GECs
VOA to launch Urdu programme in Pakistan
MUMBAI: The Voice of America (VOA), will launch an Urdu current affairs programme on Geo TV today. The current affairs programme titled, Beyond the Headlines (Khabron se Aage) will run from Monday to Friday at 7:30 pm.
This programme, which covers topics such as international developments, technology, politics, education, sports, and entertainment, will be also be aired on selected international satellites, including AsiaSat (Virtual Channel 409) and IOR (Virtual Channel 420). Popular television personality and former PTV anchor, Aneka Osman, has been roped in to host the show.
“We look forward to opening this important new channel of communication between the American people and Pakistan. This new programme, together with our expanded radio service, demonstrates our growing commitment to reach the people of Pakistan with new, engaging programmes on both radio and TV,” said Steven J Simmons, a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees all US international radio and television services.
VOA director, David S Jackson, said, “Beyond the Headlines will focus not only on the big issues of the day, but also on features, business, and culture stories that illuminate the world we live in. For example, we’ll show how Pakistanis live and work and go to school in the US. We want to provide a unique mix of stories that viewers can’t find anywhere else.”
GECs
‘I wasn’t enjoying it’: Why ex-Colors CEO Raj Nayak quit at his peak
Former TV and media executive says happiness, not hierarchy, defines leadership
MUMBAI: Former television executive Raj Nayak, once among the most powerful figures in Indian broadcasting, has offered a candid reflection on leadership, ambition and the decision to step away at the height of his career.
Speaking on the ThinkRight Podcast, Nayak dismissed corporate titles as hollow constructs, arguing that designations are often mistaken for identity. Leadership, he said, has little to do with hierarchy and everything to do with character.
Despite holding senior roles across Star TV, NDTV and Colors, Nayak described his career as largely unplanned. He said progress came not from strategy but from effort, adding that his only constant was giving each role his full commitment.
One of the most formative moments, he recalled, came in 2001 when he quit his job and spent nine months fighting a non-compete case in the Mumbai High Court. The sudden loss of structure and support, he said, exposed how dependent he had become on corporate machinery.
That period also shaped his public persona. The nickname “Raj Cheerful”, later adopted across social media, became a defining trait within the industry, with actors such as Hrithik Roshan embracing it as part of his identity. Over time, Nayak said, the label evolved from an affectation into a lived philosophy.
Nayak also addressed his decision to leave his role at the peak of his influence, a move he described as deeply counter-cultural in corporate India. From the outside, he said, everything appeared perfect. Internally, it was not. After months of unease, a conversation with his family proved decisive, pushing him to act on values he often spoke about publicly.
“People don’t quit jobs at their peak… I was doing everything perfect… but I knew I was not enjoying it,” he added.
Reflecting on success, Nayak argued that power and visibility offer no assurance of fulfilment. Happiness, he said, is a more reliable measure. Overcoming fear and greed, he added, remains the hardest test of leadership and of life.
