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Gen Z Superstar Kartik Aaryan: Sony Sports Network’s Football brand ambassador
Mumbai: Sony Sports Network, the premier destination for football in India, has joined hands with Bollywood’s Gen Z superstar and youth icon – Kartik Aaryan, who is known to be a die-hard football fan, to become their brand ambassador for football. During his partnership with Sony Sports Network, Kartik will be seen promoting Live football action on Sony Sports Network around the year with 900 matches from marquee football tournaments and leagues which include UEFA EURO 2024, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, UEFA Nations League, Bundesliga, Emirates FA Cup, Durand Cup and Roshn Saudi League amongst others.
Kartik Aaryan who has enthralled audiences with stellar performances on the silver screen is also known for his enthusiasm and fandom for the game of football. His love for the game began at an early age and he is a dedicated Real Madrid fan, the most successful club in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
Comments:
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – distribution & international business and head – Sports Business Rajesh Kaul:
“It gives us immense pleasure to announce Kartik Aaryan as the Brand Ambassador of football on Sony Sports Network. Kartik is a true star on the silver screen and a passionate voice for football which resonates very well with audiences. We aim to connect with the Indian youth and create a deeper engagement with our ever-growing football viewers through Kartik Aaryan for our diverse portfolio of football offerings that includes the live telecast of over 900 football matches and positions Sony Sports Network as the premier destination for football.”
Kartik Aaryan, Bollywood actor & brand ambassador for Football on Sony Sports Network:
“I have been an ardent football fan since I was a child and I feel privileged to partner with Sony Sports Network for promoting a sport that is so close to my heart. Sony Sports Network will be home to some of the best footballing action for the year ahead from UEFA EURO 2024 to UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and more. I am excited about the football broadcast calendar which will showcase the best players and teams from across the world. I’m really looking forward to watching my favourite footballers play on the ground and meet them. I can’t wait to share the adrenaline rush in the stadium with other football fanatics and live the madness!”
Armed with the vision of reaching out to a wider stratum of Indian audiences and bringing them closer to the game, Sony Sports Network has launched the first film from the ‘Your Home of Football’ campaign which will be followed by four additional films in the coming weeks. The films featuring Kartik Aaryan will showcase the broadcaster’s repertoire of football offerings along with the actor’s deep love for the game.
Film: Every Football Fan is Different
The film is an ode to the fans of the various football properties on Sony Sports Network, highlighting the broadcaster’s depth of football content. In the film, Kartik is seen essaying the role of the different types of fans for different leagues and tournaments while donning their team jerseys. All with one common link between all the offerings: establishing that there is only one destination for all these football fans and that is Sony Sports Network.
Fans can watch the LIVE coverage of the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, Emirates FA Cup, Bundesliga, Roshn Saudi League, UEFA EURO 2024, Europa League, UEFA Conference League, UEFA Nations League, Durand Cup and more on Sony Sports Network.
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.
