MAM
ACESO appoints Ranjit Kulkarni to drive research and strategic acquisitions initiatives
Mumbai: ACESO, a pioneering market maker company revolutionising the life insurance landscape, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ranjit Kulkarni as its new research and strategic acquisitions head. With over 35 years of distinguished experience in the life insurance industry, Ranjit brings a wealth of expertise and insight to his new role.
As ACESO continues to innovate and provide optimal solutions to policyholders, Ranjit’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategic growth. His extensive network within the insurance fraternity ensures that ACESO remains at the forefront of industry trends and developments.
In his new role, Ranjit will lead ACESO’s team in leveraging the C2B platform, specifically designed for LIC policy holders, called ALIP – Assignment of Life Insurance Policies. This platform offers an alternative for policyholders who are keen to surrender their LIC Policies or where policies are lapsed, ensuring that policyholders do not lose out on their entire life-cover benefits. Additionally, this platform also helps in sustaining the income of the agents/ insurance advisors.
Ranjit’s journey in the field of life insurance began with a passion for mathematics, which served as the cornerstone for his analytical prowess in navigating the complexities of insurance products. As a third-generation professional in insurance business development, Ranjit has garnered numerous national and international awards for his outstanding achievements. His pivotal contribution as a mentor has shaped top-performing insurance advisors, empowering them to excel in their roles and reach their full potential.
Commenting on Ranjit’s appointment, ACESO founder Ketan Mehta said, “We are thrilled to welcome Ranjit Kulkarni to the ACESO team as our research and strategic acquisitions head. With his extensive industry experience and unwavering commitment to excellence, Ranjit will play a crucial role in driving our mission to empower policyholders and redefine the life insurance landscape. His leadership will further propel ACESO as a leader in delivering innovative solutions to our valued customers.”
Ranjit expressing his enthusiasm, said, “I am honoured to join ACESO and contribute to its mission of providing innovative solutions to policyholders. I look forward to working with the team to further enhance ACESO’s position as a leader in the life insurance market.”
Having facilitated the assignment of over Rs 400 million worth of Endowment policies issued by LIC of India, ACESO and its associate company have showcased a remarkable dedication to empowering policyholders. With a reputation for professionalism and expertise, ACESO boasts in-depth knowledge of insurance plans and products offered by LIC of India, setting it apart as a trusted authority in the field.
ACESO’s Complete Secondary Life Asset Management servicing capabilities, administered through a professional SEBI Registered trustee company, solidify its position as a cornerstone in the industry, providing seamless support to policyholders throughout their journey. With Ranjit Kulkarni at the helm of research and strategic acquisitions, ACESO reaffirms its commitment to delivering unparalleled value to policyholders and solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the insurance industry.
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
