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Essel Group’s E-City plans to invest Rs 2.5 billion
NEW DELHI: E-City Ventures, part of the $5 billion Essel Group, which is promoted by Subhash Chandra, today announced a Rs 2.5 billion expansion of business across India.
The group had earmarked over Rs 5 billion for investment by 2008, of which Rs 2.5 billion has already been invested.
E-City Ventures will be the corporate brand used to identify the following lines of business of the Essel Group in out-of-home realty development (E-City Entertainment (I) Pvt. Limited), mall-based property management (E-City Property Management Services Pvt. Ltd.), digital cinema solutions
(E-City Digital Cinemas Pvt. Ltd.), film distribution (E-City Films Pvt. Ltd.) and movie exhibition (Fun Multiplex Pvt. Ltd.).
“We are essentially in the cinema business, but have learnt to do the cinema business in a better way by entering related and allied industries, thereby, maximizing value and yet reducing the level of risks”, E-City Entertainment (I) Pvt Ltd CEO Atul Goel told journalists here today.
According to Goel, the above-mentioned businesses of E-City Ventures mesh very well with the idea of an “integrated approach to the business of entertainment.”
E-City Entertainment aims to be the best out-of-home entertainment and leisure destination provider through its Family Entertainment Centres (FECs).
The company proposes to develop and operate 20,00,000 sq. ft. of commercial realty across six FECs (under the brand – Fun Republic) by December 2007. The offerings include a wide variety of leisure, entertainment, recreation and shopping options under one roof.
Fun Multiplex Pvt. Ltd harbours the aim to the finest entertainment experience provider, enabling superior cinema viewing and real time leisure experiences to its patrons by combining the best in technology, comfort, leisure and hospitality. The complete outlay by second quarter 2008 would have 140 screens operational in 35 locations.
E-City Films Pvt. Ltd recently distributed Alexander (December 2004), One Dollar Curry (February 2005), Million Dollar Baby (March 2005) and Sahara (July 2005).
It aims to nationally distribute around 15-20 movies a year, being a strategic link between independent studio productions and Indian theatre audiences, Goel said.
The company looks forward to banking on its existing synergies in entertainment and retail operations and offering mall management services, project development assistance, retail leasing and brokerage services and related advisory and research support.
The Essel Group has four core business interests— media, entertainment, industry and real estate. One of the recent projects of the group has been the launch of a daily English newspaper, DNA, for the Mumbai market.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
