Factor and has appeared in several TVF productions. As an actor, he has appeared in several TVF and digital projects, including The Interns, Very Parivarik, Hostel Daze, F.A.T.H.E.R.S., The Glitch and Bade Chote Jasoos. He has also directed and acted in comedy content for The Screen Patti.

An IIT Kharagpur alumnus, Anant brings a multidisciplinary background to content creation, with experience across illustration, animation, writing, direction and production.

As the Executive Vice President, Legal at Jio Star India Private Limited, Anil leads legal operations across JioHotstar, Sports, Studios, Corporate Affairs, Intellectual Property, Anti-Piracy, and Responsible AI governance.

At Jio Star, Anil plays a central role in enabling the growth and resilience of India’s largest OTT and media ecosystem. His mandate spans building future-ready IP strategies, supporting high-value studios and sports businesses, combating piracy at scale, and steering the organisation’s framework for responsible adoption, governance, and risk management of artificial intelligence across content, technology, and business operations.

With over two decades of experience at the intersection of media, technology, and law, Anil began his career in litigation before transitioning into corporate leadership roles across India’s most influential media companies. He has held senior legal leadership positions at Viacom18, Zee Entertainment, Zee News, and Sony, shaping legal strategy for broadcasting, OTT platforms, music, news, live events, sports, and consumer products.

Prior to Jio Star, Anil served as General Counsel at Viacom18 and earlier as Group General Counsel for Zee Entertainment and Zee News, where he led complex regulatory, transactional, and IP mandates for some of India’s largest media brands.

Beyond transactions and disputes, Anil works closely with business and technology teams on emerging risk areas, particularly AI, data, and automation. He is deeply involved in designing practical governance models that balance innovation with accountability, ethics, and regulatory compliance, helping organisations adopt AI at scale without losing trust, control, or legal certainty.

Anil brings a pragmatic, forward-looking perspective to discussions on media, technology, intellectual property, and responsible innovation, grounded in real-world execution rather than theory.

Anil looks after the subscription revenue vertical of the linear business at ZEE. Prior to joining ZEE,

Anil was the CEO at Siti Networks Ltd. Anil holds over 34 years of rich experience across the cable television industry with deep expertise across various facets of media distribution like technology, content, regulatory compliances and sales operations.

He also played a critical role in the successful implementation of new tariff order framework at SITI Networks and was instrumental in the transformation of SITI Networks from an analog player to a digital multiple system operator.

Malhotra had various successful entrepreneurial stints, including serving as president (North India) for In-Cable. He realised the potential of cable TV & distribution, long before the emergence of MSOs, and ventured into hardware manufacturing for the industry and later setup his multiple Master Control Rooms & Head-ends.

Anil has over three decades of rich experience across the Cable Television industry covering various facets of distribution including technology, regulatory compliance and sales operations. He has also been an active member of various government & industry bodies including the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s (MIB) task force for implementation of Digital Addressable System (DAS) regulations, NTO and All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF). 

Ankit Gokani is Director, Production at Netflix India, where he works at the intersection of storytelling, production and technology to help bring ambitious Indian films and series to life. Since joining Netflix in 2018, Ankit has played an integral role in advancing the use of visual effects, virtual production and innovative production workflows across the company’s Indian slate.

With more than a decade of experience in visual effects and post-production, Ankit has helped reshape how complex stories are conceived and executed on screen. His approach places a strong emphasis on bringing production and VFX teams into the creative process early, enabling filmmakers to use technology as a storytelling tool while building more efficient and ambitious production workflows. Most recently, he led production on Operation Safed Sagar, a large-scale series that brought together extensive visual effects and production.

Prior to Netflix, Ankit worked across leading visual-effects and production companies including Method Studios, Industrial Light & Magic, Double Negative, Jar Pictures and Rhythm & Hues, contributing to both Indian and international productions. His experience across the global VFX ecosystem has shaped his focus on combining creative ambition, technology and production craft to expand what is possible for Indian storytelling.

Anupama Chopra is a film critic, national award-winning book author and journalist. She is the editor of The Hollywood Reporter India, founder of Film Companion Studios and chairperson of the Film Critics Guild. She has covered cinema since 1993 in multiple mediums - print, television and digital.  She has worked with India Today, NDTV 24/7 and Star World. She has also written about cinema for various international publications including The New York Times and Sight and Sound. Anupama received an M.A. in journalism from Northwestern University. She has authored several books, including King of Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema, which featured on the Editor’s Choice list of the New York Times Sunday book review and translated into German, Indonesian and Polish. Her two most recent book releases are Dining with Stars: Indian Superstars in their Own Words and A Place In My Heart.

Arpit Dubey is the Co-Founder of Kayra Animation Pvt. , Co-Chairman of the MP AVGC-XR Association and Jt. Secretary Media and Entertainment Association of India, with over 17 years of experience in the animation and media industry.

Under his leadership, Kayra Animation has grown into one of Central India’s leading animation studios, contributing to 40+ international productions across television series, feature films and digital content, while collaborating with studios and content companies across North America and Europe.

Beyond building Kayra, Arpit is actively engaged in strengthening Madhya Pradesh’s AVGC-XR ecosystem. He has contributed to industry–government dialogue and the development of the MP AVGC-XR Policy, advocating for stronger production infrastructure, skilled employment, international partnerships, original IP creation and investment in the state.

His larger vision is to position Madhya Pradesh as a globally competitive hub for animation, VFX, gaming, XR and digital media, connecting creative talent from emerging cities with global opportunities.

Producer and CEO at Dharma Productions, India’s leading production and distribution company. With a career spanning more than 25+ years, he has been at the forefront of transforming and shaping the entertainment landscape in the country. In his current role, he is recognized for setting up, scaling and managing Dharma’s business operations in alignment with the overall organizational objectives and goals. He also leads Dharma’s digital extension content studio - Dharmatic Entertainment, as the Managing Director and Producer and serves as the Director in Dharma Collab Artists Agency (DCAA).

With over 25 years in the media industry, Azim has held leadership positions at Rediff.com, Network18, TV9, and Indian Express, shaping large-scale content and syndication strategies. He brings a wealth of experience in navigating the complex business and licensing landscape. He was also a founding member of Fanory, a successful creator monetization startup backed by marquee investors.
 

Arun Srinivas graduated from the University of Madras and completed his Masters from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta in 1996. He joined Meta in 2019 as the Director for the Global Business Group, leading sales and solutioning with large clients and agencies across industry verticals.

He has nearly 30 years of experience, of which 21 years were in the Consumer Products Industry, 2.5 years in the PE Industry and 6 years in the Digital Tech world.

He spent 5 years with Reebok India and 16 years subsequently with Hindustan Unilever. In HUL, he rose to lead several businesses such as Modern Retail, Beverages, Foods, Skin Care & Makeup for India, and has been part of the India, South Asia and Global leadership teams.

Arun spent 2.5 years in the PE Industry with Westbridge Capital, where he led the consumer vertical across fresh and existing investments. Arun was part of several deals and evaluated hundreds of companies raising capital across sectors.

Arun spent over a year at Ola, where he was the COO and the Global CMO. He managed the mobility business and P&L for India and led the Marketing, Categories and Revenue functions globally. Arun anchored the Ola London launch to success.

Personal interests:

Arun is an avid runner and also a keyboard player.

Bejoy Arputharaj, visionary founder and CEO of Phantom Digital Effects (part of Phantom Media Group, a global collective of leading VFX and animation studios) is recognized as one of the most forward-thinking leaders in the visual effects industry. An artist at heart and a veteran of the VFX space, Bejoy has over two decades of experience and more than two hundred films to his credit. Under his leadership, Phantom Digital Effects has grown from a small studio into a publicly listed global powerhouse, uniting over 600+ artists across India, the US, Canada, the UK,France,Ireland,Spain,Dubai and China.

Under his leadership, PhantomFX team has earned multiple accolades, including the Times Business Award for Excellence in VFX & Animation (2022) and Outlook Business Spotlight’s Company of the Year (2022). Strategic acquisitions such as the Oscar-winning Tippett Studio, BAFTA and Emmy-winning Milk visual Effects, and leading post-production house Lola Post have positioned the group at the forefront of global VFX, contributing to major projects for Disney, Netflix, Prime Video, Warner Bros., and more.His business acumen and strategic vision have also driven key milestones, including PhantomFX’s partnership with Z, further strengthening the company’s position in the global entertainment industry.

Beyond PhantomFX, Bejoy serves as President of VEGAS (Visual Effects Gaming Animation & Comics Society), driving industry growth and innovation worldwide.
 

Bharath Ram is the Chief Product Officer at JioStar, leading consumer experience, adtech, and design for JioHotstar, the network’s flagship digital streaming platform. With over two decades of global leadership in technology and media, he drives a focus on delivering an exceptional consumer experience across living room and mobile devices, bringing in seamless, immersive, and high-performance live sports and entertainment experiences at scale.

In his role, Bharath is focused on building a world-class app experience (look and feel/design) and enhancing user engagement (optimizing content discovery via personalization), including the end-to-end content

journey—from discovery and engagement to sustained loyalty. Working at the intersection of technology, design, content, and data, he leads cross-functional collaboration to deliver scalable, high-performance experiences tailored to India’s next billion users. Bharath helps drive revenue growth (by creating ad and subscription strategies), thereby ensuring not only consumer growth and retention, but also advertiser satisfaction and a high scale of platform subscribers.

Before taking on his current role, Bharath spent about 22 years in the US. He completed a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Post-MBA, Bharath worked on Microsoft’s Product Management team in Seattle, focusing on building pricing strategy and purchase experience for key Microsoft products. He then joined Amazon Prime Video’s Seattle team, leading product management for content discovery and personalization for living room and mobile devices.

After Prime Video, Bharath moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to join Instagram. He was among the founding PMs at Instagram Ads, where he spent five years as Head of Product for Instagram Core Ads, playing a key role in monetization strategies and ad innovations. After a successful stint in the US, Bharath returned to India in 2020 and served as Senior Vice President at Flipkart, where he led all of Flipkart’s design and product, data science, and engineering for platform growth and retention. Here, he was responsible for Flipkart’s Lifestyle, Grocery, and Travel (Cleartrip) categories.

Bhuvan Arora is an actor known for his versatile and understated performances across film and streaming. A graduate of FTII and has built a diverse body of work, taking on characters across genres.

He came into wider recognition with Raj & DK’s Farzi, where his portrayal of Firoz resonated strongly with audiences for its humour, warmth and authenticity. He has since been part of a varied slate of projects including Amaran, Chandu Champion and Dupahiya. His recent release, Waiting Hai, further added to his growing body of work, emerging as the highest-watched show in its first week in 2026.

Across his work, Bhuvan continues to explore varied characters and genres, establishing himself as a performer with a growing range and an individual screen presence.

Charlie Cowdrey is the Chief Executive Officer of JioBLAST, a joint venture between BLAST and RISE Worldwide Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited. He leads the company’s vision to build an ambitious and inclusive esports ecosystem in India, bringing together global esports expertise, business leadership and local market understanding. Prior to his current role, Charlie spent over four years at BLAST, one of the world’s leading esports companies, where he held multiple senior positions. He began as Strategic Associate to the CEO, later becoming Chief of Staff, and most recently served as Programme Director for Epic Games titles, overseeing global competitive ecosystems for Fortnite (FNCS) and Rocket League (RLCS).

Before entering the esports industry, Charlie spent nearly four years at Deloitte in London, specialising in audit and transaction advisory. His background in finance and strategy complements his experience in developing global esports properties, building competitive ecosystems and managing relationships with leading publishers and partners.

At JioBLAST, Charlie is focused on expanding access to esports in India, creating structured pathways for grassroots talent, developing world-class tournament IP, and bringing competitive gaming, content and community together at scale. Under his leadership, JioBLAST aims to combine Jio’s digital reach, RISE’s commercial expertise, and BLAST’s global production capabilities to position India as a key player in the international esports ecosystem.

Charlie is passionate about unlocking India’s potential on the global esports stage. His approach is centred on building sustainable pathways from grassroots to elite competition while creating high-quality entertainment experiences for players and fans.

About JioBLAST

JioBLAST is a joint venture between BLAST, and RISE Worldwide Limited (a wholly owned RIL subsidiary), combining Jio’s digital ecosystem with BLAST’s global expertise in esports entertainment and RISE’s leadership in sports and event management. JioBLAST creates premium, youth-focused competitive entertainment formats designed to help players, fans, creators and partners connect through gaming and live experiences.

Bhaskar Ramesh is a seasoned business leader with over two decades of experience across technology, consumer products, digital monetization, and omnichannel business transformation. As the Head of Entertainment Sales, Digital at JioStar, he is responsible for driving the company’s digital advertising growth and strengthening strategic partnerships with brands in an increasingly dynamic and evolving media ecosystem. 
    
In his current role, Bhaskar is focused on building a modern, data-led advertising ecosystem that delivers measurable outcomes for advertisers, while unlocking new revenue streams and deepening long-term client relationships. With a strong understanding of digital-first environments and a sharp strategic lens, he brings a future-forward approach to scaling digital monetization and accelerating innovation across platforms.

Prior to joining JioStar, Bhaskar served as Director – Omnichannel Businesses at Google India, where he was a core member of the India leadership team. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in shaping YouTube India’s growth, leading key initiatives across monetization and product strategy, and addressing ecosystem challenges across planning, pricing, and measurement. He has worked closely with some of India’s largest brands, advising CXOs on digital transformation and growth strategies.
Bhaskar has also held leadership roles at Godrej, Marico, and Reliance Broadcast Network, building a diverse and impactful professional journey across industries.

Outside of work, Bhaskar is a keen reader and runner, and a strong advocate for inclusion and community building. He lives in Mumbai with his wife and two children.

He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from SP Jain Institute of Management & Research.
 

Dawn Barriteau is Vice President of Content Protection, Asia Pacific (APAC), for the Motion Picture Association (MPA).  She leads strategic initiatives to combat content piracy in the region on behalf of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the MPA’s global anti-piracy arm.

Dawn brings over 27 years of distinguished global law enforcement experience and public-private collaboration. Prior to joining the MPA, she held senior positions with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), including her role as the Attaché in Singapore. There, she led multinational teams and advanced cross-border partnerships focused on intellectual property enforcement, financial crimes, and national security investigations.

Through her expertise in operational strategy and stakeholder engagement, Dawn has played a pivotal role in global supply chain security and regional security through innovative enforcement solutions and industry collaboration.

Deepak Dhar is the man credited with being the key driving force behind content production in India. Starting his career as senior producer at MTV, he went on to work with Star TV and then moved to Endemol India in 2006. Within a span of 3 years he was promoted to MD and CEO of Endemol Shine India. He stepped down as managing director of Endemol Shine India in December 2017 and was instrumental in helping the company grow across the film, television and digital units, with more than 250 shows and 10,000 plus hours of programming. His long career also includes leadership roles to drive content strategies at Star TV, Channel V and MTV.

Delshad Irani is the Editor of Storyboard18, Network18’s flagship platform covering the evolving worlds of media, advertising, marketing and brand-led culture. A respected journalist, editor and industry commentator, she brings a distinctive perspective to conversations at the intersection of business, creativity, technology and culture.

As the founding Editor of Storyboard18, Delshad has spearheaded the transformation of the legacy Storyboard property into a multi-platform destination for contemporary marketers and the wider creative ecosystem. She leads its editorial and content strategy, drives original intellectual properties and industry events, and anchors Media Dialogues with Storyboard18 on CNBC-TV18, where she engages with some of India’s and the world’s most influential business and creative leaders.

Prior to Network18, Delshad was Editor of Brand Equity, The Economic Times, where she played a key role in strengthening its voice and industry influence. She was also part of the founding team of ET Panache.

Known for her sharp questioning, incisive storytelling and ability to decode the forces shaping modern business and culture, Delshad continues to champion conversations around creativity, innovation, AI, consumer behaviour and the future of media. Her work reflects a belief that the most meaningful ideas are those that not only capture attention, but shape conversations and influence culture.

Denzil Dias is Vice President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. Pictures India, and has spent more than three decades building Hollywood’s presence in the Indian market. He joined Warner Bros. as a Management Trainee in 1994 and went on to lead Marketing, Operations and Distribution before becoming VP & Managing Director in 2013. He is the longest-serving Hollywood studio theatrical head in India and today leads one of the country’s largest Hollywood distribution operations, spanning Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Pictures International. He also serves as a board director of Warner Bros. Pictures (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Denzil has personally overseen the release of more than 600 films, including major global franchises such as Harry Potter, DC, The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings and The Conjuring, and every Christopher Nolan film released in India. His remit extends beyond box office, with a focus on language accessibility, audience expansion and inclusion, including the wider rollout of dubbed content and support for MovieReading, an accessibility initiative for audiences with disabilities. He has also overseen Warner Bros.’ entry into local Indian production through a five-film partnership with Bhanushali Studios and actively engages with government and regulatory bodies on issues shaping India’s exhibition and distribution ecosystem. His three decades of experience across the theatrical value chain makes him a key industry voice on the evolution, opportunities and future of cinema in India.

Ekta Kapoor is a pioneering force in Indian media, celebrated for reshaping the landscape of television, cinema, and digital entertainment. As the Joint Managing Director of Balaji Telefilms Ltd and the driving mind behind Balaji Digital, she has crafted one of India’s most formidable content ecosystems.

From a Bold Beginning to a Cultural Movement

Ekta began her journey at 17, interning under ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, and soon ventured into independent content production with the support of her father, veteran actor Jeetendra Kapoor. Though her early projects met with rejection and financial setbacks, her breakthrough came in 1995 with the sitcom Hum Paanch, setting the stage for her transformation of Indian entertainment.

The Legacy of Balaji Telefilms

Founded in 1994, Balaji Telefilms became synonymous with Indian television's golden era under Ekta's leadership. Through the early 2000s, she built an empire with shows like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, and Kahiin To Hoga—dominating TRP charts and redefining primetime viewing.

By 2001, Balaji was producing more than 30 hours of television per week with over 20 shows across multiple networks, including Star Plus, Zee TV, and Sony. Known for popularizing strong female characters and family drama narratives, Balaji also led regional expansions with hit shows in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali.

Today, Balaji Telefilms is not just a production company but a cultural institution with over 130 successful TV shows, numerous award-winning films, and a legacy of shaping India’s entertainment grammar.

Cinematic Evolution - Balaji Motion Pictures

Ekta’s entry into cinema began in 2001 and has since matured into a dynamic portfolio of content-driven films. Her production banner has backed hits like The Dirty Picture, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Dream Girl, Veere Di Wedding, The Sabarmati Report, and Crew. Many of these films challenged industry norms and tackled bold, progressive themes, further cementing her as a fearless storyteller. She also took creative risks with unconventional films like Laila Manju, Lootera, and Udta Punjab — titles that later went on to achieve cult status and left a lasting cultural impact.

Honors and Global Impact

She has won a number of prestigious awards, including the Economic Times (Businesswoman of the Year 2002), Ernst & Young (Entrepreneur of the Year 2001) and the American Biographical Institute (Woman of the Year 2001). She also featured in Top 50 powerful women in India by Fortune India in the year 2014 and 2015. She was also placed at the first position amongthe ‘50 Most Influential Women’ in the Indian marketing, advertising and media ecosystems by IMPACT magazine in 2016.

Ms. Ekta Ravi Kapoor has also won numerous prestigious awards in the year 2017 as Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in Indian Business Awards, Khaas Rishta Award 2017, 25 Most Powerful Women in India Business, ITA Awards as Sterling Icon of Entertainment, Variety’s (500 Most Influential people in the world), was awarded with IWM (IndianWikiMedia) Digital Awards as Web Person of the year and also honoured with FLO Icon Award at the 34th Annual session of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Ladies Organisation. She was also awarded as the Content Creator at Economic Times Business icon awards of the year, Content Powerhouse at ET Edge Maharashtrian Awards, ‘Icon of Excellence’ at Forbes Tycoons of Tomorrow Awards, Outlook Speakout Awards for her outstanding achievements in the television and film industries and Most Powerful Business Women by “Fortune 50-Most Powerful Women in Business Awards”. In the year 2020, she has also won Padma Shri Award.

In the year 2021, she won Hall of Fame Award at Indian Television Awards and Industry Leadership Award at Midday Hitlist OTT Awards. In 2023, she was awarded with ‘Entertainment Personality of the Year’ at DNA Women Achievers award & she was the only Indian to feature in the Hollywood Reporters “The 40 Most Influential Women in International Film List”.
 Ms. Kapoor, famously known as ‘Content Czarina’, made the nation proud with her prestigious win at the 51st International Emmys held in New York in November 2023, where she was honored with the Directorate Award, which added yet another milestone to her career.

Farah Khan is one of India's most celebrated filmmakers and choreographers, with a career spanning over three decades across film, television and live entertainment. Known for directing blockbuster films such as Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om and Happy New Year, she has also been a popular television host and judge across some of India’s biggest reality formats. Most recently, she co-hosted Netflix’s Lock Upp: Sach Yaa Sazaa, serving as one of the show’s ‘Jailers’ in the captive reality series that put celebrity contestants through a high-pressure social experiment.

Gajraj Rao is an acclaimed Indian actor and ad filmmaker with over three decades of experience. Known for his natural performances, understated humour and sharp storytelling, he has worked across films, advertising and digital entertainment. His notable performances include Badhaai Ho, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Maidaan Dabba Cartel, Jolly LLB 3, & Dupahiya.

Gaurav Banerjee is a distinguished leader with over two decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry. As the Managing Director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), Gaurav is responsible for steering the company's strategic direction, ensuring operational excellence, and maintaining its leadership in the market. His expertise spans the creative and business aspects of the industry, enabling SPNI to stay at the forefront of innovation while achieving robust financial performance.

Gaurav has a proven track record of translating content strategies into sustained business growth. At Disney+ Hotstar, where he served as Head of Content, he played a key role in developing a diverse slate of series and films that resonated with both Hindi-speaking audiences and various regional markets. His strategic insight was instrumental in the platform's rapid growth, significantly increasing subscriber numbers and market share.

At Star India, Gaurav's leadership over Star Plus and the broader Hindi entertainment portfolio, including Star Gold, solidified the network's market leadership. He also successfully launched and managed regional channels like Star Jalsha and Star Pravah, which quickly became market leaders. His ability to identify and leverage new market opportunities expanded the network's reach and drove significant financial growth.

His career began in the news sector, giving him a solid foundation in media operations. His academic background includes a master's degree in Filmmaking and TV production from Jamia Millia Islamia University and a graduate degree in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

He enjoys watching cricket, a sport he follows passionately. He is also an avid movie enthusiast, often exploring new genres and styles in cinema, reflecting his deep love for film.

Gaurav Dwivedi is a film policy architect, media strategist, and cultural policy leader with over two decades of experience at the intersection of cinema, governance, and media. He has played a significant role in shaping state-level film reforms and advocating for structural reforms to strengthen India’s film ecosystem.

As Vice Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council, with the rank of Minister of State, he contributed to positioning Uttar Pradesh as a leading filming destination by strengthening film subsidy frameworks, streamlining single-window facilitation, and developing investor-oriented administrative mechanisms. Under his leadership, Uttar Pradesh received the National Award for “Most Film Friendly State” in 2016 and 2017.

Dwivedi has also advised the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on film and tourism policies, incentive frameworks, and strategies to promote regional economic development through cinema.

He is the architect of the “One Nation, One Film Policy”, a vision aimed at standardising film incentives, reducing regulatory barriers, developing infrastructure and skills, and positioning cinema as an economic and soft-power instrument.

A former senior television journalist with Aaj Tak and Zee News, he also served as Chief Operating Officer of Ram Gopal Varma’s film company. A British Chevening Scholar at Cardiff University, he received the Indo-UK Achievers Award 2024 for Society & Policy.

Gaurav Gandhi is the Vice President and Head of Prime Video's APAC and ANZ business. His remit spans some of Prime Video's largest international locales — including Japan, India, and Australia, alongside multiple other fast-growing streaming geographies like Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and New Zealand, among others.

Under his leadership, Prime Video is building its position as an entertainment hub across the region, with a strong focus on harnessing APAC's rich, multilingual storytelling and bringing these stories to global audiences.

Gaurav joined Amazon in 2018 to head Prime Video India and expanded his role to lead the region in 2023. He brings over 25 years of experience across consumer technology and media, with prior leadership roles at organizations like Viacom18 and STAR Network, among others.

Gaurav work's at the intersection of marketing, technology and business growth.

Over the past 28+ years, I've had the privilege of building brands, businesses and partnerships across some of the world's most influential companies including Meta, Unilever and L'Oréal.

My experience spans sales, marketing and media, helping organizations navigate rapid shifts in the consumer and technology landscape while driving sustainable and profitable growth.

I'm particularly fascinated by how AI, creators and digital ecosystems are reshaping the future of marketing and brand building.

Throughout my career I've also enjoyed collaborating with agencies, founders and marketing leaders to unlock new opportunities for growth.

I'm grateful to have been recognised by the industry, including:

• Top 100 Marketing Leaders in India – Impact Magazine

• South Asia Marketer of the Year – Campaign India

Always keen to exchange ideas with marketers, founders and leaders shaping the future of our industry.

For nearly two decades, his professional journey has been driven by a singular passion: building captivating experiences and storytelling that connect people. He operates at the thrilling intersection of youth culture, media, and the global esports revolution.

NODWIN Gaming focuses on creating, acquiring, and scaling massive, proprietary intellectual properties (IPs) that define youth culture. From pioneering the BGMI Masters Series (BGMS)—which transformed esports into a mainstream television and digital spectacle—to scaling iconic pop-culture and lifestyle festivals like Comic Con India and NH7 Weekender, we own the premium spaces where Gen Z congregates.

Building on this foundational ecosystem, we forge strategic global alliances with industry titans like EFG, DreamHack, and Valve. These partnerships allow us to seamlessly bridge the gap between global gaming giants and passionate domestic audiences, transforming competitive gaming into an unparalleled spectator phenomenon. His background is rooted in the trenches of media production. Having worked across the spectrum as an editor, producer, and director, I bring a deeply creative, narrative-driven lens to corporate leadership.

Global Scalability: Developing, executing, and scaling massive, live, and digital esports events worldwide. Strategic Growth: Driving business development, high-impact client partnerships, and international expansions. Creative Direction: Overseeing video and content production to ensure every event delivers an unforgettable fan experience.

He is an idealist and firmly believes that business success and high ethical standards go hand in hand. His focus is always on the long game: building communities, fostering sustainable growth for the next generation of gamers, and creating unforgettable cultural moments.

GSN Aditya is the Chief Operating Officer at Eloelo Group, building an AI-powered Entertainment ecosystem based on how the next billion users watch, learn and interact on the internet. He plays a key role in scaling Story TV towards its ambition to make microdrama a mainstream entertainment format in India.

Aditya brings over a decade of experience across consumer internet, gaming, mobility and e-commerce, with expertise spanning strategy, revenue, categories and operations. 

As Eloelo expands Story TV and builds across entertainment and AI, Aditya’s focus is on translating the Group’s ambition into scalable businesses, strong teams and operating foundations that can support its next phase of growth.

Ishan Chatterjee leads the Sports business at JioStar, steering the next phase of innovation and growth for India's largest sports broadcasting and streaming platform. His portfolio spans India's premier cricket properties as well as a diverse, growing array of global and regional sports including football, tennis and kabaddi.

Operating at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and fandom, Ishan is redefining sports consumption and monetisation, deepening fan engagement and unlocking new revenue streams to shape the next chapter of sports entertainment for a digital-first India.

With over two decades of experience across global tech and media companies, Ishan has held various leadership roles scaling digital platforms and driving strategic growth. He previously served as Managing Director of YouTube India, helping expand the platform's reach and impact in one of its most dynamic markets. During his 13 years at Google, Ishan worked across APAC and EMEA, contributing to the company's growth in multiple international markets.

Ishan began his career at McKinsey & Company and Hindustan Unilever, where he built a strong foundation in business strategy, analytics, and marketing. He is a graduate of The Wharton School and St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

A lifelong cricket fan, Ishan channels the game's core values - focus, teamwork, and resilience into his leadership, fuelling JioStar's ambition to reimagine sports for the next generation of Indian fans.

Jhoomer Sinha leads New Initiatives at Kuku, driving growth across new business lines, content formats, and monetisation models, with full P&L responsibility spanning content, product, user acquisition, and retention.

Before Kuku, she was an Associate Partner at Bain & Company, advising top-tier clients in Consumer Products, Internet and Retail on growth and strategy. Earlier, she founded and led an online-first health supplements brand and worked in venture capital, investing in early-stage consumer products and consumer tech startups.

She holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and a B.Tech from NIT Surat.

Kamal Awatramani is a partnerships and business development leader with over 17 years of experience at the intersection of content, platforms and commercial strategy. At Meta India, he leads the Partner Solutions team for Global Partnerships, working with creators, media companies and content partners across Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Meta AI. His remit spans country partnership strategy, creator ecosystem growth, and product and market intelligence and he serves as a regional voice on platform health, translating creator and media industry perspectives into insight that informs APAC and global decisions.

Kamal joined Meta in 2019 as a Partner Solutions Manager for Media Partnerships, working across digital publishers, broadcasters, studios, music labels and news organisations, before taking on leadership of the India team in 2024.

Before Meta, he was Director of Digital Licensing and Partnerships at Viacom18, running the digital partnerships business for Voot, licensing content to platforms including Netflix, Prime Video and MX Player, and building VootGo - an industry-first offline streaming service across Maharashtra state transport buses. Earlier roles span IndiaCast, Rediff, Times Internet and Info Edge.

Personal Interests

Outside of work, Kamal follows commodities and oil markets closely, and is an avid reader of non-fiction with a particular interest in human psychology and sustainable living.

Kaushik has been a Partner at Bharucha & Partners since 2017. With his rich experience in technology, media and telecommunications, intellectual property, and private equity, Kaushik brings to the table domain knowledge and acute legal acumen. Kaushik advises international and domestic clients on mandates ranging across policy advisory, compliance and regulations, and media and technology-related documentation including licensing, distribution, and revenue sharing agreements. He is closely engaged with the Entrepreneurship and Start-up Practice of the Firm. His rich experience across business sectors coupled with commercial and risk-averse pragmatism enables him to deliver comprehensive legal strategies to actualise clients’ business objectives from early-stage proof-of-concept to late-stage equity and debt raising.

With a career spanning over two decades in the Media & Entertainment sector, Krishnan Kutty brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to his role in overseeing JioStar's dynamic South regional portfolio. In this role, he plays a pivotal part in driving the strategic direction of the southern regional markets, focusing on profitability, audience engagement, and content innovation.

Krishnan is responsible for managing the P&L across the southern markets while overseeing programming, marketing, and sales efforts. He also plays a key role in curating original content for JioStar, ensuring a strong connect with regional audiences. His deep understanding of consumer insights, distribution strategies, and content curation has been instrumental in shaping JioStar’s regional business.

Before taking on his current role, Krishnan joined Star India (now JioStar) in 2005, where he dedicated the past 18 years to various functions. His journey began in Consumer Insight before transitioning to Distribution, where he played a critical role in distribution strategy and later led the entire function. Over the last seven years, he has led Disney Star’s Tamil Business while taking on additional responsibilities across multiple markets. Prior to joining Star India, he contributed significantly at Mindshare, NDTV, and Hutch (now Vi).

A hands-on leader, Krishnan holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business (Batch of 2004), a PG in Advertising and Communication Management from NMIMS (1999), and a B.Com degree from Mumbai University (1997). His expertise continues to shape the growth and success of JioStar’s regional entertainment business.

Padmapani Bora, IRS, Commissioner & Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, Govt of Assam and Managing Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation, has emerged as one of the key institutional forces behind Assam’s ambitious Concert Economy and Concert Tourism initiative, helping reposition Guwahati an emerging destination for world-class live entertainment.

As Managing Director of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Bora has played a hands-on role in translating Assam’s vision of a concert economy into a functioning ecosystem—bringing together government, tourism, promoters, ticketing platforms and the hospitality and local-business sectors.

Bora’s larger contribution lies in the institutional ecosystem, facilitating partnerships and ensuring that concerts translate into tourism, hospitality, mobility, employment, local business and destination branding.

From policy to performance, from concerts to economic impact, Padmapani Bora has been a hands-on force in shaping Guwahati’s emergence as a destination for live entertainment—and Assam’s emergence as one of India’s next concert-economy hubs.

Lindalia Sofia is a Co Founder Riowood, CEO Ions Innovation, and Hacking.Rio, the largest hackathon in Latin America.

First Brazilian selected by NASA Ames Research 2010, Global Ambassador for Women in Tech in over 100 countries, to impact more than 5 million women.

 Elected as a "Heroine of the Brazilian Startup Ecosystems,"recognized by Bloomberg as one of the most impactful women in Latin America and as one of the most innovative women in Brazil. Awarded at IBC Innovation, Amsterdam. 

 Board member at MIT Technology Review, Chairwoman at SMART City Technology Center, Rio de Janeiro State Council for Women's Entrepreneurship, and Women in Industry of Firjan Federation and Brazilian Association of Startups. 

 Former Executive at Globo Broadcasting Network, created the 1st Open Innovation Program in Brazil, I9 Globo TV, also the 1st Acceleration Program for Startups in Brazil and the 1st Blue Economy Technologies for Latam America. Former Vice President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Rio de Janeiro. 

 Production Engineer, Entrepreneur owner of Shantung Food Group of Oriental Restaurants, Investor, Keynote Speaker and writer. 

 Awarded the Pedro Ernesto Medal 2026, the highest honor bestowed by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, as a Commander.

Lohita Sujith is the Senior Director, Copyright & Digital Economy at the Motion Picture Association, India office. She has contributed to significant policy areas for the growth of the media and entertainment sector in India including the setup of India's Film Commission and promotion of state production and tax incentives and film tourism. Lohita has also contributed to various intellectual property (IP) promotion and anti-piracy initiatives including the launch of the Maharashtra Cyber Digital Crime Unit, a specialised cell to combat copyright infringement where she was a former advisor. She has previously worked for Disney – Star, India where she was responsible for strategic and public policy campaigns. She has been appreciated as a resource person for IP law enforcement training by CIPAM, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and has been recognized as "Powerful Women in IP in India, 2021 and 2023" by the World IP Forum for her contribution towards protecting and securing intellectual property. She is also the recipient of “The Regulatory and Policy Industry Contribution Award, 2024” by Enqube Collaborations. Lohita is a member of the FICCI's IP committee. Lohita holds a master's degree in law specializing in Intellectual Property from Christ University, Bangalore and an MBA in Marketing from Welingkars Institute of Management, Development and Research, Mumbai. The MPA’s members currently include Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Madhureeta Mukherjee is a writer, author and the Editor of Bombay Times (Times of India) , and a leading voice in India’s entertainment media landscape, with over two decades of experience across digital, broadcast and print media. As the Editor of Bombay Times for over a decade, she has shaped the publication’s coverage of Hindi cinema, television, music and popular culture, while also spearheading several of its marquee entertainment properties and conversations.

Adv. Nandan Kr. Jha is a distinguished lawyer, sports administrator, social entrepreneur, and institution builder with a strong focus on sports, mind sports, esports, and peace initiatives.

He is the Founder & Director of E Sports Games Federation (ESGF), where he has been instrumental in promoting and developing esports and mind sports in India. He is also the Founder & Chairman of Chessveda, an integrated chess platform focused on learning, training, competition, and community development.

Adv. Jha is the Founder & Secretary General of the Gandhi Mandela Foundation, an organisation dedicated to promoting the values of peace, non-violence, social harmony, and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

He has also served as the President of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA), contributing to the global development and recognition of mind sports.

Through his work across law, sports, education, and social initiatives, Adv. Jha continues to build platforms that connect sport, education, technology, and social impact.

M. Kasim is working as a Professor Media Technology at the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre of Jamia Millia Islamia University Delhi. He is a former Indian Broadcasting Engineers Service officer of 1989 batch. He has worked with DD India, the National Public Broadcaster for about two decades before moving to academics in 2009. He has worked in Project Management, Operations, Policy and Planning broadcasting infrastructure and services. He was key member of the team that planned digitization of DD terrestrial network and had conducted the Mobile broadcasting trials by DD India in 2007. He has also worked as a ABU Research Fellow at the Science & Technical Research Laboratory, NHK Tokyo and has been trained at the Central Training Institute, NHK. He was deputed to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI during 2015 to 2017 where he worked as Advisor (Broadcasting & Cable Services) and contributed towards overview and updating of the legacy policy and regulatory framework of the broadcasting sector in India.

He teaches media technology subjects related to broadcast media production and transmission and also coordinates PG Diploma programme in Broadcast Technology; a unique programme related to broadcast media industry. He introduced MOOCs, and AI in Media courses at MCRC for media students. M. Kasim is a Life Fellow of BES (India), Fellow of IETE. He is AMU and IITK alumni, has keen interest in new media technologies, Policy and regulation, and exploring diverse delivery platforms for education and Mass Communication.

Soulful, sincere, and straight from the heart- Maahi’s music reflects pure emotion. Starting his journey at the age of nine, he’s grown into one of the most loved voices of his generation.

His songs Sorry, Jaadugari, Tere Saath, Meri Kya Khata, Na Tum Jano Na Hum, Jaan Se Zyada and recent release Arzoo, have struck a chord with millions, blending emotion, melody, and meaning in every note.

From performing on college stages to representing India at Cannes Film Festival 2024, Maahi’s rise has been inspiring. Named Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist to Watch and winner of Bollywood Hungama’s Rising Star Award, he continues to win hearts across audiences and platforms alike.

Real, relatable, and full of heart, Maahi represents the sound of today’s youth - honest, emotional, and unforgettable.
 

Manasvi Sharma is the Senior Vice President of Technology at Gracenote, where he leads technology and product teams building the next generation of AI-powered media intelligence and content discovery platforms. A technology and product executive with over two decades of experience, he has built and scaled global engineering, product, and data organizations across large enterprises, high-growth companies, and startups.

Previously, as Vice President of Technology, Innovation, and Commercialization at Lowe’s, Manasvi led enterprise architecture and platforms, AI-driven omnichannel systems, developer productivity, and the commercialization of retail technology. His career also includes leadership roles at Flipkart, Coupang, Cisco, HomeLane, and Canvera, alongside entrepreneurial experience.

His work sits at the intersection of AI, platform engineering, product strategy, and innovation, with a consistent focus on translating emerging technologies into scalable products and meaningful business outcomes.

Prabhu Asgaonkar and Manika Berry Asgaonkar are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team and the founders of Sparklework Films, with over three decades of experience across film, television, and documentary production. Both come from Armed Forces families, a connection that has profoundly shaped their storytelling and their enduring interest in stories of courage, sacrifice, leadership, and the human beings behind the uniform. Manika holds a Master’s degree in Film from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and has worked as a director, writer and editor across advertising, television, documentaries and feature films, while Prabhu trained in filmmaking in the United States and has spent over three decades directing, editing and producing films.

Together, they have built an extensive body of work for leading broadcasters including Discovery, History and National Geographic, with projects such as Special Operations India, Breaking Point, Earning the Badge – Special Forces, India’s Horse Warriors – 61st Cavalry, Kargil: Valour and Victory and Ladakh Warriors. Their latest project, Declassified: Operation Sindoor, brought together years of experience and access to tell the story of a defining military operation through the voices of those who were actually there—senior decision-makers, military leadership and people at the heart of the action. Having spent decades documenting extraordinary real-life stories, Prabhu and Manika are now taking the next natural step in their creative journey: bringing some of these powerful stories to life through scripted drama, developing them as OTT series and feature films. Their aim is to combine the authenticity, research and first-hand understanding that comes from documentary filmmaking with the emotional depth, scale, and dramatic possibilities of fiction—taking stories they have encountered in the real world to a much wider audience.

Maximino Cavalcante Leite is a global technology executive, innovation strategist and entrepreneur with  4 decades of experience across digital media, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, education and emerging technologies. He is Co-Founder of Riowood, connecting Brazil’s creative industries with technology innovation and international business opportunities.

A 23-year Intel veteran, Max held global leadership roles as Global Media Director and IoT Innovation Director, alongside his role as Latin America Innovation Director. His work spans volumetric video, extended reality, immersive entertainment and the convergence of broadcasting and internet technologies, including collaboration with Sony Pictures and Warner Bros.

Max created Intel’s Classmate PC and helped advance digital education worldwide. He led Portugal’s Magalhães initiative, reaching more than 500,000 laptops and training 31,000 teachers.

Mayanti Langer Binny is a prominent Indian sports broadcaster. In her 20 years of service she has hosted 13 World Cups across sports and genders. For the past decade she has been a regular feature in Jiostar’s coverage of IPL, WPL and Indian cricket tournaments.

Mehak Kasbekar is a next-generation media leader known for building brands that shape culture, not just follow it.

As Country Manager & Editor-in-Chief, she brings together editorial instinct, commercial strategy and creative execution — redefining what modern media looks and sounds like in the attention economy. Her leadership is marked by scale with soul: delivering performance while staying deeply audience-first.

Currently leading operations at Brut India, Mehak has built the brand into one of the most influential and credible voices in youth media, driving storytelling that breaks formats, spans borders, and earns real engagement. Under her leadership, Brut India has surpassed key revenue targets while launching new IPs, formats and verticals that reflect both business ambition and editorial depth.

A journalist by training and strategist by practice, Mehak’s career spans roles in digital content, brand building and global partnerships. She has worked across markets and mediums — from anchoring panels at the Cannes Film Festival to crafting local narratives that move global audiences.

A Columbia University graduate, Mehak has closely witnessed and reported on India’s evolution over the last two decades — across business, policy, politics, and society. Her journalism has spanned multiple formats, from wire-agency to television, and from print to digital news publishing.

She’s passionate about the future of storytelling, the role of media in shaping public consciousness, and building organizations where creative talent thrives.

Mihir has 25 years of experience spanning mergers & acquisitions, legal strategy, corporate governance, regulation & policy and compliance matters in technology, data, telecommunications and traditional sectors. 

He last served as the General Counsel for Star and Disney India and completed 15 years with the company in 2024.

He has been at the forefront of navigating industry issues at the intersection of competition, intellectual property, technology and regulation. He has served as the Co-chair of the FICCI IPR Committee, Co-chair of the CII Digital Media Committee and been an integral part of the FICCI M&E Committee as well as the CII National Regulatory Committee.

Relevant Experience

*Experience listed below are that of the Partner before he joined the Firm

Star India, in securing anti-trust approvals for inorganic activities including the recent Star India and Viacom18 merger as well as clearances for behavioural investigations in the past.
Structured an increase in the economic interest of News Corp / 21st Century Fox stake in Tata Sky (now Tata Play), when at Star India.

Star India, in relation to setting up a landscape defining joint venture between Zee Entertainment, Turner International, Den Networks and Star India.

News Corp / 21st Century Fox acquisition of the ESPN stake in the Singapore based ESPN Star Sports joint venture, when at Star India.

Star India, in relation to the Company undertaking the high-stakes acquisition of sports media rights such as IPL, BCCI and ICC under his supervision.

Launch of Disney+Hotstar during his time at Star India.

Monika Shergill is the Vice President of Content at Netflix India, where she leads the development, creation, and acquisition of all Indian content. Under her leadership, Netflix India has launched a diverse slate of successful series and films. During her tenure, Netflix India achieved a historic milestone, becoming the only platform in the country to be recognized with all three of the industry’s most prestigious honors: an Oscar, an International Emmy Award, and a National Film Award - underscoring its creative excellence and global impact.

Monika has held leadership roles at Star, Sony, and Viacom18. She began her career as a journalist and documentary filmmaker before moving into programming and content strategy. Monika has been featured in prestigious power lists, including The Hollywood Reporter’s “35 Most Powerful Women in International Television,” Variety’s “500 Most Influential Business Leaders,” Businessworld’s “Most Influential Women,” India Today’s “High and Mighty,” IMPACT’s “50 Most Influential Women,” and Fortune India’s “Most Powerful Women.”

As a founding partner of Emmay Entertainment, Monisha Advani leads the company’s business strategy, growth and succession. Since 2011, Emmay has become one of India’s top five production houses, producing 34 titles including Airlift, Batla House, Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, Rocket Boys, Mumbai Diaries and Freedom at Midnight, while generating over 20,000 direct and indirect hires annually. She also produced the National Award-winning documentary Bhangaar.

Advani began her career in HR, co-founding EmmayHR in 1996, which was acquired by Randstad Holdings NV, marking its first Asian acquisition. She later served as Managing Director of Randstad India (2005–2009). She mentors entrepreneurs and has invested in companies including India Food Network, BOOMLive, Decision Fuel and Jombay.

A sought-after speaker, she addresses business, consumerism, management and India’s creative economy globally. Her recognitions include Outlook Business Woman of the Year (2018), Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur (2019), and Jombay’s 1000 Women Leaders THE LIST (2023–2025).

Mrinalini Jain, in her role as Group Chief Development Officer at Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, drives strategic content expansion in India, and Asia. Mrinalini’s forte lies in her holistic approach to content development—from ideation and packaging to global marketing and execution. Her leadership has been pivotal in opening new business avenues, establishing fresh concepts, and penetrating untapped markets. Her talent for building strategic partnerships, both on and off screen, and her knack for developing universally appealing ideas, underline her significant impact on the global stage of entertainment.

Mukesh Chhabra, CSA, is India’s leading casting director, with over two decades of experience shaping the country’s entertainment landscape. Through Mukesh Chhabra Casting Company (MCCC), he has been instrumental in casting 400+ films, 100+ web series, and thousands of advertisements across genres and formats.

His recent work includes the hugely successful Dhurandhar franchise, where his team undertook the casting of 300+ characters over two years, earning widespread appreciation for its detailed and authentic ensemble. His current and upcoming slate includes major projects such as Ramayana, King and Pralay, among others, further establishing MCCC at the forefront of large-scale Indian productions.

From landmark films such as Dangal, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan to today’s biggest cinematic projects, Mukesh Chhabra continues to discover talent, shape characters, and redefine the art of casting in Indian cinema.

Mr. Mukund Galgali is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and also leads the Finance function at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., working closely with the teams to enhance profitability and performance. With over two decades of global financial leadership experience, Mukund is responsible for providing strategic consulting advice on business planning and performance, regulatory and tax implications on the business,
process innovations and management controls in order to improve business efficiency.

During his career, Mukund has been instrumental in partnering with businesses to implement strategic initiatives in the realm of financial reporting, structuring, tax and regulation including adoption and convergence of IFRS, IND AS transition, SAP implementation and shared services design and delivery. He also has an expertise in conducting global business reviews and audits in Europe, US, China and other countries for shareholders with a view to provide oversight – leading to cash flow optimization and cost reduction.

Mukund was previously associated with the business conglomerate Essel Group for over 12 years as the Executive Vice President & Finance Controller of the group, providing strategic advice to the Board and the Group’s leadership. Prior to that, Mukund managed an entrepreneurial venture delivering Audit & Corporate Services to top multinationals and Indian companies across Mumbai and Pune.

Mukund has secured the 25th rank in Chartered Accountancy and 15th rank in Company Secretaryship, and was also featured in the book ‘Best Practices by Leading Chief Audit Executives’ in India in 2014, published by CCH Wolters.

Naman Ramachandran is Asia Editor at Variety. Naman’s work as an author includes "Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography" (Penguin), "Lights, Camera, Masala: Making Movies In Mumbai" (IBH) and chapters in "Rough Guide To Film" (Rough Guides), "Movies: From The Silent Classics Of The Silver Screen To The Digital and 3D Era" (Universe) and "Movie Star Chronicles: A Visual History of 320 of the World's Greatest Movie Stars" (Peregrine). He has previously worked with the British Film Institute, Cineuropa, HBO Asia and MTV India. He is a BAFTA, Golden Globe and London Film Critics Circle voting member.

Naren leads the Go-to-market team for Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI for Google Cloud for the India region. He has extensive experience in technology and over 25 years in diverse roles spanning solutioning, architecture and sales engagement roles in public cloud & software domain.

Prior to this role in Google, Naren led the Digital Native & Startup business for Databricks, Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services.  He has also worked with Microsoft, IBM, and Accenture in various technical and strategic roles. Naren holds multiple certifications from AWS, Google, and Microsoft.

Naren is passionate about learning new technologies and staying ahead of the curve in the fast-changing technology landscape. Naren is also on the AI Taskforce committee for AI Policy for Government of Maharashtra.

Neil Gane is the Vice President & Head of Asia Pacific for IP House, where he manages a team of over 350 analysts, investigators, and forensic experts across Asia Pacific who provide comprehensive solutions tailored to clients’ specific challenges, from manual, semi-automated and automated content and brand monitoring to  investigation and enforcement. He has over 20 years’ experience in the IP industry throughout the APAC region, and has maintained close working relationships with law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and government ministries throughout the APAC region. Neil first moved to Asia as a Royal Hong Kong Police officer.

Nikhil is fascinated by the confluence of storytelling and technology, and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for innovation. At Prime Video India, he is at the forefront of shaping this future as Director and Head of Originals, Prime Video (SVOD) and Amazon MGM Studios India, where he leads the development and launch of the entire slate of Prime Video India’s exciting and award-winning Original content across languages. As one of the pioneers of the storytelling revolution unleashed by streaming in India, Nikhil has led the creation of an array of fan-favourite series and movies. This includes expanding the scope and scale of franchises like Paatal Lok, Mirzapur, Farzi, The Family Man, and Suzhal – The Vortex, as well as building new hits like Raakh, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, Call Me Bae, Khauf, Dupahiya, Matka King, and Daldal. Nikhil has also doubled down on the slate of Prime Video India’s unscripted Originals with pop-culture defining hits like Alliance & The Traitors amongst others. This is in addition to creating a wide repertoire of Original movies including the award-winning The Mehta Boys, Subedaar, Cheekatilo, Babita Singh Reporting, and Mirzapur The Movie to name a few. He is leading Amazon MGM Studios’ theatrical slate with the globally-acclaimed Superboys of Malegaon and upcoming movies like, VIBE & Nayyi Naveli.

In a career spanning over 20 years, Nikhil has established himself as an influential name in the media landscape of the country. His deep interest in creating rooted and authentic stories has earlier seen him leading content development for Disney+ Hotstar in India and Warner Brothers Discovery in Asia-Pacific.

Nikul C. Desai is an accomplished Indian television director and creative professional with over two decades of experience in the Indian entertainment industry. He began his career with Optimystix Entertainment in 2001 as an Assistant Director and went on to establish himself as one of the prominent directors in the nonfiction television space.

Desai gained widespread recognition for directing the immensely popular comedy series Comedy Circus, which ran for 18 seasons on Sony Entertainment Television between 2007 and 2018. His work on the show played a significant role in shaping India’s television comedy landscape, and he is credited with bringing several celebrated comedians, including Kapil Sharma, Krushna Abhishek, Bharti Singh and Sudesh Lehri, to a wider audience.

Over the years, he has directed several successful television formats, including Rising Star, Comedy Nights Bachao and Entertainment Ki Raat. He also directed the children’s singing reality show Taare Zameen Par on StarPlus.

Alongside his work as a director, Desai serves as Creative Producer and Head of Nonfiction Content at Optimystix Entertainment, contributing to the development and execution of television formats across genres.

His extensive experience spans creative direction, nonfiction programming, format development and television production, making him a notable voice in India’s evolving entertainment landscape.

Pawan Kumar Jain, Additional Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, has served at the Film Vertical of Rajasthan Tourism for several years. He has made significant contribution to the formulation of the Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy, 2025 and the associated Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs)and in strengthening Rajasthan’s position as one of the India’s most sought-after destination for filmmakers from across India and abroad.

The Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy, 2025 introduces a range of filmmaker-friendly initiatives, including financial incentives and subsidies for eligible film productions, a streamlined single-window mechanism for obtaining shooting permissions and scholarship provisions to encourage Rajasthan domiciled students pursuing studies at specified institutes in the Policy. These measures have significantly enhanced the ease of filming in Rajasthan and contributed to the growth of the State’s film ecosystem. The successful release of subsidies to productions filmed under the Film Tourism Promotion Policy,2022 reflects the Government’s commitment to support the industry.

Rajasthan’s growing stature in the entertainment sector was further highlighted when the State hosted the prestigious IIFA Awards 2025 in March 2025 showcasing its rich cultural heritage and world-class hospitality to a global audience. Renowned for its magnificent palaces, heritage hotels, desert landscapes, battlefields, lakes, wildlife sanctuaries, forts, and the iconic havelis of Shekhawati, Rajasthan has long been a preferred backdrop for shooting of period, romantic and action etc.films, webseries, tv serials etc. for national and international productions.

Blessed with clear skies, abundant sunlight, and diverse natural and architectural settings, Rajasthan continues to offer filmmakers unmatched filming opportunities throughout the year. Through the visionary efforts of the State Government, the State has emerged as a film-friendly destination that seamlessly combines cinematic appeal with efficient governance. Rajasthan warmly welcomes filmmakers to explore its extraordinary locations and benefit from the attractive incentives offered by the State Government.

Phil McKenzie is Co-Founder and COO of Goldfinch, the UK-headquartered entertainment group he has built since 2014, which has deployed more than $300m across 300+ projects and carries producer credits on over 60 film and television productions, including Oscar and BAFTA winning work. His focus today sits at the intersection of AI, IP and capital. Running an AI production label called The Squad, he co-founded enGEN3, an AI participatory IP platform that lets audiences shape and co-own the stories they consume, he recently launched Assorted.Icons. an AI NIL rights fund, which finances and licenses name, image and likeness rights for the generative era. He also co-founded myco.io, the streaming and rights platform that scaled from one million to more than 40 million users across MENA and Asia with partners including the ICC and the Premier League. Through GF International, and as a founding partner of the 56 nation Commonwealth Creative Industries Alliance, he works with governments and institutions across the global south on building AI-native creative economies aimed squarely at Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. He holds an MA in Politics from Edinburgh and mentors at Outlier Ventures.

Prabhu Asgaonkar and Manika Berry Asgaonkar are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team and the founders of Sparklework Films, with over three decades of experience across film, television, and documentary production. Both come from Armed Forces families, a connection that has profoundly shaped their storytelling and their enduring interest in stories of courage, sacrifice, leadership, and the human beings behind the uniform. Manika holds a Master’s degree in Film from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and has worked as a director, writer and editor across advertising, television, documentaries and feature films, while Prabhu trained in filmmaking in the United States and has spent over three decades directing, editing and producing films.

Together, they have built an extensive body of work for leading broadcasters including Discovery, History and National Geographic, with projects such as Special Operations India, Breaking Point, Earning the Badge – Special Forces, India’s Horse Warriors – 61st Cavalry, Kargil: Valour and Victory and Ladakh Warriors. Their latest project, Declassified: Operation Sindoor, brought together years of experience and access to tell the story of a defining military operation through the voices of those who were actually there—senior decision-makers, military leadership and people at the heart of the action. Having spent decades documenting extraordinary real-life stories, Prabhu and Manika are now taking the next natural step in their creative journey: bringing some of these powerful stories to life through scripted drama, developing them as OTT series and feature films. Their aim is to combine the authenticity, research and first-hand understanding that comes from documentary filmmaking with the emotional depth, scale, and dramatic possibilities of fiction—taking stories they have encountered in the real world to a much wider audience.

At a time when news often followed rigid formats, he made it engaging, proving that credible journalism can also be innovative and commercially sustainable.

He has pioneered industry-first initiatives such as Open Source Investigation, the Data Intelligence Unit, and the Anti-Fake News War Room - cutting-edge innovations in news and storytelling that blend technology with journalism.

Across Zee, India Today, and now NDTV, he has driven digital transformation while strengthening audience reach and influence.

At NDTV, he is steering a decisive reinvention - strengthening its technological backbone, sharpening its editorial voice, and shaping a new NDTV for a new India.
 

Rahul Vatts is the Director- Corporate Affairs, and Group Chief Regulatory Officer, Bharti Airtel Limited, Director– OneWeb Communications India, Chairperson, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and  Vice Chairman of the Indian Space Association (ISpA).

He also chairs key industry groups such as the GSMA Spectrum Policy Working Group and the Asia-Pacific Anti-Spam Taskforce (ACAST), which is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between MNOs and digital ecosystem players.

A telecom industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, Rahul is an expert on a myriad of subjects, including telecom licensing, digital regulations, spectrum management and regulatory litigation. He has had a leading role in shaping policy discussions around emerging digital issues such as AI, digital competition, and data privacy.

He has an engineering degree in telecommunications from the University of Pune and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad and The Wharton School, Pennsylvania.

Rajan Shahi is a celebrated producer, director and storyteller with over three decades of experience in the Indian entertainment industry. He began his journey with a small appearance in Masoom (1983) and formally entered television as a director with Sailaab in 1994. He went on to direct several popular shows including Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Rishtey, Kareena Kareena, Reth, Mamta, Virasaat and Saathi Re, besides working as a series director on Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar, Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan and Maayka.

In 2007, he founded Director’s Kut Productions and turned producer with Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai. The banner subsequently created acclaimed shows including Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Anupamaa, Chand Chupa Badal Mein, Swarg, Havan, Jamuna Paar, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Amrit Manthan, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, Tere Sheher Mein, Itti Si Khushi, Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke, Woh Toh Hai Albelaa and Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si, among others.

Rajan Shahi’s productions have also been recognised for discovering and nurturing new talent, providing major platforms to actors including Sara Khan, Parul Chauhan, Kinshuk Mahajan, Angad Hasija, Hina Khan, Karan Mehra, Neha Sargam, Dheeraj Dhoopar, Shrenu Parikh, Mishkat Verma, Kanchi Singh, Hiba Nawab and Anjum Fakih, among many others.

His landmark show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, which premiered in 2009, has completed an extraordinary 18-year journey and crossed 5,295 episodes, making it one of Indian television’s longest-running fiction franchises. In 2020, Rajan Shahi, along with his mother Deepa Shahi, launched Shahi Productions, with Anupamaa emerging as one of its defining successes. As Anupamaa completes six years, it continues to remain an important part of Indian television’s contemporary landscape.

Continuing to evolve with changing audiences, Rajan Shahi has expanded the DKP ecosystem into digital entertainment. The Director’s Kut Productions YouTube channel has crossed half a million subscribers, with the digital vertical exploring original fiction and non-fiction formats. Writer and creator Ishika Shahi has spearheaded three DKP digital fiction projects—Jabb Zodiacs Met, Heer Sharma Gayi and the latest Tu Yaa Koi Nahi—while also exploring various non-fiction formats. A filmmaker herself, Ishika’s short films Unhinged and Mind Border Soul received appreciation at the New York Film Academy, where she was awarded a scholarship. With a career built on storytelling, talent discovery and creative evolution, Rajan Shahi continues to expand his vision across television and digital, guided by his enduring philosophy: “Do your best, your very best and do it every day.”

After 25 years as a leading film critic and film journalist, Rajeev Masand joined Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA) as Chief Operating Officer in 2021. He works closely with top Hindi film actors like Kartik Aryan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Ananya Panday, Parvathy Thiruvothu, and Pratibha Ranta, helping them choose their acting roles and brand endorsements, and on a macro level in charting their career direction.

Rajeev’s close understanding of the film and entertainment business gives him a unique vantage point in his new role as a talent agency head, and that reflects in the bold, brave professional choices some of their actors have made recently.

With over 25 years of association with the movie industry, Rajkumar Akella’s journey includes roles as the founder of a music label, overseas distributor, and a film producer.

Rajkumar Akella’s steadfast commitment to eradicating film piracy, promoting intellectual property rights and commitment to transparent box office reporting in Indian Movie Industry, underscores his passion for a thriving and transparent entertainment ecosystem.

Rajkumar Akella heads the Operations of Rentrak - India, the Global leader in Movie Box office Measurement, since November 2013. Rajkumar believes that data efficiency and analytics can fuel rapid growth and shall help realise the true potential of the Indian Movie Industry. He has been working with various stake holders of the Indian Movie industry, to achieve accuracy and transparency in box office measurement.

In 2011, Rajkumar was elected as the Honorary chairman of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce(TFCC)’s Anti Video Piracy Cell (AVPC) He has been instrumental in driving several breakthrough IPR initiatives including the formation of Content Protection Alliance (CPA) for Telugu Film Industry, with the Motion Picture Distributors Association (MPDA), the consortium of all major Hollywood Studios and in realizing a dedicated Anti- Piracy Unit ( APU) with the Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TSCSB) & TFCC.

Rajkumar Akella has been presented the prestigious Asia - Pacific Copyright Educator (A.C.E) Award for 2016, by the Motion Picture Association at the Cine Asia Expo, Hong kong in December 2016. Rajkumar has also served as a Member on the National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC).

Ram Madhvani is one of India’s most innovative filmmakers, seamlessly bridging cinema, streaming, and advertising with a distinctive storytelling voice. A National Film Award winner for Neerja, an International Emmy nominee for the series Aarya, and recipient of a Cannes Lion for advertising, he is among the few Indians to achieve recognition across all three formats. From his debut Let’s Talk to Neerja, Aarya, Netflix’s Dhamaka, and most recently The Waking of a Nation, he has consistently delivered emotionally charged, socially relevant narratives while experimenting with form and technology—including a recent short film in VR created using AI. Alongside films, his celebrated advertising work has produced some of India’s most iconic campaigns for brands like Happydent, Bisleri, Airtel, Kindle, and Coca Cola, laying the foundation for his cinematic sensibility. Today, he stands as one of India’s most boundary-pushing filmmakers, committed to reimagining how stories are told and how deeply they connect with audiences.

Ranjana Mangla has been part of the SPN family since 2020, where she leads SonyLIV’s digital advertising sales strategy and revenue for the Indian market. She has been instrumental in strengthening SonyLIV’s position as a preferred destination for advertisers seeking to connect with their target audiences through innovative technology, premium content and a safe, curated digital environment.

With nearly two decades of experience across the media and entertainment industry, Mangla brings extensive expertise in revenue strategy, advertising sales, market development, and the launch of shows and films across multiple broadcasting platforms. Her career has spanned leadership roles across both traditional television and digital media, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the evolving Indian media ecosystem.

Prior to joining SPN, she served as Vice President and India Head – Impact Revenue at Disney+ Hotstar. She has also held leadership positions at leading media organisations including Discovery Inc., Viacom18/Colors and NDTV Imagine.

Through her strategic leadership, industry knowledge and focus on innovation, Mangla continues to contribute to the growth of digital advertising and build meaningful connections between brands, audiences and premium entertainment content.

Born in Lucknow, India, Chef Ranveer Brar’s fascination with food began at an early age.

A chef par excellence, he has a bestseller in his kitty, a flagship restaurant called Kashkan in the UAE, followed by Kashkan Kissaghar also in the UAE, is lauded for his distinctive style sense and has received critical acclaim as an actor in the recent times.

The most awarded and most Stylish celebrity chef has a tremendous fan following on digital media with close to 20 Million followers across platforms and counting.

Diversifying his skill set beyond the kitchen, he gained popularity as an actor after the OTT series - Modern Love, Mumbai , followed by the critically acclaimed, The Buckingham Murders.

In addition to his successful restaurant opening and curating spree, both in India and abroad, Chef Brar was recently appointed as the Culinary Brand Ambassador of Odisha.

He is equally synonymous with championing the cause of Millets working with FICCI, WWF and ICRISAT, to being associated with organisations such as the Akshayapatra Foundation as also the Prison Department and the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business, to help Model Lucknow Jail and Naari Bandi Niketan inmates prepare healthier meals and adopt more standardised practices towards cooking and food processing.

From acing his formal education at IHM, Lucknow to his successful restaurant opening and curating spree, both in India and abroad, from becoming the youngest Executive Chef of his times to diversifying his repertoire with his acting skills, Chef Brar is an artist on a constant quest.

Ravindra “Ravi” Velhal, founder RioWood is multiple Emmy nominated, multiple global awards winner “Immersive Cinema and 8K live streaming Pioneer”, leads Digital Media Standards, Technologies, advance media formats and Immersive Cinema programs globally. Pioneered first ever live streaming of Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics games in 8K over the open internet to selected locations worldwide from Hollywood, Europe, India, Japan toBrazil and delivered 8K VR live streaming of Beijing Winter Olympics. Ravi co-produced several award-winning Hollywood and global VR Cinemas and holds more than dozen patents, authored several research papers and spoke at more than 125 forums and conferences worldwide. He currently serves as a Board Of Director on CEA (Consumer Electronics Association of America), Digital Entertainment Forum in Hollywood, 8K association, Immersive Cinema at Infinity Festival, served as a director on the AIS/VR Society board, IEEE CS Oregon Chair, contributor towards climate change, Education initiatives and an advisor to film and trade organizations, globally. Ravi participated and led Digital India initiatives and part of PM Modi’s business delegation to USA and President Obama’s delegation to India

Mehta created, wrote, and directed the 8-part Amazon Prime dramatic series POACHER (2024), a thriller that depicts the largest wildlife crime investigation in Indian history. The series released in February 2024 to great acclaim. Prior to that, Mehta created, wrote and directed the 7-part Netflix series DELHI CRIME (2019), revolving around the Delhi Police’s investigation of the infamous gang-rape of a young medical student on a bus in 2012. The series won India’s first International Emmy for Best Drama Series.

Mehta's first feature film, AMAL (2007), won over 30 international awards. He then wrote and directed I'LL FOLLOW YOU DOWN (2013), a sci-fi drama starring Gillian Anderson; and SIDDHARTH (2013), a Hindi-language film that premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Mehta then directed the feature documentary INDIA IN A DAY (2016), tracking a day in the life of India, and executive produced by Ridley Scott. Mehta also directed an episode of the Apple TV+ anthology series EXTRAPOLATIONS (2023), a sci-fi series that explores our climate-changed future.

Indian filmmaker Rima Das is known for rooted, human-centric cinema. A 2024 Academy member, she also serves as a Brand Ambassador for Toronto IFF’s ‘Share Her Journey’ campaign. Honoured as one of GQ India's Most Influential Young Indians (2018), she has been on the jury for festivals including the Berlin International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

Her films—Village Rockstars (2017), Bulbul Can Sing (2018), Tora’s Husband (2022), Village Rockstars 2 (2024), and Not a Hero (2026)—have been showcased at major international festivals including Toronto, Berlin, and Busan, earning widespread acclaim.

Collectively, her work has screened at over 150 prestigious festivals worldwide and received more than 75 awards, including a Special Mention at the Berlinale for Not a Hero and Bulbul Can Sing, the Kim Jiseok Award at Busan for Village Rockstars 2, and both the National Award and India’s official Academy Awards entry for Village Rockstars.

Rishad Chindamada is a business leader with nearly two decades of experience spanning consumer products, modern retail, e-commerce marketplaces, and digital advertising. At Meta India, he leads the Media, Travel & Entertainment businesses as part of the ad sales leadership team, responsible for revenue, client partnerships, and go-to-market strategy for some of India's largest advertisers — building new categories from the ground up while deepening Meta's long-term partnership with Indian Businesses.

Personal Interests

Outside of work, Rishad is a certified PADI Advanced Open Water scuba diver with close to 100 dives, an avid reader of military history, a Formula 1 enthusiast, and passionate about the environment.

Ritika Sabharwal is a non-fiction storyteller and creative producer with over 15 years of experience across television, streaming, and advertising. Currently, she leads India Originals for Factual and Lifestyle entertainment across South Asia at Warner Bros. Discovery, overseeing the development and production of premium original content across genre

Over the years, she has worked with leading media networks including Discovery, National Geographic, and NDTV. Previously, as Executive Producer at discovery+, she led acclaimed original franchises such as The Legends of Ramayana with Amish, Money Mafia, Star Vs Food, Say Yes to the Dress India, and Expedition Borderlands with Levison Wood & Ash Bhardwaj.

Alongside her work in premium content, Ritika has also produced over 300 advertising films for leading global brands and is the author of two children’s books on Indian mythology.

Ruchikaa is the Director, Netflix Originals at Netflix India. She has been the creative force behind various films at Netflix India including Kathal, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Jaane Jaan. Prior to this, she has been associated with Balaji Motion Pictures. Ruchikaa has also been a producer, known for various films including Udta Punjab, Ek Villain Returns and Ek Villain. 

With nearly 20 years of experience, Ruchir is presently the Cluster Head for the Hindi Movie Channels in the Domestic Broadcasting Business of ‘Z’. He is responsible for the P&L, Content Buying of the movie cluster which encompasses the flagship channel Zee Cinema, Zee Cinema HD amongst others. During his career, Ruchir has worked in various roles including Marketing, Content Planning, Content Creation, Content Buying and Plans, Films Buying Negotiations, Bollywood Talent Relations, Film Greenlighting and more.

Salona holds a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA's Department of Theater, Film & Television, specializing in Content Producing — in 2012 she became the first student from India selected into its Producer's Program. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. With 15 years in the Media & Entertainment industry, Salona's last role was as Producer at RSVP, Ronnie Screwvala's production venture, where she developed content and shepherded it from commissioning through release.

She now leads Bombay Film Cartel, producing compelling stories and bringing memorable characters to life. As showrunner, creator and producer, her first series with Amazon Prime India — Dupahiya, a heartland comedy released in March 2025 to a thunderous response. The second season of the hit series releases October 1st, 2026. Prior to this, she spent over two years as Supervising Producer at Walt Disney Studios India, specializing in Creative Development & Production, and supervised Disney India's flagship ABCD 2: Anybody Can Dance franchise.

Before producing films, she spent five years at Reliance MediaWorks in Corporate Strategy, setting up a world-class post-production studio in Mumbai and helping acquire Lowry Digital, a Los Angeles restoration facility behind Disney classics, Jim Cameron's Avatar, and projects for NASA — work that took her to Los Angeles for two years, where she also completed her MFA.

Sameer Pitalwalla currently leads biz dev at Google Cloud in India, he is the former Head of Gaming for APAC for GCP. He is the former cofounder and Ceo of Culture Machine and a national award winning producer

Samir Sarkar is an award-winning Indian film producer and Founder and CEO of Magic Hour Films, with a career spanning more than three decades across feature films, advertising, documentaries and international productions.

He began his career in mainstream Indian cinema, spending nearly a decade working alongside some of the country’s leading filmmakers and gaining experience across major productions before establishing Magic Hour Films in 2008.

Since then, Samir has produced ten feature films and more than a hundred commercials, documentaries and brand films. His feature productions have premiered and received recognition at major international festivals including Berlin, Toronto, Busan and Rotterdam. His international credits also include production support on Ang Lee’s Academy Award-winning Life of Pi, alongside extensive cross-cultural collaborations across India, Europe and Asia.

A graduate of the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Samir received a scholarship to study film production at La Fémis in Paris.

Beyond producing, he is actively involved in mentoring emerging filmmakers, teaching at leading film institutions, moderating industry conversations and contributing to the continuing evolution of independent and international cinema in India.

Sheeladitya Mohanty is Head of Marketing, India at OpenAl, where he leads efforts to deepen the understanding and adoption of Al. His work connects the capabilities of ChatGPT with the needs and ambitions of people across India, grounding its relevance in the country's cultural diversity and the evolving ways people learn, work and create.

Sheeladitya brings nearly two decades of experience in consumer technology marketing, brand building, and go-to-market strategy. Before joining OpenAl, he spent nearly a decade at Meta and previously held roles at Microsoft and Nokia, building deep experience across India and the region.

Saurabh Pandey is the Founder and CEO of Eloelo Group, building an AI-powered Entertainment ecosystem based on how the next billion users watch, learn, and interact on the internet.

The Group is building across four emerging frontiers — Micro Drama through Story TV & Elo TV, Micro Learning through Master, AI Companions through Voxy AI and AI video generation through Dolphin.

Under Saurabh’s leadership, Eloelo Group has raised over $50 million from leading global and Indian investors with over 200 million+ downloads across their apps, establishing the group as a clear leader in India’s rapidly growing micro-drama & micro-learning market.

Saurabh’s ambition is to build Eloelo into a company that shapes the next generation of consumer experiences - at the intersection of entertainment, AI and the needs of the next billion users.

As the Director & Head of SVOD Business, Shilangi is entrusted with strengthening Prime Video’s goal of being India’s largest streaming service for exclusive Originals, by growing the subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) business. In her role, Shilangi spearheads long-term business, product, and content strategy, driving customer adoption and engagement of Prime Video across the country, while catering to India’s diverse entertainment needs.

Shilangi joined Amazon in 2019, and in the past, has served as the Head of Regional Marketing for Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa at Prime Video, playing a pivotal role in building the Prime Video brand, fostering customer growth across all business lines, and propelling the broader Amazon ecosystem.

With 19 years of experience in the Media & Consumer Tech industry, Shilangi has built and launched various consumer facing businesses across entertainment, news media, and consulting. She has won several industry accolades in the field of digital media marketing and consumer experience, such as the Webby Awards and CMO Asia, and has also co-authored a patent for social media measurement. Shilangi is also the Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Working Group at the BRICS Women's Business Alliance.

With roots that date back to his street theatre days, Shoojit Sircar has carved a distinct place in the world of contemporary Indian cinema. His films, their characters, and the cinematic worlds he builds reflect rooted, real, and uniquely human shades of life.

His directorial debut, Yahaan, focused on the turmoil faced by the Kashmiri people and won him the Best Director Award at the Osian Film Festival in 2005. He followed it up with Vicky Donor, a film that brought the taboo topic of sperm donation into dining table conversation. Vicky Donor went on to win three National Awards, including ‘Best Entertainer of the Year’.

He then directed the hard-hitting political thriller Madras Café, shedding light on one of the most tumultuous periods in the subcontinent’s history — the Sri Lankan civil war. A year later, he brought audiences the much-loved slice-of-life drama Piku, a father–daughter relationship comedy featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, which went on to win over 18 awards across India.

As a producer, he presented Pink — a film that became more than just cinema; it was termed a movement. With October, Sircar offered a poetic, soulful, and deeply personal take on love. The absurdist satire Gulabo Sitabo delivered an unapologetic commentary on human greed, while Sardar Udham, a historical drama featuring Vicky Kaushal as the revolutionary Udham Singh, brought powerful storytelling to the screen once again.

In 2024, his film I Want To Talk was released, adding yet another compelling story to his filmography.

Beyond directing, Shoojit Sircar has also backed quality cinema as a producer, supporting critically appreciated Bengali features such as Aparajita Tumi and Open Tee Bioscope.

As an ad filmmaker, Sircar has earned international acclaim — most notably for the Cannes award-winning Lead India campaign, which featured some of India's most respected icons. His advertising credits include notable campaigns for Gujarat Tourism, Airtel, Coca-Cola, Tata Sky, and Wrigley's Doublemint. His recent commercials — Mirinda #ReleaseThePressure and All Out #MujheSabNahinPata — both offered strong commentaries on modern parenthood and went on to garner millions of views on social media.

With a resolute passion for quality storytelling, Shoojit Sircar continues to be one of the most prolific and gifted voices in Indian cinema — a filmmaker whose work audiences consistently await, time and again.

Mr. Shripad Ashtekar is the Founder and Managing Director of Signpost India Limited, one of India’s leading independent Out-of-Home (OOH) and AdTech media companies. A first-generation entrepreneur, he has built Signpost into a technology-driven media enterprise with a strong presence across Digital OOH, transit media and urban advertising. Known for his focus on innovation, creativity and data-driven media solutions, he has played a significant role in transforming public spaces into dynamic platforms for communication, engagement and storytelling. Under his leadership, Signpost India became the first Indian OOH company to be listed on both the BSE and NSE.

Siddharth Anand Kumar is Executive Vice President at Saregama India, where he has been one of the architects of the company’s expansion into films, live entertainment and original experiential IP. He has led the development of Saregama’s live business with a focus on creating scalable, repeatable properties—alongside marquee productions including Diljit Dosanjh’s India tours and large-format Himesh Reshammiya concerts. The portfolio today includes original IPs such as Krishna – Radha Se Ranbhumi Tak, Carvaan Live, UN40 music festival and Hahakaar the Comedy Festival.

Siddharth also built Saregama’s Yoodlee Films business, producing films across languages and platforms, with titles under the banner winning three National Film Awards. His work increasingly sits at the intersection of music, cinema, talent and live entertainment, with a particular focus on turning Saregama’s catalogue and creative assets into enduring consumer-facing IP.

Smt. Swati Mhase-Patil, IAS, is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer with extensive experience in public administration, governance reforms, e-governance, institutional transformation and the development of Maharashtra’s film and media ecosystem.

Inducted into the Indian Administrative Service in 2008, she holds postgraduate qualifications in Arts, along with Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. She has served in several senior administrative positions, including as Secretary, Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

Her governance experience includes leading major digital and administrative reforms such as the computerisation of ration shops through Point of Sale (POS) systems, implementation of the e-Office and Paperless Office initiatives, and the state-wide implementation of the Single Window System. She has been conferred the SKOCH Award and the Economic Times Governance Award for the state-wide implementation of the Single Window System.

In the film and media sector, Smt. Mhase-Patil has played a significant role in the development of the Filmcity Master Plan and State Film Policy. She has facilitated the MoU for the Central Government’s AVGC initiative, overseen the operations and development of ND Studio, including NCLT proceedings, and supervised studio modernisation and essential infrastructure works. She has also led the ‘My Filmcity, Green Filmcity’ initiative and organised state and international film festivals, award ceremonies and industry events.

Her career reflects a strong focus on administrative reform, technology-enabled governance, institutional efficiency and the development of Maharashtra’s creative economy.

Sneha Jain is a Partner with Saikrishna& Associates, a leading Tier-1 firm in the country where she regularly advises broadcasting, media and entertainment clients. She’s handling anti piracy campaigns in the cable and online space for more than 15 years.

Sonam grew up in Bengal and studied film and literature in Ithaca, New York, before moving to Mumbai. She wrote and directed her feature film debut Gippi for Dharma Productions at the age of 27. Since then, she has written and directed several web series, short films and commercials. She is most known for the series Masaba Masaba on Netflix and her award-winning short film Khujli. Her latest venture is the hit Amazon Prime series Dupahiya.

Sparsh Shrivastava is an actor whose body of work reflects versatility a natural ability to inhabit diverse characters with authenticity, nuance. He first garnered widespread attention with his portrayal of Sunny in Netflix’s Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega, and went on to leave a strong impression as Deepak in Kiran Rao’s critically acclaimed Laapataa Ladies. His recent work includes Dupahiya and the newly released film Vibe, further adding to his evolving body of work.

With Dupahiya, Sparsh further explored his versatility, bringing warmth, humour, and emotional depth to the comedy-drama. Across his performances, he has continued to gravitate towards characters that are rooted, layered, and distinctly human, establishing a screen identity that feels both effortless and memorable.

Beyond acting, Sparsh is expanding his creative universe through music. As a singer, lyricist, and composer, he is exploring a more personal form of storytelling and adding another dimension to his artistic journey.

Sriram Raghavan is one of Hindi cinema’s distinctive filmmakers, celebrated for sharply crafted thrillers, noir influences, dark humour and richly layered characters. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, Raghavan began his career with the documentary-drama Raman Raghav: A City, A Killer and also worked in film journalism and television before making his feature directorial debut with Ek Hasina Thi in 2004. He followed it with Johnny Gaddaar, Agent Vinod, Badlapur and the acclaimed Andhadhun, establishing a distinctive cinematic voice rooted in suspense, unexpected twists and a deep affection for classic Hindi cinema. Andhadhun, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and brought Raghavan wider international recognition. His 2024 film Merry Christmas, starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, explored a slow-burn romantic thriller set against a period Mumbai backdrop and was released in both Hindi and Tamil. His filmmaking draws from Alfred Hitchcock, French noir, crime literature and the visual and musical language of Indian cinema. His latest film, Ikkis, is based on the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal, reflecting his interest in character-driven stories with strong historical and emotional dimensions.

She began with a microphone and a passion for words  and from that single spark, she has built a remarkable career spanning every medium known to storytelling. Award-winning RJ, celebrated film critic, captivating anchor, voice-over artist, celeb chat show host, podcaster, writer, political satirist and debut actress . In an industry that loves to put people in boxes, Stutee Ghosh has spent two decades cheerfully ignoring them.

With almost two decades of experience in the media industry, Stutee has lent her voice and vision to some of India's most respected platforms such as Radio Mirchi, Fever FM, The Quint, HT Digital and OTT Play leaving an indelible mark on every one of them. A Gold Mike and India Radio Forum Best RJ Award winner, her sharp, insightful and deeply engaging film reviews have earned her a loyal fan base that swears by her critique, making her one of the most trusted and followed film critics in the country today.

A founding member and former Vice Chair of the Film Critic's Guild of India, Stutee has served on film festival juries and curated the east zone feature section at the Critics' Choice Film Awards. She has conceptualised and built iconic properties like the nationally beloved Superwomaniya Show which grew from a hit radio show into a marquee on-ground event, the Superwomaniya Awards & Conclave and Stutee's Book Club, India's first ever radio show dedicated entirely to books. Through her irresistible alter ego Pammi Kaur, she holds a sharp, satirical mirror up to politics and society with wit that cuts deep and charm that disarms completely. Her celeb chat show Aur Batao is a masterclass in the art of conversation drawing out the most candid, unguarded moments from Bollywood's biggest names.

A sought-after anchor, a commanding presence on stage and a familiar face on red carpets and high-powered panel discussions, Stutee brings the same effortless authority and warmth to every platform she graces. Her ready wit, quick repartees and disarming charm have rightfully earned her the sobriquet of "Superwomaniya" ! She made a stunning acting debut in the critically acclaimed dark comedy Dilli Dark, which travelled the world from MAMI to Tallinn, Fribourg to Milan to New York, before a nationwide theatrical release. The film is now available on Apple TV and YouTube

Sunita Rajwar is an acclaimed Indian actor known for her work across film, television, theatre and digital entertainment. A graduate of the National School of Drama, New Delhi, she has built a versatile career spanning over two decades.

Sunita Rajwar is widely recognised for her performances in popular productions including Panchayat and Gullak, with her performance in Gullak earning her the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Her film credits include Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Kedarnath, Stree, Bala, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Babita Singh Reporting, Pinch and Santosh. Santosh, in which she played Inspector Sharma, was selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

She has also been part of several productions filmed in Madhya Pradesh, including Gullak, Babita Singh Reporting for Amazon, Pinch, filmed in Indore, and Colour Yellow Productions’ Nai Naveli, portions of which were shot in Bhopal. Rajwar has also maintained a strong association with theatre and the arts and has been a regular speaker at the Indore Literature Festival. She also has upcoming releases, including the series "The Waiting List", premiering on 18 September on Amazon MX Player, and "Nai Naveli", slated for theatrical release on 16 October.

Sushant Sreeram is the Head of SVOD Business & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at JioStar, India’s largest and most diverse entertainment powerhouse. In this role, he leads brand strategy across JioStar’s expansive portfolio, steering consumer engagement through innovative marketing initiatives and data-driven insights.

Additionally, his focus is to lead the content strategy, platform growth, and international content acquisitions for JioHotstar, JioStar’s flagship digital entertainment platform. Under his leadership, JioHotstar has grown rapidly to become India’s leading streaming service, driven by a well-curated and diverse content portfolio. Sushant plays a pivotal role in further expanding JioHotstar's reach through international partnerships, including those with global studios like Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal, ensuring the platform remains at the forefront of India’s digital entertainment landscape.

Sushant's distinguished career began with FMCG major Hindustan Unilever and has spanned over two decades, including leadership roles across industries like consumer-packaged goods, eCommerce, consumer electronics, and travel. Prior to joining Viacom18, he served as the Country Director for Prime Video India, wherein he was responsible for scaling the platform’s presence in the country. He spearheaded the marketing function for brands like Xiaomi, HolidayIQ, and eBay, in India. His experience also includes his entrepreneurial stint as the co-founder of Inkfruit, a democratic lifestyle brand that collaborated with designers from across the world.

An alumnus of IIT Madras, Sushant brings a wealth of cross-industry experience and a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape. A musician back in the day, Sushant’s more recent interest in travel has him diving into a diverse array of cultures and cuisines across the world!

Tanya Bami is the Series Head at Netflix, India, where she leads the creation, development, and execution of wide-ranging long-form content including scripted & unscripted series, comedy specials, and docu-series. With over six years at Netflix, Tanya has played a crucial role in the success of acclaimed series such as Operation Safed Sagar, Lock Upp, Musafir Cafe, Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web, Kohraa, Maamla Legal Hai, Delhi Crime and several others. These series have not only garnered immense popularity in India but have also achieved significant global recognition.

With a deep-seated passion for content creation, Tanya ensures that Netflix's series appeal to diverse audience tastes. She places a strong emphasis on engaging viewers by keeping them central to the content curation process. Tanya's approach focuses on authenticity and relatability as fundamental pillars of storytelling success.

Tanya's career spans over twenty years, transitioning from a background in Microbiology to pursuing a PGD in Communications Media - Film & TV from Sophia Polytechnic. Her professional journey includes pivotal roles at MTV, BBC, Star Plus, ZeeTV and Voot. Notably, at Voot, she played a key role in developing original series for both advertising-based video-on-demand (A-VOD) and subscription-based video-on-demand (S-VOD) platforms.

Her extensive experience across non-fiction programming and her contributions to global hit series at Netflix underscore her expertise and influence in the entertainment industry.

Tejkarran Singh Bajaj is the Business Head, Zee 5 India, where he leads the platform's overall business strategy, content ecosystem, consumer engagement, partnerships, monetisation, AI-led innovation, and growth agenda. In this role, he is focused on strengthening Zee 5's positioning as a language-first, consumer-first streaming platform, while accelerating its next phase of growth across entertainment, sports, and emerging digital experiences.

With over two decades of leadership experience spanning OTT, television, digital media, platform strategy, and audience growth, Tejkarran has built and scaled consumer facing media businesses across multiple formats and markets. Throughout his career, he has successfully driven business transformation by aligning content, technology, and commercial strategies to create sustainable growth and competitive differentiation.

His expertise spans content strategy, digital transformation, audience development, revenue growth, strategic partnerships, platform innovation, and consumer engagement. He has played a key role in developing platform-first business models, expanding digital ecosystems, and unlocking new opportunities for audience acquisition and monetisation.

At Zee 5, he is focused on creating a sharper, more agile streaming platform by bringing together technology, content, and business innovation to deliver differentiated experiences for audiences across India.
 

Uday Singh leads the Motion Picture Association in India, representing Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. He works at the intersection of global media, Indian regulation, technology, rights and market growth. He leads the MPA's engagement with government, regulators and industry on copyright and artificial intelligence, streaming and digital regulation, content protection, market access, production incentives, and investment. His focus is on advancing a predictable, competitive and rights-respecting environment for film, television and streaming in India. His perspective is grounded in having built entertainment businesses and subsequently helping shape the frameworks within which they operate. Over nearly three decades in the industry, he has worked across global studios, Indian content, theatrical distribution and public policy. At Columbia TriStar and Sony Pictures India, Uday helped build India's leading Hollywood studio business. He oversaw more than 300 releases, expanded audiences for international cinema through localization and regional-language dubbing, managed Disney's theatrical distribution in India, and led Sony Pictures' pioneering entry into Hindi-language film production. Uday is an alumnus of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program.

Vani Tripathi Tikoo is an actor, producer, teacher, author and cultural leader whose work spans theatre, cinema, television, education and public policy. Trained at Delhi’s Living Theatre Academy of Drama and under the legendary theatre director Ebrahim Alkazi, she has built a career deeply rooted in the performing arts and in the belief that culture can be a powerful instrument for social change.

With around 50 theatre productions, over 40 television programmes and six films to her credit, Vani has worked across a wide range of Indian and international creative projects. Her theatre practice has included works by Anton Chekhov, Peter Shaffer, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, alongside major Indian playwrights. She has also worked as an actor-teacher with the National School of Drama, with a particular engagement with Theatre in Education.

A passionate institution-builder, she was instrumental in establishing the Madhya Pradesh Natya Vidyalaya in Bhopal, a pioneering state-run drama school. She has also been closely involved with Indian cinema and cultural policy.

She is the Founder & Director of Drishya Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., a company dedicated to producing films and content based on Indian cultural narratives and literature.

As a producer and cultural practitioner, Vani continues to champion Indian stories, artistic heritage, education and new forms of cultural engagement. Her book, Why Can’t Elephants Be Red?, extends this creative journey into authorship and storytelling.

Vanita Kohli-Khandekar has been tracking the Indian media and entertainment business for two decades.

Currently she is a columnist and writer for one of India’s leading financial dailies, Business Standard and occasionally contributes to Singapore-based Content Asia. The Media Room, her podcast on all things media and entertainment is hosted on The Core. A Cambridge University press fellow (2000), Vanita has taught at some of the top media schools in India. Her signature book, The Indian Media Business (Sage) is now in its fifth edition. Her second book, The Making of Star India - the story of Rupert Murdoch's India Adventure (Penguin-Random House) is being developed into a web-series. Currently, she is working on a book on Indian cinema.

Vipul D Shah is the founding chairman, MD, and guiding force behind Optimystix Entertainment India Ltd., one of India's leading media houses. Since its inception in 2001, the company has produced over 7,500 hours of programming across 150+ shows and won 100+ awards, spanning fiction and non-fiction, including Crime Patrol, Comedy Circus, and Baalveer, as well as Rising Star, Taare Zameen Par, and Ladies Special.

In 2020, Vipul D Shah expanded into feature films and OTT under Wakaoo Films. Since its inception, the company has produced 5 films, including OMG 2 (2023), starring Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi; Khel Khel Mein (2024), starring Akshay Kumar; and The Diplomat (2025), starring John Abraham. Candy (2021), a crime thriller on JioCinema with an IMDb rating of 8.5, marked the company's foray into OTT & Lukkhe (2026), an Amazon Prime crime-musical drama series.

A well-known writer before becoming a producer around the turn of the millennium, Vipul brings a sharp sense of audience psychology and a flair for storytelling to everything Optimystix makes, rarely following a set formula. His ambition ahead: 7 to 10 content-heavy films a year with industry A-listers.

Laughter Chefs - Unlimited Entertainment, launched on Colors TV in June 2024, is among Optimystix's most successful recent ventures, a cooking-comedy reality format pairing celebrity jodis, hosted by Bharti Singh and judged by Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi. Now three seasons and 160+ episodes deep, Season 3 concluded in June 2026 with Team Kaanta crowned winners, reflecting Vipul's instinct for formats that blend star chemistry with mass-entertainment appeal.

Vivan Sharan is a partner in Koan Advisory, a technology policy consulting firm based in New Delhi. He works on the political economy of technology markets and advises Fortune 500 companies, international organisations and governments. He is also the author of "Wonked!: India in Search of an Economic Ideology", published by Bloomsbury in 2019; and co-author of "The Dazzle of the Digital: Unbundling India Online", published by Routledge in 2022.

Vivek Couto is Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Director of Media Partners Asia (MPA), an insights and influence platform rooted in Asia. Established in 2001, MPA combines proprietary consumer data and technology with research, advisory and executive forums across the connectivity, entertainment, sports and technology sectors in Asia Pacific. With over two decades at the intersection of capital, content and technology, Vivek advises leading media and technology organisations on strategy, market research, capital raising, content investment and M&A, and has served as Independent Consultant in the IPOs of leading media and telecom companies.

He leads MPA's three flagship platforms: (1) MPA Research & Solutions, which sizes and forecasts subscribers, consumer spend and advertising across television, streaming, connectivity and sports in 15 Asia Pacific markets, and advises on strategy, market entry, capital, M&A and rights valuation; (2) MPA's leadership forums, led by APOS, Asia Pacific's premier annual summit for the entertainment and technology industry, now in its 17th year, alongside APOS Sports Edge on the future of sport and AETHER on applied AI; and (3) ampd, a consumer insights platform that combines passive measurement panels with advanced analytics to track behaviour across streaming, advertising, content and commerce in nine markets, from title level engagement on premium video to micro dramas, social video and paths to purchase, delivering bespoke research for brands, platforms and rights holders.

From 2018 to 2025, Vivek served on the Board of Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). He joined the Board of the Asia Video Industry Association in December 2025. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Economics from the London School of Economics.