News Headline
Aamir Khan to take centerstage at MipCom
MUMBAI: MipCom has announced that Indian actor-director-producer Aamir Khan will take to the stage for the inaugural MIP MegaSession, entitled ‘The Future of Factual.’
Organised by Reed MIDEM, the MipCom entertainment content tradeshow takes place in Cannes from 13 to 16 October.
Scheduled for 14 October, the first ever MIP MegaSession will gather leading players driving the next generation of online and linear factual programming on the main stage of the Grand Auditorium to discuss where the genre is heading.
Khan has starred in dozens of Hindi movies, including some of the highest-grossing Bollywood hits of all time. He is also a writer, director and producer, his credits including the colonial story ‘Lagaan’, which was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Since May 2012, Khan has fronted the Hindi talk show ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (Truth Alone Prevails), broadcast on the Star channels and the Doordarshan network. The show has had a deep impact on Indian society and its ruling classes, highlighting sensitive social issues such as female foeticide, rape, child sexual abuse, dowry customs, honour killings, domestic violence and wider environmental issues. ‘Satyamev Jayate’ has been watched by some 700 million people, and is also a major hit with online viewers and has a huge following on social media.
The third season of the show will soon go on air taking forward the philosophy that anything is possible (‘Mumkin hai’).
Khan will be in conversation with Oscar-nominated writer, director and producer Morgan Spurlock, when he will expand upon what drove him to produce the show under his banner, how it has struck such a resounding chord in India, and whether its format can be replicated in other countries.
Khan’s session in France was coordinated by Indiantelevision.com group founder, CEO and editor in chief Anil Wanvari, who represents Reed Midem’s content markets Mipcom and MipTV in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh and music market Midem in India, and Reed Exhibitions Singapore based market Asia Television Forum in India.
Other global media business and entertainment leaders who are slated to speak at this year’s MipCom include Simon Cowell, 21st Century Fox’s James Murdoch, CBS’s Armando Nunez and David Stapf, and Chief Content Officer of Netflix, Ted Sarandos.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
